Book 21, ll. 308-320
Comments(10) “Father Zeus! To think in all my misery not one god
can bring himself to rescue me from this river!
Then I’d face any fate. And no god on high,
none is to blame so much as my dear mother—
how she lied, she beguiled me, she promised me
I’d die beneath the walls of the armored Trojans,
cut down in blood by Apollo’s whipping arrows!
I wish Hector had killed me,
the best man bred in Troy-the killer a hero then
and a hero too the man whose corpse he stripped!
Now look what a wretched death I’m doomed to suffer,
trapped in this monstrous river like some boy, some pig-boy
swept away, trying to ford a winter torrent in a storm!”
This passage is interesting to me because it shows Archilles is reluctant to be killed by the Scamander that he thinks it is a “wretched death”. He also says that he wishes to be killed by Hector who is in fact weaker than him. As one the Achaeans’ most valuable warriors, it is interesting that he feels it is not a shame to be killed by someone who is much weaker than him. If I am Archilles, I would rather be killed by an immortal who is more powerful than me. This passage also talks about the fate which could be seen many times in the book. By mentioning the fate, the poet reminded me that there must be someone coming to save Archilles’s life from the river. The fates of the people and even the immortals in this book are predictions to the reader and are portrayed as a supreme force. They reflect a theme of Fatalism and convey an idea that people are born unequally and will eventually end in the predetermined way.
I like what you mention of fate at the end of you paragraph. What I was wondering though, is where is this fate coming from? Who controls it? The Gods or something higher?
But to why Achilles would rather die by the hands of Hector; Hector kill Achilles’ close friend. Achilles feels like it is his duty to kill Hector, after that, he cares not for his life.
Awesome work!
I found this passage interesting as well, but what I related it to was the idea that a man in battle must die with glory. Being killed by a god doesn’t in a sense seem fair because there is no way to fight/stop a god from doing what they please to do. These soldiers have very strict beliefs in what they value and find important and one of those things is glory. Dying by the hands of a god I believe it to be dishonorable, and I think maybe that is why Achilles is so frustrated that his life might end this way.
Great Quote!
I believe this quote relates back to the overarching theme of the glory associated with war. Achilles is a man of pride and would rather die fighting than drowning in a river. At least, if he dies at war, he died for his people, his country, a cause. But drowning is almost a desperate way to go because he feels hopeless and pathetic. Achille’s would rather die a hero than in vain.
Like you I was also a bit shocked Achilles would rather be killed by Hector who is weaker than him. I guess it could be because he wants to die more glorious and manly and not die trapped by some river.
I liked how you used the word reluctant in describing Achilles. He seems as if he is almost “too good” to die by the Scamander that he would be better off if he died at the hands of Hector instead.
I agree with the last part about fate and how the characters are born unequal and their lives predetermined. I also understand why Achilles would rather die in battle with Hector because he is the strongest Trojan and if anyone would kill him, it would have to be the strongest of the enemy.
This passage is very interesting. What i think Achilles is conveying is that he much rather get killed in battle, fighting and earning glory rather than dying a regular death. He was promised by his mother that if he fought in Troy he would obtain glory. Glory is obtained on the battle field not off.
I like when you said about “I would kill strong person neither than kill weaker person.” I didn’t read about the story yet but I could imagine what happen in this chapter.
Very Nice! I agree with the fact that a great warrior,maybe even the best in the story, such as the semi-god Achilles shouldn’t die to a mere mortal. The fact that mortal and immortals accept their fate without questions shows that they don’t really have any free will. They don’t question their fate since they believe in fate so deeply.
I think Achilles is starting to lose himself in the sorrow of his friend’s death. Instead of avenging his friend, Achilles now wishes to be dead and die like a hero. And the worst thing is that he thinks he is beyond save even with the help of a god.