BONUS BLOG

Define HERO or HEROISM. Who do you consider the hero of the epic? Why do you consider him as the epic's hero? Cite evidences from the story.

            All of us want to become a hero, but what does it take to become a hero? When you have supernatural powers? When everyone is looking up to you? When you wear those stylish costumes and appear in front of a large crowd? I don’t think so. Being a hero is not that easy. While it may be hard to define what a hero is, let me define it through Hector. Hector is the one I consider as hero in the Iliad. While others may think that Achilles is the hero, Hector shows more heroism than Achilles in so many aspects.

            I choose Hector because he fights not just for himself neither just for his family, but for Troy. He offers every fight in the name of Troy. He loves and glorifies Troy so much that he is willing to give up his own life for its sake. Prince as he is, he always thinks for the sake of his people and never thinks for his own glory. Hector has so many dreams and aspirations for his land, and that what gives him the strength to swing his sword every time troy is in danger. Unlike Achilles, Hector acts according to what is for the common good. He selflessly serves his people. He seeks glory not for himself but for his country.

            A hero is someone who is ready to die for the sake of those precious to his/her loved ones. A hero is someone who doesn’t seek for personal pleasure, but for the common good. A hero is someone who can stand up for his people and lead them to success. A hero is like Hector, who keeps the passion for Troy burning in his heart and draws inspiration from his loved ones. On the other hand, don’t think that being a hero requires you to take part in a war and kill men. You can be a hero in your own simple ways. The question is, are you willing to sacrifice and be like Hector? 

Chapter 16 Revised! - Death of Patroclos

Chapter Zero:

If you were to change one event or chapter from the Iliad, and replace it with your own story, what chapter or episode will that be?

Write your “version” of the story.

Narrate how it will affect the entire story or ending of the Iliad.

            Iliad would not be as epic as it is if not for the great heroes, their characters, the Gods, and the turnout of events. Every single detail is well thought of by Homer. In that case, one revision will definitely make a big difference, either on the Achaians or the Trojans. If I were to change one event from the Iliad, and replace it with my own story, I would choose the death of Patroclos. I would want to revise Chapter I so as to end this war immediately, but doing that would end Iliad as well. It would not make sense to create an epic story with an immediate resolve to the clash. Also, doing that would not introduce the traits of each character and would not bring out the true message of the epic. My Chapter 16, “Death of Patroclos”, would be like this:

            With tears of sincerity, Patroclos approached Achilles and asked him if he could replace him and lead the Myrmidons in battle so that the Achaians would regain their fighting spirit and win the battle with the Trojans. Being moved with what Patroclos did, Achilles granted his request. He let Patroclos wear his armor, helmet, gears, but not his spear, which only he can wield. Achilles prayed to Zeus asking him to guide Patroclos. Finally, after he gave his blessing he reminded Patroclos not to go too far. Once he had driven away the enemies, he should go back. Achilles told him that he shouldn’t let this war be the cause of his death. Patroclos just nodded and left. Patroclos set out in battle with the Myrmidons. The Achaians thought it was Achilles, so it went as planned. The Achaians gained the battle spirit; thus, driving away the Trojans. Patroclos killed a great number of Trojans. Little by little, they’re advancing towards the wall of Troy. Suddenly, godlike Hector was fast approaching. He remembered what Achilles told him and asked the Myrmidons to fall back. Patroclos was able to return to Achilles sound and safe, but because of this, the Trojans were able to get back from their fall. Patroclos wanted to go back, but this time Achilles didn’t allow him. They immediately sailed home. Meanwhile, the Trojans were able to reach the innermost camp of the Achaians. It was evidently their win because a lot of the Achaian leaders died. Hector approached and killed Agamemnon. With the death of their king, the Achaians lost their reason to stay. They immediately sailed home. Iliad ended with the victory of Troy while Achilles decided to live with his girl in his land.

