Blog Post 03/23

In book twenty-four of The Iliad, the part that moved me most was the scene when Priam goes to Achilles and asks for Hektors body back. I feel like this is the first scene since Patroklos’ death that we have seen Achilles show any emotion other than anger. Achilles shows compassion and can ultimately see his own father in Priam, which in turn makes him emotional to the point where he begins to cry with Priam. Achilles realizes that both him and Priam have endured losses –Priam having lost Hektor and Achilles having lost Patroklos. Furthermore, it was enlightening to see that Achilles managed to have some sort of empathy towards another person who is practically the father of his enemy, the person who killed his best friend. I think this part of Achilles was a great way to sort of end the book altogether, as well, sort of giving the audience somewhat of a decent closure.