Homework Responses for Hal Bourne's Greek Myths students.
This page is intended for homework responses for Hal Bourne's Greek Myths students.
When directed to do so by the calendar, please respond to the questions listed below. You can either respond to the question or to one of your peers' comments.
I do think that Achilles owes his comrades loyalty. He fought with beside them for many long years and they all idol him. I don’t think that it’s right for him to just leave them hanging like that. He knows that they are about to be killed and he just sits back and sulks. I think that he won’t help his comrades because he values his honor too much; he is too prideful. I think he may be afraid of what they think of him now. Agamemnon so easily took Briseis away, showing that he was better than Achilles. Achilles is ashamed of what happened. He is also enraged at Agamemnon for making him feel this way and degrading him in front of all the Achaeans.
Achilles is a bourne hero... hahah... and he knows it. He fights and he gains the recognition he deserves. He has fought in very many battles, rightly proving that he is the most powerful warrior. Because of this, yes, he should be idolized, even if his comrades showed him loyalty he doesn't show it back. You could say that Achilles leaving the war was fair and his cause just: Achilles won Briseis fair and square so when Agamemnon took her from him Achilles was outraged. Achilles a man of great honor and self honor was just affected by an act of great dishonor. Achilles proved that he could not be messed with and caused the Acheans great hardship when withdrawing form the war.
Achilles definitely owes the rest of the Achaeans loyalty. There is a saying that really applies to his situation: "With great opportunity comes great responsibility." Achilles has a great opportunity in the fact that his mother was an immortal and she dipped him in the River Styx, so that he would be invincible, and he is a natural warrior. Since he has been given these gifts, he has the obligation to use them. Instead of hanging back in his ship, Achilles has the responsibility to lead his comrades into battle. One possible reason that he is reluctant to do so, apart from his inability to get over his anger with Agamemnon, is that he is scared of death. While this may seem ironic, he explains that his mother prophesied that he would either die young and glorified or live long and be forgotten. At this point in the book, it seems like he would rather choose the second option. However, fear of dying isn't the biggest block for Achilles. His problem is pride. Most people would be able to move on from their argument, especially with all the prizes Agamemnon offered, but Achilles is unable to forgive his comrade.
I think that since Greece is a society that seems to value fighting and battle above all else (besides the Gods), Achilles does not owe his comrades loyalty. By the context, it seems that he has proven time and time again to be the greatest fighter in all of Greece. Every character, even the ones on the Trojan side, references this often. Because of his extraordinary fighting ability, he is in many ways higher in power than the others of Greece and owes no loyalty to his comrades. He has done more for the Achaens in the war (spanning 9 years), than any other soldier and has brought them closer to their goal then anyone else. He refuse to fight and help his comrades because he must make them understand that they need him and that he must be respected. He is letting them know that one cannot hurt or offend for he is the best fighter.
I think that Achilles does not owe his comrades loyalty because he, like every other in the greek armies, came on the boats to level Troy to the ground. He owes loyalty to the idea that they must destroy Troy because that is why he went there in the first place. He refuses to help his comrades because he has been embarrassed and he feels that his comrades deserve to feel the ugly end of his anger right now, even though it should be directed at the Trojans. He cannot stop being angry because anything that makes a regular greek soldier a little angry, makes Achilles angry for much longer. He is famous for his anger and it is featured in the entire book. This is because he has amplified anger and struggles to control it at times.
I personally believe that Achilles does owe his comrades some loyalty. Despite what he may believe his accomplishments are not purely his own. If he had come alone to Troy he would have no honor, he would never have had the chance to become known as a great fighter and to live on in stories and peoples memories for hundreds of year. If he didn’t have his comrades he would have died in an instant. Despite being the greatest fighter and the strongest soldier he still needed his comrades to help him let this greatness be know. To turn his back on them now, when they need him most, is almost cowardly. He knows that they are losing this battle and he knows that he will die if he continues to fight. He is letting his personal feelings and anger towards Agamemnon get to him and turning it against his comrades. He owes these people for all they have done for him and yet he abandons them due to his pride.
