achilles as hero

Despite the grand scope of Homer’s epics--which present warfare, heroism, adventure and divinity as forces that shape human destiny—The Iliad may be seen as an account of the circumstances that irrevocably alter the life of one man: Achilles, greatest of warriors. Through the course of the poem, Achilles goes through many ordeals, which changes his character immensely. One example of such a character change is when he is quarreling with Agamemnon. Achilles and …

…tears away at the depths of his soul, eating away at his pride and testicles. The last thing he says to his mother while mourning is “So all can reap the benefits of their king-so even mighty Atrides can see how mad he was to disgrace Achilles, the best of the Achaeans!” This one event, in no way insignificant, is the beginning of Achilles rite of passage into a newer, arguable better man or warrior.