Week VI: Achilles and Patroclus

Justice, Virtue, and Friendship

October 28, 6:00 PM - 7:30 pm

Reading: Iliad, 11.762-764, 783-805, 14.361-378, 15.592-614, 16.1-100, 16.139-154, 16.220-256, 16.384-393, 17.384-447, 18.1-38, 18.70-129, 19.1-41, 19.54-75, 19.268-276, 19.301-302, 19.314-339, 19.397-424, 20.73-74, 21.1-138, 21.211-227, 21.265-300.

Unlike Odysseus, Achilles has an intense friendship. The desire to avenge the death of his friend, Patroklos, causes Achilles to return to the fight, and costs him his very life (Iliad 18.88-100).

  • Is virtue or excellence the foundation of admiration and so the cause of friendship between rivals (6.206-215; 16.97-100)? Or is it the cause of rivalry between close friends, because virtue and honor are our deepest desire (11.762-764, 11.783-804; 14.368-369; 16.84, 16.89-90)?

  • Why does Achilles send Patroklos into the fight, instead of himself entering the fight—especially since Zeus has, according to Achilles himself, already fulfilled his promise to him (to punish the Greeks for dishonoring him) (16.236-237)? Is it because Achilles wants Patroklos to have the opportunity to win his own glory (16.38-39, 16.97-100, 16.240-245), or is it to have him win Achilles glory (16.84-86, 16.89-90)? Does one love one’s friend for the friend’s sake, or for one’s own sake (19.301-302, 19.328-333, 19.338-339)?

  • Achilles reacts so strongly to the death of Patroklos, that he cannot imagine anything else more evil—not even the death of his own father or son (19.321-327)!—and becomes suicidal (18.34). Does Achilles see himself in Patroklos? Or does Achilles love him because he is so unlike him, even his opposite?

  • Is friendship the highest thing for Achilles, sufficient for happiness? Or is something else needed, a thing that may be incompatible with friendship?

  • In blaming himself for Patroklos’ death and seeking Hektor’s punishment (18.98-121), does Achilles show that he needs justice and faith in virtue even more than friendship? (—if so, then does Achilles truly accept death (21.265-300, cf. 18.98-100)?)

Reading