This section contains 761 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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The Heroic and Tragic Character of Achilles in "The Illiad"
Summary: In "The Iliad," Homer gives Achilles, a half-immortal, human traits and immortal traits to humans. Achilles has the power of the gods instilled within him, but like many of the gods themselves, he is overcome by human emotion and strife to the point that his judgment is impaired.
The half-immortal known as Achilles is the central character, and most powerful warrior of Homer's The Iliad. He was born from the union of a mortal king Peleus and the immortal goddess Thetis; and he was considered the most powerful, handsome, and fleetest soldier of the Achaean army. Having been imbued with a near immortal quality by his mother, he dominated on the battlefield, and no mortal man could take up arms against him without being overcome by his god-like powers. One would think that Achilles, with his divine embellishments, would exemplify heroism and virtue. But upon further inspection, he appears to be nothing but a spoiled brat. Luckily, he starts to see things differently at the end of the story. His actions are best represented during three pivotal points of the Iliad that directly involve him. These points consist of his reactions to Agamemnon, his later failing...
This section contains 761 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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