1. Achilles’ reaction to the death of Patroclus
Iliad Book XVIII
Achilles’ reaction to the death of Patroclus

2. Key Plot Events Antilochus brings news of Patroclus’ death
Achilles’ deep grief
“Consolation” of Thetis
Fight for Patroclus’ body
Iris visits Achilles
Achilles’ yell and its consequences
Polydamas advises Hector to retreat
Achilles mourns Patroclus’ death
Thetis goes to Hephaestus for armor

3. Key Characters: Book XVIII
Antilochus
Achilles
The Nereids
Myrmidons
Thetis
Hephaestus
Iris
Polydamas
Hector
Pallas Athena
Menoetius
Charis

4. Book XVIII: Notes
Key Theme for Book XVIII***: The reaction of Achilles to Patroclus’ death. Does he change after this moment? How so? How does this death become the pivotal moment in the Iliad?
--Antilochus, Nestor’s son, brings the news to Achilles: “Patroclus, Menoetius’ brave son, is dead.” As you’ve seen many times, a character is often introduced in an epithet that suggests family lineage: e.g. “Peleus’ perfect son” for Achilles.
Not only is Patroclus dead, but Hector has taken the armor, Achilles’ armor that he leant to Patroclus on that fateful day.

5. Book XVIII: Notes
Key Scene: **The Reaction of Achilles (23-36): deep grief, self mutilation “tearing out his hair with his hands,” “groaning / From the depths of his soul.”
Achilles’ relationship with Patroclus represents the epitome of the homosocial bond, a love between men that is deeper than any love each feels towards women.
--Do you think Achilles cares for Briseis as much as he did Patroclus? Not even close.
--Thetis, Achilles’ mother, cries in sympathy for her son, and goes to him.
Achilles is an epic warrior, a terror on the battlefield, but often needs his mother.
Thetis knows the tragic fate of Achilles if he stays in Troy: “And now I will never / Welcome him home again to Peleus’ house.”

6. Book XVIII: Notes
**Key Passage**: perhaps the most important in the Iliad (77-82): Thetis says to Achilles, “Child, why are you crying? What pain / Has come to your heart Speak, don’t hide it. / Zeus has granted your prayer. The Greeks / Have all been beaten back to their ships / And suffered horribly. They can’t do without you.”
In other words, Achilles, you got what you wanted—the Greeks are being slaughtered, just as you asked, just as you prayed for.
It’s at this moment that Achilles realizes the truth: his prayer to Zeus has lead to the death of Patroclus.
He wanted the Greeks to die to prove a point to Agamemnon, and indeed, the Greeks did die—Patroclus was one of them.
It’s all his fault, and Achilles knows it.

7. Book XVIII: Notes
Key**: Achilles completely distraught: “I no longer have the will / To remain alive among men, not unless Hector / Loses his life on the point of my spear.” The only thing Achilles has to live for is to revenge Patroclus’ death.
Thetis to Achilles: “Hector’s death means yours.” In other words, Achilles is fated to die shortly after Hector. If Achilles kills Hector, he is only hastening his own death.
Achilles’ response: “Then let me die now. I was no help / To him when he was killed out there.” He deserted Patroclus in his time of need, and will not mind dying as punishment, particularly if it means killing Hector.
Key passage lines **--perhaps a beginning of a character change in Achilles? He says he’s ready to meet Agamemnon and “conquer our pride, because we must.” A new perspective, one fueled by his intense grief and feelings of responsibility for Patroclus’ death.
Unconcerned with his own fate—he’ll accept it whenever it comes

8. Book XVIII: Notes
Thetis tells him that Hector is wearing his armor; new armor, then, must be created, and she is off to see Hephaestus.
The fight for Patroclus’ body: Hector vs. the Two Ajaxes. This scene parallels the action in Book XVI.
Iris to Achilles: Hector means to impale the head of Patroclus: “Shame / To your dying day if his corpse is defiled.”
Question: Do we see a different side of Hector on the field of battle, as compared to the one depicted in Book VI? How is the “domestic” Hector different?
Iris to Achilles: Just let them see you on the field of battle—that will be enough to terrify the Trojans.
The yell of Achilles: amplified by Pallas Athena (always a supporter of the Greeks)
The Trojans panic; “twelve of their best / Lost in the crush of chariots and spears.” The Greeks get the body of Patroclus back. Just the threat of the great Achilles is enough here.

9. Book XVIII: Notes In the Trojan camp, Polydamas meets with Hector
Polydamas—a prophet—born the same night as Hector.
Polydamas’ advice: Let’s retreat to the walls of Troy, away from that “violent man” Achilles; we’ll be protected there.
Hector rejects Polydamas’ advice—instead, we’ll attack at dawn.
Hector—believes he still has a chance, after his encounter with Patroclus: About a fight with Achilles, he says, “Maybe he’ll win, maybe I will. / The war God doesn’t care which one he kills.”
Perhaps, Hector thinks, the future is uncertain, and I have a chance to win.

10. Book XVIII: Notes
Mourning Patroclus—Achilles laments “the whole night through
**key passage ( ): the depth of Achilles’ grief. He had promised Menoetius, Patroclus’ father, that he would bring him his “glorious son” home.
Achilles realizes that neither Menoetius nor Peleus will ever see their sons again.
Development of Achilles: starting to consider other people’s feelings rather than just his own; sympathetically identifying with Peleus, Menoetius, Thetis.
Achilles’ promise to Patroclus: “I will not bury you until / I have brought here the armor and head of Hector / Who killed you, great soul.” All of Achilles’ rage is now directed towards Hector, who actually did very little in the death of Patroclus.
Preparing the body for funeral: A window into the world of Homer’s culture. Washing the body, anointing it with oil, wrapping it in a “soft linen cloth,” grieving through the night for the departed Patroclus.

11. Book XVIII: Notes Thetis: visits Hephaestus
Thetis had save Hephaestus nine years ago after he “lay suffering / From my long fall” (see Book I).
Charis is the wife of Hephaestus.
Thetis knows that Apollo is primarily responsible for Patroclus’ death, but that Apollo “gave Hector the glory.”
Achilles needs “a shield and helmet,” as well as other articles, since Hector wears his armor
Hephaestus: “armor he will have, forged to a wonder, / And its terrible beauty will be a marvel to men.”
Achilles’ shield: four page description, larger than life, a shield worthy of an epic hero and worthy of a god’s creation.
Now that’s a shield!

12. Shield of Achilles Shield worthy of an epic hero Two cities depicted
Scenes of real life
Dispute over blood money, murder
Warfare: a city under siege
Pastoral setting: farmland, vineyards, fruit, boy playing lyre
Violence and beauty intertwined: human life