2/22 Iliad Reflection - Book One

Achilles’ rage is justified and I support his decision not to fight, even if it means the Greeks might lose lots of men, or even the war itself.

-OR-

Agamemnon is the commander, as such he is in the right, and I support his decision to ask for Achilles’ war prize Briseis – even if it means that Achilles will sit out the war.

RESPONSE:

I don’t really know what an ancient Greek would think of Achilles, but I do not agree with both of these statements. I can understand why Achilles would want to not fight and I can understand why Agamemnon should take Briseis. Although I personally think that neither Achilles nor Agamemnon should really care that much of their ‘war prize’ should be taken away. They should realize that they forcefully took then away and that other people could do the same thing. If they were really that upset they should just go steal another one, that’s what Agamemnon did.