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Delahoyde & Hughes
Orpheus
HOMER'S ILIAD:
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Questions for Book XVI:
Patroclus rebels against Achilles and his stubborn, enraged, "heart of
iron" (16.37). In speaking, Achilles starts beating the proverbial dead
horse, ranting again about the girl and Agamemnon:
Enough.
Zeus faces a dilemma: should he save his own son Sarpedon? Patroclus
kills him. Eventually Hector kills Patroclus. Patroclus' last words try
to rob Hector of the honor of the kill. He claims Fate and Apollo are
responsible. But the last gasp should be read as rather chilling:
Achilles! (16.998-1000)
that son of Atreus! Treating me like some vagabond,
He seems to recognize his emotional impasse and catches himself up, but
this glimpse of awareness does not change the fact of his remaining rage.
Ironically, Achilles preaches restraint to Patroclus. We know that
Patroclus will risk himself and not return alive though. The plan finally
is that Patroclus will wear Achilles' armor in battle so that the Trojans
think it's Achilles back in battle. That should keep Patroclus safe if he
holds back from the worst of the battle.
some outcast stripped of all my rights . . .
Let bygones be bygones now. Done is done.
How on earth can a man rage on forever? (16.67-70)
Already I see them looming up beside you--death
Uh-oh.
and the strong force of fate, to bring you down
at the hands of Aeacus' great royal son . . .
Iliad Index
Orpheus: Greek Mythology