The Humanity of Achilles

As George Eliot once said, “It is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view.” Whether viewing a piece of artwork or another person, there are often many points of view to evaluate in order to find the true core of the subject. In great works of literature, authors often create complex and dynamic characters to add depth and meaning into the story. In the Iliad, Homer beautifully depicts the multifaceted character of Achilles as an epic hero. As readers look closely at Achilles, he reveals different sides of himself as the epic poem develops. Representing the struggle between his dominant, selfish, and Dionysian nature as an epic hero and his hidden empathetic Apollonian core, Achilles reveals the mythos of the Iliad which states that war degrades mankind into objects and only the pursuit of Apollonian regard for others renews their humanity.

Early on in the Iliad readers realize that Achilles is primarily a Dionysian man in nature who often acts on his impulses to strive for glory and seek revenge. The three things men want most—power, possession, glory—are the primary motivation for Achilles’ impulsive actions. When describing his anger after the taking of Bryseis, he states that she is “a prize [Achilles] sweated for and soldiers gave [him]” (Homer 1.189). The praxis of Achilles illustrated in this quote shows his inner desire for glory, a trait that is often associated with that of a Dionysian because it deals with inner passions and the impulsive nature of man. “The primary motivation for military aggression is greed- greed for material gains, for power and for fame” (Ng 78) is a fitting allusion to Achilles because he is the great military hero of Greece and while Achilles is destined to lead ...

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...traint and show regard for others even during difficult times. Showing kindness and emotion to the enemy was once regarded by many as a weakness. However, Achilles is much more of a hero for showing his inner morality. George Eliot said there were many sides to a subject but it is up to the individual to truly examine others and find the inner good.

Works Cited

Benfey, Christopher. “A Tale of Two Iliads.” The New York Review of Books. 25 Sept. 2003: 81- 87. Print.

Freud, Sigmund. “Civilization and Its Discontents World Traditions in the Humanities. McDougal Little, 2001. 578-581. Print.

Homer. “The Iliad.” World Literature, 3rd, ed. Fitzgerald. New York: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston, 2001. 229-276. Print.

Hamilton, Edith. Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. New York.: Warner Books, 1999. Print.

Ng, Kum-Hoon. “Heaven’s Executioner.” Parabola 27.4 (Nov 2002): 75-78. Print