The rage of Achilles is a dispute over the girl Briseis, (Achilles’ prize) with King Agamemnon who took the girl away from Achilles in rage of losing his own girl Chryseis. Achilles argues that the maid Briseis belongs to him, a prize he won fair in war “That girl-the sons of Achaea picked her as my prize” (414.64). The girl becomes an excuse to quarrel with Agamemnon whom Achilles sees as an unfit ruler “you lack the courage…King who devours his people” (85.267-9). This dispute seems to be extremely overpowering to Achilles who finds it necessary to summon his mother, the immortal Thetis and convinces her to persuade King Zeus to “grant the Trojans victory after victory till the Achaean armies pay my dear son back, building higher the honor he deserves!”(94.606). Achilles holds the grudge between him and King Agamemnon over the girl until Trojan troops storm the rampart. Then, in sight of the destruction the Trojans bring and knowing King Zeus has granted him the glory to win in battle, Achilles commands his friend Patroclust to battle, to win glory for his mane. Achilles particularly urges Patroclust to “stride from the slaughter so we could bring Troy’s hallowed crown of towers toppling down around us-you and I alone!”(415.117-9).
Was Achilles intention to get the girl Briseis, “his prize” back, or did Achilles intend to keep his troops in one piece until the Argive troops were so reduced by the Trojans, that only Myrmidons troops were left to bring Troy to ruins and gain a glorious victory to Achilles’ name i.e. “The honor he deserves”?
