Achilles had a very interesting grieving process from the moment he heard of Patroclus’ death. The author describes a “mist of black grief” that engulfs Achilles. Describing the grief as a mist gives the reader an image of pure sadness covering Achilles. It is said that Achilles then rubbed fistfuls of sundust all over his head and face. This symbolizes the happiness and joy of the world disappearing for Achilles as his best friend has just been killed. Achilles also rubbed ash on his fine-spun cloak which reinforced the level of deep sadness he felt. “Tearing out his hair with his hands.” This sounds familiar as the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, had a similar reaction to Enkidu’s death by tearing off his fine clothes and ripping out his hair with his bare hands. The author’s word choice in these few lines successfully describes the deep sadness that is in Achilles heart as Patroclus dies. The author even goes as far to say that Achilles was afraid that he “would lay open his own throat with steel.”
This short passage in Book XVIII is extremely important to the central plot of the story as the death of Patroclus is one of the reasons the war turned tides at the last moment. Before this event, Achilles stood firm on his decision to stand idle in the war because of the way Agamemnon treated him in front of his men. It took the death of his dear friend for Achilles to make the decision to join the war and slaughter the Trojans. The author’s word choice was intended to show the audience the powerful affect the death of Patroclus had on Achilles and on the outcome of the war between the Greeks and Trojans. Here, we see the famous opening line of the Illiad ” Sing; Godess, Achilles’ rage.” After speaking with his mother, Achilles turns to a rage to find the murderer of his beloved friend, Hector, and kill him.
Gavin Hamilton, Achilles Mourning the Death of Patroclus, ca. 1760. Courtesy of the National Galleries of Scotland.