            Achilles already decided to sail home and leave the Achaians. No peace offering could ever move his decision. Patrcolos didn’t die, so there was no reason for Achilles to come back in battle. Because of this, the Trojans were able to win the battle and Hector didn’t have to die as well. The Fall of Troy would never come to a reality. Troy was able to defend its kingdom against the Achaians. Agamemnon also received his punishment for being a stubborn king. This in turn would give the Achaians a better king. Lastly, Achilles found peace in a lifetime of war.

Patroclos

3.  Patroclos is a noble comrade and warrior. Do you agree? Prove your answer by citing details from the book.

Patroclos is truly a noble comrade and warrior. It can be clearly seen the way he acts in Iliad.

When the Trojans have almost broken through the Achains’ walls, Patroclos, crying, reaches Achilleus and says the following: [From his statements, we can clearly see how noble he is as a comrade and as a warrior]

‘Achilleus, son of Peleus, far the greatest of the Achaians, do not be angry with me – the misery that has overcome the Achaians is indeed that great. All those who were our leading men before now are lying wounded in their ships, shot or stabbed. Tydeus’ son, strong Diomedes, has been hit: Odysseus, the famous spearman, and Agamemnon have been stabbed: Eurypylos too has been hit by an arrow in the thigh. The doctors with their many medicines are busy with them now, healing their wounds.’ – Patroclos was very much worried about the great damage that was done and is being done among his countrymen. He tried to convince Achilleus by stating the situation which might move Achilleus.

‘But you, Achilleus, are impossible to deal with. May I never be taken by an anger like yours, this anger you are feeding! Your pride is ruinous – what good will you do for any other man in time to come, if you do not save the Argives from shameful destruction? Cruel Man! So your father was not Peleus the horseman, or Thetis your mother – it was the grey sea that spawned you, or the stark cliffs, such is the hardness of your heart.’ – Patroclos was Achilles' beloved comrade and brother-in-arms. Even though they had this kind of relationship, he was able to tell Achilleus how he feels towards Achilleus’ pride. In his words, he said to himself that he will never be like Achilleus who would be controlled by anger.     

‘But if there is some prophecy known in your heart which prevents you, or some word from Zeus told you be your honoured mother, then at least send me out without delay, and let me have with me all the rest of the Myrmidon army, and I could bring saving light to the Danaans.’ – If Achilleus would not change his will, then Patroclos will face the Trojans because he felt the need to be in the battlefront the soonest. As a warrior, he was determined to fight for his people. He was ready to protect the Achaians and to lead them in victory.

‘And give me your own armour to wear on my shoulders, so the Trojans might take me for you and hold off their fighting, and the warrior sons of the Achaians gain relief in their weariness – there is little respite in war. We are fresh, and the Trojans exhausted in the clamour of battle – we could easily drive them back on their city away from our ships and huts.’ – Patroclos, being courageous as he was, would not go to battle unprepared. He thought of a plan on how to get an advantage over the Trojans. As it turned out, he would act as Achilleus so as to uplift the Achaians’ spirit and let the Trojans fell fear. In this way, he, together with the Myrmidons, would be able to drive the Trojans off their ships and huts.

            In the end, having been able to fulfill his duty, Patroclos accepted death as it was. Before he died, he had contributed a lot and was able to kill many Trojans and send some of them back to Troy. He even killed Sarpedon, the son of Zeus. He died with no regret because he knew to himself that he had done something noble. In the next chapters, we will be able to see the effect of Patroclos’ death.

Proud Achilles

1.    Analyze the character of Achilles as shown in Books 9-11. Are his decisions appropriate for a king like him? Why/ why not? What kind of warrior is he?

Achilles is the son of the Goddess Thetis and Peleus. He is a Greek Hero notable for his great contribution during the Trojan War.  He is considered the greatest warrior in Iliad. Achilles is not just a warrior, but is also the king of the Myrmidons. As stated in my previous blog, kings are the rulers of their kingdom and are responsible of uniting it and protecting it against anything that opposes their reign.

