"Did I Just Do Something Wrong???"



"Do you think that what Achilles did is approprite or not?"



Achilles, preparing for the battle



Achilles is indeed strong but is rather lesser in heart and mind, well that is for me. If to ask me if what he did is somewhat appropriate, well I must say that the answer somewhat depends or varies. I can tell that what he did in Chapter 9 of “Iliad” is something that is quite right at first but on the latter part it is quite inappropriate. Let me further expand.

In my opinion, it is quite proper for him to reject that offer of Agamemnon which is told by Odysseus. Come to think of it, it is not that for compensation the offer is but we can think of it as somewhat a bribe for him to come back and fight for Agamemnon. But it may be otherwise, thinking of it as compensation rather than a bribe. The concept will be different for others for we have different points of view but that is my opinion. I concluded it for if it is for compensation, then no other service shall be rendered by Achilles and it is quite obvious that they want Achilles badly that they resulted to offering him things and bringing him to battle, therefore asking for his service.

It is then on the latter part of their conversation that what he did is very inappropriate. How can I say so? If we are to read Chapter 9 of the “Iliad”, we read that Achilles rejects the offer but then he is being unreasonable and proud. I am not contradicting my first opinion, besides I’m saying that it is his right to reject the offer. He did the following which are unsuitable for someone respectable like him:

Odysseus, told Achilles Agamemnon's offer

He is too proud, arrogant. He is arrogant for he thinks that everyone that he did good needs to do thanks to him. Well that is not that heavy for gratitude but isn’t being honored by every man and being well known a form of gratitude, even greater! Isn’t that more of thanks? Doesn’t he think of that?

He is too unreasonable. Like what we just discussed, if there are two choices let us choose for the better of many. Why? For that good we’ve done for many benefits us. Now he is unreasonable for he compares being not with war and being not with war is equal, the same. He is wrong! He has honor if he dies there! He can change the fate of other people! He could have saved others who are dead if he was there. What then does he live for, for himself? It will be better to live for others.

He is too impossible. He demands for something impossible just for him to go to battle. He asked for treasure that is more than the number of sand, greater than that of Thebes and times more than what Agamemnon offers. He would like to marry a woman far beautiful than Aphrodite. That is quite impossible, isn’t it? It seems that he is mocking Agamemnon with his words. Maybe it is better for him to shut up and just plainly reject the offer but in a polite manner. Things will be better that way. Besides, he should let his temper and madness over Agamemnon be gone and heed the plea of his friends. It is not honor for he should fight, it is for the fate of people involved in this war.