I think that Achilles owes loyalty to his comrades, even if it means putting aside his prideful feelings and thinking about other people. Though Agamemnon did take away his prize and thoroughly embarrass him, Achilles should not just sit and pout. He should take up another frame of mind and rather than go into battle for Agamemnon, he should go into battle to prove to Agamemnon that he is worthy. In responding to Luke’s comment, I believe that it is unfair to justify Achilles’ attitude by saying he went to Troy to bring the city down and he is being loyal to the idea. In order to be completely loyal to an idea, you have to be able to follow through with it and that is what Achilles owes to the Greeks. It is actually surprising to me how Achilles, known for being very prideful, would not want to prove to everybody that he is the best warrior and win the war by himself. Even if this isn’t the most selfless form of loyalty, he is still doing what is right. Keeping this in mind, I think that Achilles will stay angry throughout the war due to his excessive pride.
I think that Achilles does owe his comrades loyalty because like jake said, his comrades are part of the reason he is famous, and without them he would never had been known.I believe that Achilles won’t help his comrades because of his anger towards Agamemnon. Briseis is more than just a prize of war, but is also a part Achilles pride, and when that pride is injured, Achilles is blinded by hate for Agamemnon, and this is why he feels it is okay to abandon his fellow comrades. When Agamemnon takes Briseis away from Achilles, he is angered and hurt because his pride has been taken. Pride is very important to Achilles because that’s what makes him a hero. I also believe that pride is also what drives Achilles rage and when Achilles pride is hurt by Agamemnon, Achilles leaves the battle. He stays angry because pride means so much to him, and it isn’t easy for him to forget such a thing, especially when it is part of what makes him heroic.
Achilles definitely owes his comrades some loyalty. They have been fighting on the same for almost 10 years. Even if that weren't the case, it's not his comrades that he is angry with, it's Agamemnon. His friends are just caught in the crossfire between Agamemnon and Achilles. His not fighting has nothing to do with his friends, he just doesn't want to help Agamemnon out. His pride has been wounded and he's very stubborn. I think he wants to hurt Agamemnon, and he believes that the best way to do so is by withdrawing from the war. Achilles feels that by causing Agamemnon to lose his battle, they will be even. Achilles either doesn't care or doesn't realize that he's sending his friends off to their deaths by withdrawing from the fight. He is staying angry because he's incredibly stubborn. Achilles knows that he is a great fighter and that Agamemnon needs him, and so, he is not going to fight, solely just to defy Agamemnon.
I think that he does not owe anything to Agamemnon, but he owes it to Odysseus, Ajax, and Pheonix. They have been fighting together for a long time, around 10 years, and they owe their lives to eachother. When Pheonix refers to Meleager and his rage it is a perfect depiction of why Achilles has to help them. It isn't for the King, it is for all of Greece that he has to fight. When Agamemnon refuses it is out of self pity about Agamemnon's insults. While the reader knows that Agamemnon was greedy, the truth is, so was Achilles. The reason he won't help is because of his Hubris and his will to be better than the king and not to belittle himself in bending under his control. He is a proud man, and tries to be honorable but when he is wantonly deprived of his prize, he feels the insult acutely. Being so degraded before his comrades makes him reluctant to change his mind. This might make him look not only less valiant but also more dependent and he wants to show Agamemnon that he needs him. I think that he also wants to see the king beg for his help and to teach him that only a fool thinks himself better than Achilles.
My thoughts on Achilles is that he owes all of his comrades(Odysseus, Ajax, Diomedes, Nestor, and Agamemnon) because he came willingly to fight the Trojans in order to get back Menelaus's wife Helen. He made an unknown vow to fight for Helen's life and to destroy those who kidnapped her. All of his comrades care about Achilles and would die trying to defend him. The only reason he threatens to withdraw his troops is because Agamemnon took his wife as his own. It's understandable that Achilles would be angry with Agamemnon. but it seems counter-culture to those times. Back then in ancient Greece, women were considered to be property to the man, nothing more. It was known that men could switch out wives at any moment. One would think that Achilles wouldn't have thrown such a tantrum when giving away his wife to Agamemnon.
