Achieving Honor in the illiad
...the death of Patroklos has chewed him up inside and he is now ready to gain honor and glory in the art of war. His anger posses him to kill every Trojan in his path, and make his way to Hektor. He will accomplish this feat and gain all the honor and glory he deserves. This is not his intention. He does not want honor and glory. He has overlooked these treasures. This is very similar to his action in Book Nine when he declines the gifts from Agamemnon. He wants to revenge the death of Patroklos and to give him back his glory by retrieving his body and giving him a proper burial. This will also take away the shame and the guilt that he suffered for his actions. Hektor's death can be considered the moment where Achilleus regains all his honor and glory as the ultimate warrior. Achilleus is seen by all of his fellow Achaians and Myrmidons as this great war hero, but he himself does not care about this title. Achilleus has accomplished his aidos towards Patroklos but this is where he should have stopped and ended his reign of terror. He suddenly picks up in his head his old ways of thinking and strives to gain to much honor and glory. He makes a fool of Hektor by dragging his dead carcass from the back of his chariot. This attempt to glorify himself by use of war is the last attempt he has and seems as an act that only brings him shame. He goes too far and mocks Hektor’s body in the same fashion he gloriously fights against in the previous battle. Hektor’s wife claims that Achilleus action may have ended Hektor’s pride: “I fear that Achilleus might have cut off bold Hektor / alone, away from the city, and be driving him into the flat land / might put an end to that bitter pride of courage, that always / was on him” (22:454-57) Achilleus’s action, of dragging the dead body of Hektor around the tomb of Patroklos was enough to anger some of the gods. Apollo pleas to Zeus: “nothing is gained thereby for his good, or his honor. / Great as he is, let him take care not to make us angry: / for see, he does dishonor to the dumb earth in his fury.” (24:52-54) This plea shows how Achilleus has gone to far and stripped Hektor of his honor and glory enough to ruin his status even while he lived. As I mentioned earlier, individuals can acquire the gifts of honor and glory and lose it just as quickly and easily. This is what happened to Achilleus. His action has crossed the line, even in a war where rules are far from set in stone. “Your son is given back to you, aged sir, as you asked it”. (24:599) This is the high-point that Achilleus will reach. This part he agrees...