Iliad Assignment, Book Nine (pp. 266-275 lines 521-869)

Hello.

The assignment of today is similar to that of yesterday. I am first to ask a question, I think that mine would be, how could Achilles honestly think that the gods will simply let him sail home? He knows that he is to die at Troy, so how can he think that he will be allowed to leave?

My opinion of Achilles, like my opinion of Agamemnon, did not change after I read book nine. Achilles said, rather specifically, that Agamemnon would come begging Achilles for help, and that he would refuse and still Agamemnon disregarded the fact. Only now that men are being killed in earnest, does he try to apologize. We skipped seven books, but not once through any of those did Agamemnon try to apologize. And now that he is, he wants Achilles to admit that he is the better man? I would have refused as well, even for all of the riches in the world.

There is not much persuasion in this part of the book, as the only one talking is Phoenix. I will, however, do my best to capture his methods of urging.

The first instance of Phoenix’s persuasion would be on page 266, starting with line 529. Phoenix uses his own emotions to show how little he likes Achilles’ plan of leaving. He asks him incredulously if he can honestly be thinking of leaving. I think that this would appeal most to Achilles’ pride as Phoenix is a mentor of his and his distrust would effect Achilles the most.

The second instance would be when Phoenix, on page 268, starting with line 601, talks of how the even the gods change and can be won over with bribes. He says that the gods are flexible, but Achilles is not. This is, again, appealing to his emotions, as he is trying to tell him that if even the gods can be placated with bribes, so should Achilles.

I think that the last instance would be when Phoenix tells Achilles the story of the man, Meleager starting on page 269 with line 646. He uses this story of another man who sat out of battle to try and make Achilles realize why he should rejoin the fight. In the story Meleager doesn’t fight again until his wife—Cleopatra—begs him too, and then it is too late for him to claim the prizes other men offered in an attempt to bring him back. This appeals to emotions as well, trying to make Achilles realize that he had better accept the prizes now.

Goodbye.