Achilles has a lot of pride, or hubris, in himself. He is insistent that he is the champion of the Acheans. Most of the men of Troy tremble at the thought of Achilles fighting them. He is feared by men he has never fought before until now. He doesn't receive the same respect/attitude from his comrades, including Agamemnon. I think that he wants the respect of Agamemnon and only then, when Agamemnon gives his new wife to Achilles will Achilles fight for the Acheans.
I do think that Achilles owes his comrades some loyalty. All of his country men have been fighting alongside him for over nine years so I think he at least owes them some respect for sticking with the cause. Yesterday with Dr. Bass we talked about how Achilles is very self-centered and only cares about his legacy. Even though it may not have been customary for the Ancient Greeks to think about the good of other people all the time, I believe Achilles needs to understand that part of his fame comes from the hard work of his comrades and he needs to appreciate that. I think that Achilles won’t help his comrades because he is too caught up in his own pride and disagreements with Agamemnon. He can’t see past his own struggles to better the army as a whole. I don’t think it is in Achilles’s personality to let go of things that anger him. He is known for his rage and once one thing makes him angry it is almost like a domino effect of his anger building.
Do you think that Achilles owes his comrades any loyalty? I think that Achilles does owe his comrades loyalty, because they all came together, as an army, from the same country, for the same goal. They all are part of the same side and they should be working together. Achilles should remain loyal to his comrades by fighting again, especially because he could definitely save some of his comrades' lives by doing so and contribute greatly to the cause since he is such a great fighter.
Why do you suppose he won't help his comrades? He won't help his comrades because he is still mad at Agamemnon for taking his prize. By doing so, he demonstrated his power over Achilles and therefore hurt Achilles's pride. Achilles said he would not continue fighting if Agamemnon took his prize, and he is living up to this promise.
Why do you think he stays angry? I think he stays angry because he is living up to what he said: not continuing to fight anymore because Agamemnon took his pride. By doing so, he also hurt Achilles's pride, and that is why he is still angry. I think he should return to the fight and that will earn him honor.
Do you think that Achilles owes his comrades any loyalty? In my opinion Achilles does owe his comrades loyalty. Without them Achilles would not be able to have accomplished nearly as much as he did. Without an army to back him up Achilles would have been nothing. Although Achilles may like to think that he is the only powerful fighter and owes no one any loyalty without an army to stand with him and fight with him, he would not be nearly the warrior that he is known to be. Why do you suppose he won't help his comrades? I suppose that Achilles won't help his comrades because he is so narrow minded and can't see that he is nothing without people to stand behind him. In Achilles mind he is the greatest warrior that there ever was and he owes it all to himself. Achilles is a very shallow, selfish person. Why do you think he stays angry? In my opinion Achilles stays angry because Briesis was taken from him and he was left with nothing that he loved. Achilles uses this anger that he has held up inside of him to become a powerful warrior and be feared by all.
1. Achilles is first and foremost a Greek, and he owes his comrades all of his loyalty. He might be bloodthirsty as a vampire, but the only way he can achieve his glory by killing as many warriors as possible is by fighting with the Grecian army. Even if he makes it a competition between him and the other soldiers, and even disrespect them, he must still maintain his loyalty to his people, and not do what he did with his whininess to Zeus.
2. He won't help his comrades because he is too prideful. He will not back down from something he said, and he is too angry at Agamemnon to think about any other thing than himself.
3. He is angry because he cannot go against his word, even though he desperately wants to. He sees how irrational he is being but he cannot stoop to the level required for him to break his bonds.
I believe that Achilles does owe his comrades loyalty. He journeyed with them and after nine years, the war they traveled for is upon them. Even if he is mad at Agamemnon, he at least owes the troops he commands. He brought them there to fight, and I believe he should hold up his end of the bargain. His troops have stood by him yet when he doesn’t get something he wants, he abandons them to prove a point. I think he won’t help them because when Agamemnon took BrIseis, he also took Achilles’ pride and honor. Achilles feels as though Agamemnon took everything he had, making Agamemnon the better man. That leads Achilles to leave him in battle, because he is better, and thus doesn’t need Achilles’ help. I think he stays angry with Agamemnon because he is ashamed of losing his pride. He blames Agamemnon for showing him up in front of his troops and all the other commanders. He is holding it over Agamemnon’s head by refusing to join him in battle, and leaving everyone for dead even though Agamemnon is the only one who should be punished for taking Briseis.
