Iliad Assignment, Book Sixteen (pp. 412-421 lines 1-333)

Hello.

We are now on book 16 of the Iliad (I know, fairly large jump). This chapter is aptly titled “Patroclus Fights and Dies”. The reason for this grim title will become apparent through this “blog” entry.

Patroclus is only aloud to fight in the first place because Achilles allows him too. Patroclus and the Myrmidons are all ready for battle and tired of sitting around. Patroclus wants to fight for that reason and because he believes that it will raise the moral of the Achaeans if they see Achilles’ armor, even if it’s not him underneath. Also, it will scare the Trojans if they think that Achilles has rejoined the fight. Achilles agrees to allow Patroclus wear his armor because of these reasons, and to keep the Trojans away from the ships so the Atrides still have an escape route.

On line 35 (or so), page 413, Patroclus says that Achilles is cursed in his own courage. I think that this could mean two things, though I am not entirely sure which (if either) is correct. I think that it could either mean that Achilles is cursed DESPITE his courage, or, it could mean that Achilles is cursed BECAUSE of his courage. I think that the latter is more likely to be right because of the way the sentence in question is worded. I’m not sure why he says that though, because it seems to me that Achilles is not a coward, and if he was, I don’t think that it would mean he was cursed because of the courage he had.

My question for this one would be, Why does Zeus not grant both parts of Achilles’ prayer (his prayer, if you remember, would be that Patroclus keeps the Trojans off the Achaean ships AND that he returns safely)? Why does he not allow Patroclus to return?

That is what the homework requires; no more I am afraid, as I have a lot of homework.

Goodbye.