Book one Reflection

Hello.

I really liked this first book of the Iliad. I loved the language and all of the emotions that are shown, even such a short piece.

I have to say that I think that Achilles’ anger is entirely justified. In a society where your arête is everything, and your pride is your most important possession, it is not just a war prize that Agamemnon is stripping Achilles of. He is taking away is honor.

Then, of course, there is the matter of Agamemnon himself. Agamemnon is, essentially, a coward. He has never been into battle, he has never been on the front lines and yet he gets the best share of the loot, while warriors like Achilles, who fight hard all the time, get very little.

I cannot say that I think that Achilles was justified in calling his mother down form the heavens and pleading with her to talk to Zeus. No matter how much his honor was wounded, he has no right to wish that his own troops be killed. They are, after all, Greeks, such as himself.

I believe that even if Zeus were not to kill off troops, Agamemnon would soon realize that he could not win without Achilles.

Goodbye.