I believe that Achilles owes his comrades his loyalty. After all, it was Agamemnon who took Briseis, not his comrades. He is letting good men who have not wronged him die because of a spat he has with another man. The other soldiers in the army had no control over the action of their king, but are being punished for it. Achilles won't help his comrades because he is a narcissist who thinks only of himself and his image. He considers every life that is not his next to worthless, and puts his emotions in front of the lives of innocent men. He stays angry because his image is what probably matters most to him, and he has invested much in it, so without it he has little else. He also would look like a fool if he didn't keep to his promise of not fighting.
Achilles, although a ruthless killer has to show loyalty and compassion towards his comrades. He owes them for the help that they have served him in the battles and the years of travel. He has too much pride and will not step down from his reign to help his comrades. He sees himself as deity and in holier then his comrades. He is angry because Agamemnon took his pride when he showed him up in front of the soldiers. And that is why he wont follow Agamemnon into battle. He is a sore loser to the max.
I, as well as many others would consider Achilles to be looked up as as a leader. I think as a leader he owes his comrades loyalty. He has been fighting alongside these men for years and has grown to know them well, even creating friendships. As a leader I think it is his responsibility to think of the others. By stepping out of the war and refusing to fight he is only thinking of himself. Like all the others during that time Achilles cares greatly about his honor. He knows that the men look up to him and when Agamemnon took his pride away from him he was so enraged and frustrated that he wanted to prove to the rest that they needed him and that he was in control. He is taking his feelings towards Agamemnon out on the whole Achean army, which makes him a coward. I might feel differently if this wasn't about war but the men he knows and has been with are dying at his side and he doesn't seem to flinch all due to pride and anger. It personally makes me lose respect for him. I also wonder if part of him thinks about his death and if that also plays a role in him not wanting to fight.
I do think that Achilles owes his comrades loyalty. He fought with beside them for many long years and they all idol him. I don’t think that it’s right for him to just leave them hanging like that. He knows that they are about to be killed and he just sits back and sulks. I think that he won’t help his comrades because he values his honor too much; he is too prideful. I think he may be afraid of what they think of him now. Agamemnon so easily took Briseis away, showing that he was better than Achilles. Achilles is ashamed of what happened. He is also enraged at Agamemnon for making him feel this way and degrading him in front of all the Achaeans.
ReplyDeleteAchilles is a bourne hero... hahah... and he knows it. He fights and he gains the recognition he deserves. He has fought in very many battles, rightly proving that he is the most powerful warrior. Because of this, yes, he should be idolized, even if his comrades showed him loyalty he doesn't show it back. You could say that Achilles leaving the war was fair and his cause just: Achilles won Briseis fair and square so when Agamemnon took her from him Achilles was outraged. Achilles a man of great honor and self honor was just affected by an act of great dishonor. Achilles proved that he could not be messed with and caused the Acheans great hardship when withdrawing form the war.
ReplyDeleteAchilles definitely owes the rest of the Achaeans loyalty. There is a saying that really applies to his situation: "With great opportunity comes great responsibility." Achilles has a great opportunity in the fact that his mother was an immortal and she dipped him in the River Styx, so that he would be invincible, and he is a natural warrior. Since he has been given these gifts, he has the obligation to use them. Instead of hanging back in his ship, Achilles has the responsibility to lead his comrades into battle. One possible reason that he is reluctant to do so, apart from his inability to get over his anger with Agamemnon, is that he is scared of death. While this may seem ironic, he explains that his mother prophesied that he would either die young and glorified or live long and be forgotten. At this point in the book, it seems like he would rather choose the second option. However, fear of dying isn't the biggest block for Achilles. His problem is pride. Most people would be able to move on from their argument, especially with all the prizes Agamemnon offered, but Achilles is unable to forgive his comrade.
