Chapter Zero

All throughout of the story “The Iliad”, there’s a prophecy that the Gods believe in. They are ensuring that Greeks would win and take over Troy. They are always intervening in the battle between the Trojans and Achaeans. As a reader, I hate the way Gods interfere so I was thinking of scenes that can be modified.

The events that I want to change from the book are when Achilles shows his rage over King Agamemnon. I want to change the decision that he make. The story goes like this:

When Achilles thinks about what will happen next for him, he sees Patroclus who is in his training camp. He talks to him and ask what he should do in order to show revenge to King Agamemnon. Patroclus, flashes an idea through his mind, and suggests that he should join Hector and the Trojans to battle and defeat King Agamemnon. A messenger comes to them and report to them that Briseis was slain by the King. Gaining a bursting rage, Achilles calls for the myrmidons and asks help from Patroclus to speak with Hector and make some negotiations about the war. Hector agrees upon them and gladly accepts them with open arms. The Trojans and Achilles’ army are now inspired to battle and swear to each other that they will do their best and defeat the Achaeans.
The Gods from above have gathered and talks about the decision of Achilles. Zeus said that the Trojans would not win because of the prophecy. In everything that will happen, the Trojans would still be defeated and the Greeks will reign.

One week later, the battle has begun and Achilles shows skills that can be compared to a God. He kills soldiers one by one. Also battling, Hector is now motivated on how Achilles clashes out with the Achaeans, so he cries out to his army and fights with dedication.

King Agamemnon is worried about what’s happening in the battle so he asks help from Zeus. Then, the Cloudgatherer grants his request and also thought of making the Greeks win because of the prophecy that is prepared for them.

With the help of the Gods, the Achaeans make the Trojan army reduce to 300 or less. But the resiliency and the power of the will by Achilles and Hector make their army become stronger. They attack, defend and stand-up until both army decreases. Zeus forces them to stop from combat and says that a fight must come down into four people. A battle must involve Achilles and Paris from the Trojan side and Agamemnon and Menelaus from the Greeks and no one should interfere in the match. These four people have confrontations with the man they facing off.

Now, the match has started and they stare to each other. Eventually, Achilles makes the first blow to Agamemnon. Then, the battle turns out to be fierier. When the match has lasted long, Paris is now exhausted and when Menelaus notices it, he pursues to kill Paris with a spear and execute it very well. Watching in the top of the battle tower, Hector mourns for Paris and thinking to go to battle but his wife, Andromache, stops him.

A 2 on 1 match is now occurring. The Trojans cheer for Achilles and the Achaeans are rejoicing. Achilles stands firm but his opponents are turning down because of exhaustion. So, Achilles did not let time passes by and stabs Agamemnon through his heart and throw his spear into Menelaus and resulted into a double kill. The Trojans are roaring like thunder and exults by Achilles’ victory. People remember Achilles as the hero of the story.

This is a short summary of what I am thinking of my version. I want to change what will happen and bring victory to the Trojans. I don’t want to believe in the prophecy and have faith by one’s character. I like to make Achilles be honoured. This is the version that I want to end in the story.

The Divine Intervention

Destiny is a predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control while free will is the power of making free choices that are unconstrained by external circumstances or by an agency such as fate or divine will. The two terms have a great difference, because they are two contrasting words. These words can be seen in the book “The Iliad”, not literally but when we analyze how the Gods intervene in the battle between Trojans and Greeks. 

The Gods had prepared destinies for the humans of Troy and Greece. Zeus had joined in the battleground helping the Trojans. He inspired Hector to push through the battle and making him stronger to rage on a battle. Zeus was helping them because he knew that the Greeks would win according to the prophecy. So, he wanted to make the battle more interesting and to show revenge about the dishonor of King Agamemnon to Achilles.  Zeus had set out his focus on the battle and leave for other affairs. Then, Poseidon took charge. He was eager to help out the Achaeans and visited Little Ajax and Great Ajax in the form of Calchas and gave them confidence to resist the Trojan onslaught. Another scene that showed the intervention was when Zeus snapped the bow of Teucer, who aims to got a shot right through into Hector. These are some events that exhibit the interference of the Gods. 

The victories of the Trojans in books 12 and 17 and the Achaeans in book 13, 14 and 16 are willed by the Gods. Because when Hera doze Zeus in enchanted sleep then later wake up, the Cloudgatherer making clear that he has no personal interest in a Trojan victory over the Achaeans. He tells her that he comes to their aid, but Troy is still fated to fall and Hector will die after he kills Patroclus. This means that how Hector and the Trojans work hard containing the Greeks, they are destined to lose which cannot be change. 

I compare the gods into a puppet master as how they control the actions of humans who fight for their honor. The humans are like puppets that have their hearts. Our God, the Almighty Father is different from the Olympian Gods. He let us obtain our free will to do what we want. He is not a puppet master who controls and takes liberties. He is a God who guides us in our decisions that we want to choose. For our God, we make our own fate.

The Great Warrior’s Rage

Achilles was the Greek Hero of the Trojan War. His character depicts the true perception of a noble hero. He also has the attributes of being the most handsome of the heroes assembled against Troy. Achilles was the son of the nymph Thetis and Peleus, the king of the Myrmidons. He earned his name as the purest, the highest and “the best of the Achaians”. Achilles placed as a hero depended upon the understanding of his place in society, and performing with the expectations society had for him. He freely accepted the natural pattern of a hero, consisting of a hero's suffering and a hero's death.

