Persuasive Techniques And A Powerful Refusal In Iliad Book Ix

Persuasive techniques and a powerful refusal in Iliad Book IX

From the outset, Homer concentrates his epic Iliad on the wrath of Achilles and probes the values and attitudes of him as a hero.   Ìçíéí áåéäå, èåá, Ðçëçéáäåù Á÷éëçïò Sing, goddess, of the wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus (BI.1).   Homer first draws our attention to the heated dispute between two individuals, Achilles and Agamemnon, rather than the Trojan War itself in order to highlight their significance and also his focus.   Achilles" anger has been ignited by his king who has deprived him of his legitimate reward of war ãåñáò åéëåôï êáé ì" áðáôçóå he has taken my prize and has deceived me (344) and thus has undermined the heroic code çôéìçóáò you have brought dishonour (111).   The position of this verb at the start of its line but at the end of its sentence rests massive emphasis on the insensitivity of Agamemnon"s actions.   This is also reflected by Achilles" reaction as he feels greatly humiliated ùò åé ôéí" áôéìçôïí íåôáíáóôçí as if I were some migrant without rights (648) and believes he has lost his freedom.

In Book IX, Diomedes persuades Agamemnon to send an embassy to Achilles in an attempt to soothe his èõìïò áãçíùñ proud spirit (398).   At a time when the Greeks are in great danger èåóðåóéç å÷å öõæá gripped by wondrous Panic (2), Achilles" presence is vital as both a killing warrior and for army morale.   Although Achilles has not appeared since Book I, he has grown in stature by his absence.   His decision to segregate himself and the Myrmidons from the rest of the army can be viewed as a political alienation which has left the Achaeans in ðåíèåé ä" áôëçôù unbearable sorrow (3).   In his boycott, Achilles seeks both to prove to Agamemnon his invaluable worth to the Greeks and, more importantly, to force a meaningful apology out of him for his disgraceful and degrading dishonour.   As a hero, he wants others to recognise his supremacy.   As a hero, he wants his king to praise, reward and...