Week Three: HOMER
Achilles: Justice and the Noble or Lion-Hearted Hero
September 26, 8 PM -9:30 pm
Not Odysseus, but Achilles, is called “the best of the Achaeans” (Iliad 1.412, 9.110, 16.21, 19.216). Achilles shows a lion-hearted anger at deceit, injustice, and selfishness, and a record of uncalculating generosity and devotion to his men (Iliad 1.148-160, 9.321-327). Does he possess or attain a greater self-understanding than Odysseus? The Iliad opens with Achilles suffering a bitter disillusionment from his undeserved dishonor at the hands of the ruler of the Greek armies, Agamemnon. Despite the pleas of his friends, Achilles threatens to abandon the army at Troy and return home. Doesn’t Achilles have a duty to help his men regardless of whether he was cheated or dishonored? (—but is Justice helping and dying for others, without hope of reward?)
What self-knowledge does Achilles gain from his dishonor and suffering? Why does awareness of his own concern for a (just) reward for his sacrifices lead him to despair of receiving it (9.315-322)? Why should he, a lifelong warrior, only now be troubled by death (9.320, 9.401-409)? Achilles has the courage to face the choice between a long life at home, and a swift death but undying glory at Troy (9.410-416). He seems at first to choose the former, a long life (but without glory) (1.169-171, 9.356-363). At this moment, the greatest Greek hero seems to reject the heroic life! But are there already signs that he will fail to stick with his resolution? Why does he reject the rewards Agamemnon offers (9.378-409, 9.696-700)—what does Achilles really need, and can any being provide it?