There were many decisions that Achilles had to choose, whether to fight and to help the Achaeans win over the Trojans or leave the Greeks to battle and see them die. There is also a major problem which could dictate his options, ‘to die young with glory or live long, but simple life’. That problem could be his preference whether to do the right decision or go the other way. In book one of the story, “The Iliad”, Agamemnon showed disgrace to Achilles. It had leaded the great warrior to bear rage against the King and planned to go to Phythia, his hometown. The conflict continued at book nine. Where things were getting out of their way, King Agamemnon planned to give Achilles some peace offerings including Briseis and his daughter. He did this to ensure Achilles would accept the offer and fights with them. Then, Ajax Telemon and Oddyseus went to Achilles and said the intentions of the King. Achilles rose and clarify that he still hates Agamemnon. So, I could say that Achilles was arrogant as the king shown him stubborness in book one. His pride never goes down especially when a person wounds his heart.

Another scene that portrays Achilles’ rage is when he sends Patroclus to Nestor and confirming who had fallen. Despite his concern for the wounded, Achilles would not enter the battle because of his enduring wrath. This anger is so strong that even in the face of wounded friends, routed troops and an endangered camp, Achilles will not compromise. Rage had made it so that Achilles would rather see friends wounded than be affronted by Agamemnon.

I believe that Achilles’ decision is somewhat suitable to the person who did him dishonor. What you do to others will return the same way as you treated them, as other people are saying. King Agamemnon had just taste his own medicine. If I were the person whom the King treated badly, I will do the same thing as Achilles did. But I don’t really understand why Achilles didn’t accept the offer even though it includes Briseis and swear of the king that he never made love with her. I think the pride had made him chose that way. Although he doesn't forgive the king, I recognize him as the most honorable man in the story.

The King’s Inflexibility of the Spirit

Agamemnon, the leading king of the Greek forces in the Trojan War, became king of Mycenae by driving out his uncle, Thyestes, with the help of King Tyndareus of Sparta. Agamemnon was a son of Atreus, the husband of Clytemnestra (a daughter of Tyndareus), and the brother of Menelaus, who was the husband of Helen of Troy (Clytemnestra's sister). The most dominant traits that he possesses were being stubborn and self-centered.

Let me narrate the story that showed his attitude. The stubbornness of the King Agamemnon was started when he took Chryseis, the daughter of Chryses, made her as his slave. He admitted that Chryseis is finer than his wife. But when Chryses went to visit the king to offer a luxurious ransom in exchange for the freedom of his daughter, he was disappointed for the reason that the King doesn’t want to release the priest’s daughter. Although the King was being insisted by the Achaeans for approving Chryses' request, Agamemnon refused to grant it. He threatened to kill Chryses if the priest should ever come to his presence again. Then, it made Chryses flees. Then, he prayed to Apollo for reprisal and vengeance. The god showered arrows on the Achaeans for his rage against Agamemnon. There was an outbreak to the Achaeans which made their people and animals to die. 

For several days, Calchas, a great prophet, said to Achilles the cause of the plague. He alleged that it had been sent by Apollo for punishing Agamemnon in treating Chryses. He also said that to break Apollo’s anger towards Agamemnon, they should gave back Chryseis without accepting any ransom and must gave hundred sacred bulls to Chyrses. Agamenon agreed to give up with the girl but in his attitude, he wanted an Achaean to give him a prize to pay off for his loss. 

Achilles as a great and noble man, he was infuriated by the demand and made an argument with Agamemnon. By being obstinate to people, Agamemnon insulted Achilles. They exchanged strong words after another. Achilles also complained that though he beared the grave affliction in war, it was the king who was always greedy for prizes. Achilles refused to quarrel with him anymore. Agamemnon responded that to compensate for the loss of Chryseis, he would take Achilles' own prize, the girl Briseis.

It actually made Achilles to strike Agamemnon because of the disgrace and anger he seized. But Hera sent Athena to stop Achilles for his intention. She promises that Achilles will be justly compensated for this great dishonor. Achilles obeyed her, but he sweared to Agamemnon that one day the Achaeans would come begging Achilles for help.

Scene from the movie Troy

By the way, this movie is a translation of the book "The Iliad"

 The King’s heart is what could make a reader be furious toward the story, as I had felt. Agamemnon is a selfish king who was born to be a ruler of Mycenae.  He was not the type of king that a nation should have. I like the way Achilles have responded to the King’s insult although it’s nearing to bloodshed.

In modern day, there are many people whom we can compare the way Agamemnon act. Some politicians in our society do these kinds of manners. They execute it in words and in actions. The major problem in the government is corruption. Politicians who did these problem know by themselves that they are doing wrong. Of course, they know the fact that it is immoral but their hearts are sinking in temptations. They are stubborn in the way that they do not stop corrupting even though they are seeing a world crisis! They only think about themselves. Not only politicians who commit these immoral attitude but also the common people. We put strong and harmful words which could strike their physical and mental aspects to the person they striking. We should think first before saying something not moral about others since we do not what will happen in the future.