Prompt 3
- Patroclus
Patroclus and his friend Achilles were fighting Hector. The war was so intense that Patroclus gave up and succumbed to injuries. Hector killed Patroclus and took his armor then wore it to show that he was equally powerful as Achilles. Achilles received the news from Antilochus, who witnessed the death. On receiving the news, Achilles immediately began weeping uncontrollably and covering his face and body with dirt. He accused himself of letting Patroclus die; by not being able to defend him from Hector. All that time, Antilochus stood beside him, since he feared that Achilles would cut his throat. Achilles went into a period of grief and mourning over his close companion. He was so affected by Patroclus’ death that he almost lost the will to live at some point. He confessed that he better died than revenge for Hector.
On the battlefield, the war continued, since Hector was determined to take Patroclus’ body to chop its head. “Above all the others, shining Hector is bent on dragging it away; and his heart is urgent to impale the head” p.156. Achilles got the news from Iris and went to the battlefield, just before Hector could seize Patroclus’ body. His appearance on the battlefield scared the Trojans. They retrieved, allowing Acheans a chance to pull the body to safety. Overnight, Patroclus was mourned by the Acheans and the nymphs. Achilles began plans to burry Patroclus’ body but vowed to slay Hector before the burial. Risking his life to avenge his friend and keeping the body unburied was a sign of respect to Patroclus.
- Achilles’ New Shield
Achilles’ mother went to get a new armor from the god Hephaestus, whom she had cared for nine months after he fell from Olympus. Hephaestus made Achilles the strongest armor there have ever been, comprised of a shield, a helmet, and a breastplate. The shield contained a picture of the entire world, with the sea and the sky, two men, one at peace, and another at war. The shield also had various scenes drawn on it, including scenes of marriage, shepherding, harvest, and battle “On it, he formed the earth, and the heaven, and the sea and the weariless sun and waving moon” p.165. The shield symbolized an interconnection between peace and war in ancient Greece. Battle had the same meaning as harvest and marriage, which is ever-present. The designer included the entire world in Achilles’ shield to symbolize Achilles as a unique humanity representative. Carrying the entire world in his shield meant that he carried the victory of the Achean army. Finally, the shield was made by a god, which meant that it had superior powers. It assured the Acheans that they would be superior over their enemies, specifically Hector.
- Achille’s abuse of Hector’s body
With the bronze armor that glittered like the rising sun, Achilles dashed out for revenge. Hector decided to wait for Achille and fight him to death. Little did he know his death was near. At the sight of Achilles, he was terrified and could not wait for him. Achilles pursued him and finally killed him. On his last breath, Hector pleaded with Achilles to give his body to the Trojans to be buried by his parents. Hector was quite sure that Achilles would misuse his body, and he did. He tied the body to his chariots and dragged it over the soil, eventually covering his head with dust. He would have agreed to give the body to Hector’s parents to bury it, but he was so enraged by Hector’s act of killing Patroclus that he could not grant him his wish. Therefore, I would argue that the misuse was not unheroic since it was driven by anger. By accomplishing his revenge mission, he was a hero and had the power to determine how to handle Hector’s body.