Sacrificic Values In The Iliad And Iphigenia At Aulis

One of the most important aspects of a sacrifice is that it should serve to remedy an error made by another person. Within The Iliad and Iphigenia at Aulis, there is a sense of a sacrificial character, in which a character dies for the greater good. The character that is “sacrificed” (Iphigenia and, in a sense, Patroclus) exhibits characteristics that compensate for the tragic flaw of another character, in both cases, the one that essentially causes the death (Agamemnon and Achilles.) Iphigenia willingly gives her life in order to appease the gods and relieve her father of potential consequence, while Patroclus dies for the sake of the Greek army and thus inspires Achilles to join the war, despite his prideful nature. These deaths highlight

Just as Patroclus’s humility and selflessness juxtaposes Achilles’s pride, Iphigenia’s eventual maturity starkly contrasts Agamemnon’s indecisiveness and immaturity as a leader. In order for the sacrifice to truly create awareness of a tragic flaw, the victim must possess an uncorrupted, tragic virtue that starkly contrasts the flaw and provoke some sort of innate reaction from their opposing character, whether it be for the better or not. Patroclus’s virtue saves Achilles by inspiring introspection and providing a turning point in his life and Iphigenia saves her people, but fails to touch the soul of her reckless father because she lacks a consistent voice and is not taken seriously by her father as a source of

While Achilles watches hundreds of other Greeks fall in battle, he strictly prohibits Patroclus from fighting. As his resolve against fighting grows stronger, he sees his fellow Greeks struggling, but refuses to aid as he stubbornly elevates his demand for respect over human lives. When he sends Patroclus to his impending doom he passionately proclaims “Oh would to god - father Zeus, Athena, and lord Apollo - not one of all of these Trojans could flee his death, no Argive either, but we could stride from the slaughter so we could bring Troy’s hallowed crowns of towers toppling down around us - you and I alone!” (Iliad 16.116-119). Achilles cares not for the war and doesn’t feel compelled to fight for Greece, but would fight for his own glory, and even share it with Patroclus. This in itself shows a different side of Achilles, perhaps hinting that Patroclus serves as a person who is capable of humbling him to some extent. Patroclus appears to serve a role as a sort of outlet for Achilles, someone he can confide in. Their close relationship only makes Patroclus’s death more important in Achilles’s recognition of his own