Assess The Significance Of Achilles Anger In The Iliad

Achilles’ anger is a prominent theme and the basis of the Iliad. The passage above is just one of many examples of when a god’s desire for kleos is driven by anger. Achilles withdraws from battle with the Achaean forces because Apollo forced Agamemnon to give up Cryseis. After discovering that his friend Patroclus has been killed by Hector for wearing Achilles’ armour, he decides to pursue kleos and return to battle. Achilles challenges Hector to a one-on-one battle to get revenge. Achilles’ aim to avenge the death of Patroclus by killing Hector is significant because even in a time when most would be mourning and concerned with the death of a friend, Achilles is also concerned with achieving kleos. This proves how important kleos is to gods in the Greek world. Additionally, Hector is concerned with his kleos, which can be seen just prior to his death when he begs for Achilles to “give [his] body to friends to carry home again so Trojan men and Trojan women can do me with fitting right of fire once [he is] dead” (22.399). Hector fears that mutilating his body will cause him to lose his kleos, even after death. …show more content…
The care for the dead has not necessarily shifted throughout the course of the Iliad. The treatment and care for the dead is more-so dependent on the terms of death and who is in charge of the care for the body. Achilles disrespects Hector’s body out of anger for the death of Patroclus, instead of allowing the Trojans to bury his body. Achilles wasn’t satisfied with just killing Hector in a one-on-one battle, so he ordered Achaean soldiers to stab and mutilate Hector’s dead body. Achilles ties the body to the back of his chariot and drags it around. On the other hand, the treatment of Patroclus’s body is not brutal at all, but is more of a celebration. A series of games were held in honor of Patroclus following the proper burial of his