The Subject of "The Iliad" is the Wrath of Achilles"
“The subject of The Iliad is the wrath of Achilles.” Discuss.[NU: 2012, 17, 19] ★★★ Or, what is the subject of "The Iliad" – Discuss.
Homer’s (c. 800 BCE – c. 701 BCE) “The Iliad” (762 BCE) is one of the oldest and greatest epic poems in world literature. It deals with a short period of the Trojan War. The main theme of this poem is the wrath of Achilles. The poet shows how his anger brings great suffering for both the Greeks and Trojans. The whole epic moves around his rage, pride, grief, and final change of heart.
The Source of Achilles’ Wrath: Achilles becomes very angry when Agamemnon takes away Briseis. Briseis is a woman who was his prize. Agamemnon’s action hurts Achilles’ pride and honor. Achilles feels insulted and refuses to fight. Homer says,
Achilles’ anger is not just about losing Briseis; it’s about feeling disrespected as a warrior.“The rage of Achilles – sing it now, goddess.”
Prayer to Thetis: After the quarrel, Achilles prays to his mother Thetis. He asks her to speak with Zeus, the king of the gods. Achilles wants Zeus to give victory to the Trojans. His aim is to make the Greeks suffer without his help. This prayer shows how deep his wrath goes. The wrath here is not only against Agamemnon but also against the whole Greek army.
The Effects of Achilles’ Anger: When Achilles refuses to fight, the Greeks start losing battles. Hector and the Trojans to gain the upper hand. Many Greek soldiers die because Achilles is too angry to help. His stubbornness shows how one person’s pride can bring disaster to many.
Death of Patroclus: The wrath of Achilles takes a new turn with the death of Patroclus. Patroclus, his close friend, goes to fight wearing his armor. He is killed by Hector, the prince of Troy. This loss shakes Achilles badly. His grief mixes with his wrath. Now he forgets his anger with Agamemnon. Instead, his rage turns against Hector and the Trojans. Achilles says,
This new fire of wrath leads to a cruel and bloody battle.“I will not stop killing Trojans until . . .
I meet Hector and fight him
man to man, and he kills me or I kill him.”
Killing of Hector: The climax of Achilles’ wrath is seen in his fight with Hector. Achilles returns to war with new armor made by Hephaestus. He kills many Trojans in wild anger. Finally, he meets Hector outside the walls of Troy. With the help of Athena, Achilles kills Hector. His wrath is so strong that he ties Hector’s body to his chariot and drags it in front of the city. His actions shock even the Gods. This shocking act shows how extreme his anger has become:
This cruel act shows the dark power of his anger.“But the more Achilles kept looking, the more his rage
at Hector grew.”
Change of Heart: The end of the poem shows a change in Achilles. Priam, the old king of Troy, comes to beg for his son’s body. He reminds Achilles of his own father. Priam says,
Achilles feels pity for Priam. His heart softens, and he returns Hector’s body. This scene shows that even great wrath can end in mercy. The subject of the epic starts with anger but ends with humanity. It proves that wrath is the key theme of “The Iliad”.“Have pity on me; remember
your father.”
In “The Iliad”, the wrath of Achilles is the central subject. His anger shapes the plot from beginning to end. It causes suffering, death, and destruction. At the same time, it also shows human feelings of grief, love, and mercy. Through this theme, Homer shows the power of pride and anger in human life.