ReplyDeleteI think that since Greece is a society that seems to value fighting and battle above all else (besides the Gods), Achilles does not owe his comrades loyalty. By the context, it seems that he has proven time and time again to be the greatest fighter in all of Greece. Every character, even the ones on the Trojan side, references this often. Because of his extraordinary fighting ability, he is in many ways higher in power than the others of Greece and owes no loyalty to his comrades. He has done more for the Achaens in the war (spanning 9 years), than any other soldier and has brought them closer to their goal then anyone else. He refuse to fight and help his comrades because he must make them understand that they need him and that he must be respected. He is letting them know that one cannot hurt or offend for he is the best fighter.
ReplyDeleteI think that Achilles does not owe his comrades loyalty because he, like every other in the greek armies, came on the boats to level Troy to the ground. He owes loyalty to the idea that they must destroy Troy because that is why he went there in the first place.
ReplyDeleteHe refuses to help his comrades because he has been embarrassed and he feels that his comrades deserve to feel the ugly end of his anger right now, even though it should be directed at the Trojans.
He cannot stop being angry because anything that makes a regular greek soldier a little angry, makes Achilles angry for much longer. He is famous for his anger and it is featured in the entire book. This is because he has amplified anger and struggles to control it at times.
I personally believe that Achilles does owe his comrades some loyalty. Despite what he may believe his accomplishments are not purely his own. If he had come alone to Troy he would have no honor, he would never have had the chance to become known as a great fighter and to live on in stories and peoples memories for hundreds of year. If he didn’t have his comrades he would have died in an instant. Despite being the greatest fighter and the strongest soldier he still needed his comrades to help him let this greatness be know. To turn his back on them now, when they need him most, is almost cowardly. He knows that they are losing this battle and he knows that he will die if he continues to fight. He is letting his personal feelings and anger towards Agamemnon get to him and turning it against his comrades. He owes these people for all they have done for him and yet he abandons them due to his pride.
ReplyDeleteI think that Achilles owes loyalty to his comrades, even if it means putting aside his prideful feelings and thinking about other people. Though Agamemnon did take away his prize and thoroughly embarrass him, Achilles should not just sit and pout. He should take up another frame of mind and rather than go into battle for Agamemnon, he should go into battle to prove to Agamemnon that he is worthy. In responding to Luke’s comment, I believe that it is unfair to justify Achilles’ attitude by saying he went to Troy to bring the city down and he is being loyal to the idea. In order to be completely loyal to an idea, you have to be able to follow through with it and that is what Achilles owes to the Greeks. It is actually surprising to me how Achilles, known for being very prideful, would not want to prove to everybody that he is the best warrior and win the war by himself. Even if this isn’t the most selfless form of loyalty, he is still doing what is right. Keeping this in mind, I think that Achilles will stay angry throughout the war due to his excessive pride.
ReplyDeleteI think that Achilles does owe his comrades loyalty because like jake said, his comrades are part of the reason he is famous, and without them he would never had been known.I believe that Achilles won’t help his comrades because of his anger towards Agamemnon. Briseis is more than just a prize of war, but is also a part Achilles pride, and when that pride is injured, Achilles is blinded by hate for Agamemnon, and this is why he feels it is okay to abandon his fellow comrades. When Agamemnon takes Briseis away from Achilles, he is angered and hurt because his pride has been taken. Pride is very important to Achilles because that’s what makes him a hero. I also believe that pride is also what drives Achilles rage and when Achilles pride is hurt by Agamemnon, Achilles leaves the battle. He stays angry because pride means so much to him, and it isn’t easy for him to forget such a thing, especially when it is part of what makes him heroic.
ReplyDeleteAchilles definitely owes his comrades some loyalty. They have been fighting on the same for almost 10 years. Even if that weren't the case, it's not his comrades that he is angry with, it's Agamemnon. His friends are just caught in the crossfire between Agamemnon and Achilles. His not fighting has nothing to do with his friends, he just doesn't want to help Agamemnon out. His pride has been wounded and he's very stubborn. I think he wants to hurt Agamemnon, and he believes that the best way to do so is by withdrawing from the war. Achilles feels that by causing Agamemnon to lose his battle, they will be even. Achilles either doesn't care or doesn't realize that he's sending his friends off to their deaths by withdrawing from the fight. He is staying angry because he's incredibly stubborn. Achilles knows that he is a great fighter and that Agamemnon needs him, and so, he is not going to fight, solely just to defy Agamemnon.