In chapter 9 of the Iliad, Nestor declares that the Trojans are already winning because King Agamemnon angers Achilles, causing Achilles to withdraw from battle. Nestor proposes that Agamemnon should appease Achilles for the greatest warrior to be back on their side. So Agamemnon sends Odysseus, Ajax, and Phoenix to convince Achilles. They relay the message of King Agamemnon that he never laid a hand on Breseis, and promise to give her back and many more gifts. Despite all of these, Achilles arrogantly refuses. Phoenix, who raised Achilles, tries to persuade him but Achilles, still, is not moved. Now the fate of the Achaians is obviously a doom.

Achilles was the Achaians’ last resort. With his might, he can easily break through the walls of Troy but because he had been offended by King Agamemnon, he never thought of considering King Agamemnon’s offer and forgiving him for the sake of his people. Achilles’ decision as a king was not appropriate for me, at least. He let pride overcome his decisions. His decisions were not based on what is for the Achaians, but for him. A lot of gifts were offered and yet he chose to deny it. He should have helped the Achaians even if greater reward didn’t await him.  As a king, you should choose what is better for your people. Achilles was a warrior who fights only for himself. He was a self-centered warrior and liked things to be always in his favor. 

Agamemnon & Mendoza

1. Narrate how King Agamemnon shows stubbornness of heart in books 1-5.

· Cite modern day examples/people who display the same stubbornness of heart.

                Kings play a very important role in history. They are the rulers of their kingdom and are responsible of uniting it and protecting it against anything that opposes their reign. However, King Agamemnon, in Homer’s Illiad, does otherwise. All that matters to him are his selfish agendas. Apollo’s priest, Chryses, comes to Agamemnon getting his daughter back. He brings with him unlimited ransom and Apollo’s spectre. All the Achaeans voice out to respect the priest’s offer and take the offer. Despite all of these, Agamemnon, with harsh words, speaks fiercely to the priest and sends him away. After which the priest prays to Apollo that the Danaans may suffer. Hearing the priest’s prayer, Apollo comes down from Mt. Olympus and for nine days Apollo’s arrow devastates the Danaans. On the tenth day, Achilles, son of Peleus, calls for a meeting. They discuss the status and try to convince Agamemnon to give back the daughter. Agamemnon, stubborn king as he is, does not hear any from the Achaeans. He refuses to give back the daughter, but he thinks of another way. In replacement to the daughter of Chryses, he will take the girl, the battle prize, of Achilles, and so he does. Achilles feels that it is unfair. Achilles declares that if Agamemnon continues his plan, he will withdraw from battle. Agamemnon does not plead Achilles to stay, and so Achilles withdraws. *Achilles was the Achaeans greatest warrior. It was fool of Agamemnon to let him withdraw from battle since he was an asset of the kingdom.

            Agamemnon made a mistake because he let a lot of his people die because of his own agenda. He allowed self-satisfaction to rule over him. He did not care whatever happened to his people as long as he got what he wanted. This continued when he exchanged the daughter’s priest with Achilles’ battle prize [the girl]. He let Achilles, his greatest warrior, leave.
            A clear manifestation of Agamemnon-like stubbornness is that of Rolando Mendoza’s. It was August 23, 2010 when the whole world was shocked because Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus parked near Manila’s Rizal Park. The bus was estimated to have 20-25 passengers, mostly from Hong Kong along with three Filipinos. He was considered as one of the top 10 officers in the country, but he was discharged for his alleged involvement in drug-related crimes and extortion. He wanted to be back in service so that he would clear his name and retrieve his benefits. At first, he was harmless, but as it turned out, 8 people were killed. Like Agamemnon, Rolando Mendoza did not think of what’s going to happen to the people around him. He wanted to get self-satisfaction his own way, by hook or by crook. A great impact was done because of that incident. Lives were taken, Filipinos were condemned, and ties between countries were broken. The self-centeredness of Rolando Mendoza ended up miserable. He died because of his stubbornness and selfishness.