Homer's Iliad

Homer's Iliad is the story of the epic battle between the Greeks and Trojans. The story opens nearly 10 years after the battle first began with a goddess telling the story of Achilles' rage, which cost the Greeks countless lives. Chryses, the priest of Apollo, comes to the Greek army with ransom for his daughter, Chrysies, who was taken during the pillaging of Chryse and given to Agamemnon as a prize. When Apollo makes Agamemnon return Chrysies to her father, Agamemnon takes Briseis, who belonged to Achilles.

This act is essentially what causes his withdrawal from fighting. Achilles is so angered with Agamemnon that he considers killing him, and may have, if Athena had not intervened. Achilles leaves the battle, and makes plans to return to his home. The reason this causes Achilles such rage is because honor and prestige is valued above all else in Greek culture. When someone becomes honored and remembered, it is a way to be immortal, you will be famous, and people will talk about you, even after you are die. Agamemnon and Achilles are alike in two ways. The first is that each understands the importance of honor in their culture, and neither wants to be without prestige. Agamemnon, after having to return Chrysies, does not want to be left without a prize, so he takes Achilles' prize rather than be dishonored by having no prize.

They are also alike in that both hold their own prestige higher than the group dynamic. Had Agamemnon had the Greek army in his best interest, he would have returned Chrysies and gone without prize. Had Achilles held the Greek army above his own interests, he would have returned to fighting, rather than waiting on the sidelines until his close friend Patroclus is killed. Even when Agamemnon makes a deal to make Achilles the most honored of the Greeks, he still refuses to return to combat, as if he has been dishonored so badly, that the only way for him to keep a modicum of dignity is to stay true to his principles and stand up for himself.

A perfect example of the importance of prestige to Achilles is in Book 9. Agamemnon, realizing he needs Achilles help to win the war, sends Phoenix, Aias, and Odysseus to act as diplomats and offer Achilles prizes and honor to return to battle. Admitting to being wrong would humiliate and disgrace Agamemnon, but losing the war would disgrace him even more. Perhaps deciding to make amends to Achilles is Agamemnon choosing between the lesser of to evils. The diplomats Agamemnon sends appeal to Achilles desire for honor, and tells him that he will be paid tribute as if he were a god. Achilles declines the invitation to return to fighting because he feels his honor was wounded too badly. Once again, Achilles is seen being selfish and thinking first of his honor rather than the good of the Group. Throughout the character interaction in this book, it is clear that the "kings" of Greek are motivated by honor. Agamemnon doesn't want to be dishonored for losing the war, Phoenix, Aias, and Odysseus use honor to get Achilles to return, and Achilles whose honor was already disgraced plans to leave the war because of it.

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