ReplyDeleteI think that he does not owe anything to Agamemnon, but he owes it to Odysseus, Ajax, and Pheonix. They have been fighting together for a long time, around 10 years, and they owe their lives to eachother. When Pheonix refers to Meleager and his rage it is a perfect depiction of why Achilles has to help them. It isn't for the King, it is for all of Greece that he has to fight. When Agamemnon refuses it is out of self pity about Agamemnon's insults. While the reader knows that Agamemnon was greedy, the truth is, so was Achilles. The reason he won't help is because of his Hubris and his will to be better than the king and not to belittle himself in bending under his control. He is a proud man, and tries to be honorable but when he is wantonly deprived of his prize, he feels the insult acutely. Being so degraded before his comrades makes him reluctant to change his mind. This might make him look not only less valiant but also more dependent and he wants to show Agamemnon that he needs him. I think that he also wants to see the king beg for his help and to teach him that only a fool thinks himself better than Achilles.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on Achilles is that he owes all of his comrades(Odysseus, Ajax, Diomedes, Nestor, and Agamemnon) because he came willingly to fight the Trojans in order to get back Menelaus's wife Helen. He made an unknown vow to fight for Helen's life and to destroy those who kidnapped her. All of his comrades care about Achilles and would die trying to defend him. The only reason he threatens to withdraw his troops is because Agamemnon took his wife as his own. It's understandable that Achilles would be angry with Agamemnon. but it seems counter-culture to those times. Back then in ancient Greece, women were considered to be property to the man, nothing more. It was known that men could switch out wives at any moment. One would think that Achilles wouldn't have thrown such a tantrum when giving away his wife to Agamemnon.
ReplyDeleteAchilles has a lot of pride, or hubris, in himself. He is insistent that he is the champion of the Acheans. Most of the men of Troy tremble at the thought of Achilles fighting them. He is feared by men he has never fought before until now. He doesn't receive the same respect/attitude from his comrades, including Agamemnon. I think that he wants the respect of Agamemnon and only then, when Agamemnon gives his new wife to Achilles will Achilles fight for the Acheans.
I do think that Achilles owes his comrades some loyalty. All of his country men have been fighting alongside him for over nine years so I think he at least owes them some respect for sticking with the cause. Yesterday with Dr. Bass we talked about how Achilles is very self-centered and only cares about his legacy. Even though it may not have been customary for the Ancient Greeks to think about the good of other people all the time, I believe Achilles needs to understand that part of his fame comes from the hard work of his comrades and he needs to appreciate that. I think that Achilles won’t help his comrades because he is too caught up in his own pride and disagreements with Agamemnon. He can’t see past his own struggles to better the army as a whole. I don’t think it is in Achilles’s personality to let go of things that anger him. He is known for his rage and once one thing makes him angry it is almost like a domino effect of his anger building.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Achilles owes his comrades any loyalty?
ReplyDeleteI think that Achilles does owe his comrades loyalty, because they all came together, as an army, from the same country, for the same goal. They all are part of the same side and they should be working together. Achilles should remain loyal to his comrades by fighting again, especially because he could definitely save some of his comrades' lives by doing so and contribute greatly to the cause since he is such a great fighter.
Why do you suppose he won't help his comrades?
He won't help his comrades because he is still mad at Agamemnon for taking his prize. By doing so, he demonstrated his power over Achilles and therefore hurt Achilles's pride. Achilles said he would not continue fighting if Agamemnon took his prize, and he is living up to this promise.
Why do you think he stays angry?
I think he stays angry because he is living up to what he said: not continuing to fight anymore because Agamemnon took his pride. By doing so, he also hurt Achilles's pride, and that is why he is still angry. I think he should return to the fight and that will earn him honor.
