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.