More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
The first describes the overwhelming anger of a Greek warrior, Achilles, and its catastrophic consequences. The second tells how a brave Trojan warrior, Hector, leaves his city and family to attack the Greek invaders—and returns home only after death.
Death makes every other loss seem small. In this second phase, the object of his wrath shifts from Agamemnon to Hector, the killer of Patroclus, on whom he wants to inflict infinite pain and humiliation.
Still it is not enough for Achilles. It will never be enough. He could humiliate Hector for all eternity, and Patroclus would still be dead.
Achilles’ wrath is driven by a belief that he, an extraordinarily talented, quick-footed fighter with divine blood in his veins, should never have to suffer loss without adequate compensation. His wrath can end only once he recognizes that no mortal, even the son of a goddess, can ever hope for such good fortune.
Goddess, sing of the cataclysmic wrath of great Achilles,
I did not come to Troy because I wanted to fight against the warriors of Troy. They never did me any harm at all.
"What did Hector ever do to me" :(
I will not stay here to be disrespected, serving up wealth and revenue for you!”
I tell you, this will surely come to pass— soon he will die for all his arrogance!”
“You dog-face! Drunk and heavy with your wine! You have the heart and courage of a deer! You never dare to put your armor on and march to battle with the common troops,
Cannibal king, you eat your people up! 310 You are a leader of nonentities!
By this I swear to you a mighty oath. 240 The Greeks will all be longing for Achilles one day and you will have no power to help, and you will grieve and many men will die at Hector’s murderous hands. Then you will tear your heart inside you in a bitter rage because you failed to pay the best Greek fighter proper respect.”
“Father Zeus! If I have ever helped you in word or deed among the gods, fulfill this prayer for me, and glorify my son, whose fate runs faster after him than any mortal’s.
