In Book 1 of The Iliad, Homer recounts the story of how the conflict between Agamemnon, leader of the Greek army, and Achilleus, King of the Myrmidons, developed. After Agamemnon relinquished his war prize, Chryseis, to her father, he sought to restore the honour and power that he lost by seizing Achilleus’ war prize, Briseis. Dishonoured at having his own prize taken from him, Achilleus exacts revenge against Agamemnon by withdrawing from battle.
FOR THIS ESSAY, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN AGAMEMNON AND ACHILLEUS AS FOUND IN THE ILIAD. SPECIFICALLY, YOUR TASK IS TO EXAMINE, FIRST, HOW THE “LOGIC” (REASONING) THAT BOTH AGAMEMNON AND ACHILLEUS SHARE IN COMMON GENERATES AND SUSTAINS THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THEM. SECOND, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DISCUSS WHETHER THE CONFLICT BETWEEN AGAMEMNON AND ACHILLEUS IS EVER TRULY RESOLVED. IF IT IS, HOW? IF IT IS NOT, WHY NOT? IN THE COURSE OF YOUR ESSAY, YOU SHOULD ADDRESS THE BULLETED QUESTIONS BELOW.
What is the source of the conflict between Agamemnon and Achilleus?
Why does Agamemnon think that he has the right to claim Achilleus’ prize? What is his reasoning? Why does Achilleus think that he has the right to possess his prize? What is his reasoning?
Is the position of Achilleus substantively (i.e., fundamentally or essentially) different from the position of Agamemnon? What are the values of Agamemnon and Achilleus? Are the values of the two men different? If so, in what way? If the position of each man rests on the same values, then why are the men in conflict? How does the commonality between the two men lead to an opposition between them?
Does Agamemnon admit that he is wrong in Book 9 when he sends an embassy to Achilleus’ ships to persuade Achilleus to return to battle? Is he apologizing to Achilleus? Or is Agamemnon’s position in Book 9 consistent with his position in Book 1? (It is essential that you consider carefully the actual ancient Greek terminology that is used at key moments by Nestor, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Phoinix, and Aias in Book 9).
How do you understand Achilleus’ response to the embassy? What does this response indicate about Achilleus? What does it indicate about his relationship to the Greek army?
Does the relationship among friends, as between friends and enemies, express a struggle for honour and power? What does Achilleus think about his dearest friends? How do you understand his relationship with Patroklos?
Why does Achilleus decide in Book 18 to return to battle? Does this “change of heart” indicate that Achilleus understands himself to have been in the wrong when he withdrew from battle?
Is the reasoning of Agamemnon and the reasoning of Achilleus unique only to them? Or do their enemies think in similar way? Does Hektor share the same values as Agamemnon and Achilleus? Do the gods?