Do you think that Achilles owes his comrades any loyalty?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Achilles does owe his comrades loyalty. Without them Achilles would not be able to have accomplished nearly as much as he did. Without an army to back him up Achilles would have been nothing. Although Achilles may like to think that he is the only powerful fighter and owes no one any loyalty without an army to stand with him and fight with him, he would not be nearly the warrior that he is known to be.
Why do you suppose he won't help his comrades?
I suppose that Achilles won't help his comrades because he is so narrow minded and can't see that he is nothing without people to stand behind him. In Achilles mind he is the greatest warrior that there ever was and he owes it all to himself. Achilles is a very shallow, selfish person.
Why do you think he stays angry?
In my opinion Achilles stays angry because Briesis was taken from him and he was left with nothing that he loved. Achilles uses this anger that he has held up inside of him to become a powerful warrior and be feared by all.
1. Achilles is first and foremost a Greek, and he owes his comrades all of his loyalty. He might be bloodthirsty as a vampire, but the only way he can achieve his glory by killing as many warriors as possible is by fighting with the Grecian army. Even if he makes it a competition between him and the other soldiers, and even disrespect them, he must still maintain his loyalty to his people, and not do what he did with his whininess to Zeus.
ReplyDelete2. He won't help his comrades because he is too prideful. He will not back down from something he said, and he is too angry at Agamemnon to think about any other thing than himself.
3. He is angry because he cannot go against his word, even though he desperately wants to. He sees how irrational he is being but he cannot stoop to the level required for him to break his bonds.
I believe that Achilles does owe his comrades loyalty. He journeyed with them and after nine years, the war they traveled for is upon them. Even if he is mad at Agamemnon, he at least owes the troops he commands. He brought them there to fight, and I believe he should hold up his end of the bargain. His troops have stood by him yet when he doesn’t get something he wants, he abandons them to prove a point. I think he won’t help them because when Agamemnon took BrIseis, he also took Achilles’ pride and honor. Achilles feels as though Agamemnon took everything he had, making Agamemnon the better man. That leads Achilles to leave him in battle, because he is better, and thus doesn’t need Achilles’ help. I think he stays angry with Agamemnon because he is ashamed of losing his pride. He blames Agamemnon for showing him up in front of his troops and all the other commanders. He is holding it over Agamemnon’s head by refusing to join him in battle, and leaving everyone for dead even though Agamemnon is the only one who should be punished for taking Briseis.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Achilles owes his comrades his loyalty. After all, it was Agamemnon who took Briseis, not his comrades. He is letting good men who have not wronged him die because of a spat he has with another man. The other soldiers in the army had no control over the action of their king, but are being punished for it. Achilles won't help his comrades because he is a narcissist who thinks only of himself and his image. He considers every life that is not his next to worthless, and puts his emotions in front of the lives of innocent men. He stays angry because his image is what probably matters most to him, and he has invested much in it, so without it he has little else. He also would look like a fool if he didn't keep to his promise of not fighting.
ReplyDeleteAchilles, although a ruthless killer has to show loyalty and compassion towards his comrades. He owes them for the help that they have served him in the battles and the years of travel. He has too much pride and will not step down from his reign to help his comrades. He sees himself as deity and in holier then his comrades. He is angry because Agamemnon took his pride when he showed him up in front of the soldiers. And that is why he wont follow Agamemnon into battle. He is a sore loser to the max.
ReplyDelete-unicorn
I, as well as many others would consider Achilles to be looked up as as a leader. I think as a leader he owes his comrades loyalty. He has been fighting alongside these men for years and has grown to know them well, even creating friendships. As a leader I think it is his responsibility to think of the others. By stepping out of the war and refusing to fight he is only thinking of himself. Like all the others during that time Achilles cares greatly about his honor. He knows that the men look up to him and when Agamemnon took his pride away from him he was so enraged and frustrated that he wanted to prove to the rest that they needed him and that he was in control. He is taking his feelings towards Agamemnon out on the whole Achean army, which makes him a coward. I might feel differently if this wasn't about war but the men he knows and has been with are dying at his side and he doesn't seem to flinch all due to pride and anger. It personally makes me lose respect for him. I also wonder if part of him thinks about his death and if that also plays a role in him not wanting to fight.
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