· What kind of warrior was he, especially in Book 9?
· Are his decisions appropriate for a king like him? Why? Why not?
Achilles is known for his superb skills in battling. No one can defeat him in a single fight. The Trojans, even the Greeks, fear and admire him. He was the son of the mortal Peleus and the Nereid Thetis. He also has the attribute of being the most handsome of the heroes assembled against Troy. When Achilles was born, his mother, Thetis, tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx . However, he was left vulnerable at the part of the body she held him by, his heel.
In book 9,
"Odysseus presents Agamemnon’s offer, but Achilles rejects it directly. He announces that he intends to return to his homeland of Phthia. Achilles offers to take Phoenix, who helped rear him in Phthia, with him, but Phoenix launches into his own lengthy, emotional plea for Achilles to stay. He uses the ancient story of Meleager, another warrior who, in an episode of rage, refused to fight, to illustrate the importance of responding to the pleas of helpless friends. But Achilles stands firm, still feeling the sting of Agamemnon’s insult. "
(http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/iliad/section6.rhtml)
The text above speaks about how rude, unconcern and unforgiving Achilles is. He still refuse to fight with the Greeks knowing that many of his fellow countrymen will die. He did not think about what will happen if the Greeks lose the war. All that is in his mind is the conflict between Him and Agamemnon. Even though Agamemnon sent him a great stockpile of gifts, his pride and unforgiving trait ruled over him leaving Odysseus, Great Ajax, and Phoenix failures.
Achilles, being a King, made a wrong decision declining the gifts and refusing to join the Greeks in the battle because he knew that he was a great warrior and therefore a big loss to the Achaeans. A king should be forgiving and knows how to value his men especially in war. If a king does not take care of his men, he will surely lose even if the king himself is a great warrior.
Click!-> Achilles vs. Hector
