Iliad Assignment, Book Nine (pp. 251-266 lines 1-522)

Hello.

Iliad time again. We are jumping around a lot, not reading straight through, so we are now on book nine of the Iliad. We haven’t even finished book one.

First, I am to come up with a question, so here it is: If you were Achilles and you know that to fight would mean that you die, though gain everlasting honor, would you accept the spoils, effectively submitting to death, or would you remain sitting out? Three things to consider: first, if you accept, and die, you will only receive half of the fortune Agamemnon promises, considering half of it is only given under the condition that you live to make it back to Mycenae. Second, you will regain Briseis, your treasured prize, if you accept, though you will not be able to enjoy her for long, as you will soon die. Last, your honor is of the utmost importance to you and your society and you will lose honor (and arête) if you retreat.

This section sheds a lot of light on the character of Agamemnon. Before this I thought of him as a selfish, unthinking, quick-tempered coward. I have to say that few of those traits can now be crossed off that list.

Some will say that it was very “kind” of Agamemnon to offer Achilles such prizes. Yes, how very kind of him. But let me remind you all that Agamemnon stole Achilles’ prize and insulted him in front of the men. He did all of that knowingly, and now, only when times are desperate, does he want Achilles back. Now he comes slinking back to Achilles like a reprimanded child, asking for forgiveness. I, personally, don’t think that that forgiveness can be bought so easily. And, Achilles can have all of this if he will only submit and admit that Agamemnon is the greater man. A further blow to his honor. Also, he gives all of that to Achilles, but not a word of apology. So, though it was very “kind” of Agamemnon to offer Achilles everything that he did, my opinion of him has not changed.

As for persuasion, I think that the first instance of this is on page 252, starting with line 36. Diomedes stands up to the counsel of leaders and tries to persuade them not to abandon hope at Troy. I think that he appeals to emotions to plead his case, talking of the honor of the Greeks to keep them on the beaches of Troy.

Next, and though it is indirect, Agamemnon, tries to persuade Achilles, starting on page 255, line 147, to join the war again. He doesn’t do this by applying to his reason, his emotions or his ethics, but rather to the greed that Agamemnon believes Achilles to have. He is, essentially, bribing him. I suppose, that forced into a category, this would be appealing to emotions, as greed is, after all a powerful human emotion. This is a good example for that because Agamemnon is trying to make a case, trying to win Achilles over, but he fails, and as an outsider, it is easy to see what he did wrong (see above rant on Agamemnon).

Last, Odysseus pleads with Achilles to stay. He is a messenger of Agamemnon and does repeat what Agamemnon says, but he also asks Achilles to stay for the troops, appealing to his ethics. He says that Achilles should “take pity” (page 261, line 365) on the troops and somehow save them. I think that this plea, coming from Odysseus, Achilles’ friend, would be far more powerful than any of Agamemnon’s bribes. Agamemnon made a very wise move when he sent Odysseus to talk with Achilles; he does a very good job at relaying the message and giving one of his own.

I like the Iliad very much. I think that it is a wonderful book because off all of the human emotions that it contains. I am also simultaneously reading the Odyssey, which is wonderful as well.

Goodbye.