According to the ancient Greeks’ heroic code, since death is inevitable in the long run, every hero will fight, whether the glory goes to them or to other people. When the emissaries are sent to Achilles, he rejects the offer given to him by the king, explaining his plans to return to Phthia. The allure for glory, however, is irresistible as Achilles later is compelled to avenge the death of Patroclus, his beloved friend, showing how strong an influence the heroic code is to a Trojan warrior. This essay examines the three ambassadors, their major arguments, how Achilles countered them, and what changed Achilles’ mind to rejoin the war.
The three ambassadors sent by King Agamemnon to persuade Achilles to rejoin the battlefield are Odysseus, Great Ajax, and Phoenix. Each of them used different styles of persuasion: Odysseus was logical; Phoenix employed a moral argument, while Great Ajax used emotional persuasion. Their arguments are likened to a short manual of oratory, which the Greeks considered to be at the same level as fighting prowess. A warrior was required to be familiar with the lengthy speeches filled with taunts as part of his preparedness for war
In Odysseus’ argument, he persuades the warrior that it is only logical for him to save the desperate situation occasioned by the devastating loss suffered by the Achaeans in the hand of the Trojans. He explains his point by recounting the military situation of the Achaeans on the battlefield. He says, “What scenes of slaughter in yon fields appear! The dead we mourn, and for the living fear” (Homer 9:167).
Secondly, he argues that Achilles is morally obligated to keep his anger under control. This moral of obligation stems from the authority of the hero’s father who told him to control his temper. Lastly, he adds that accepting the material gifts given by the King is a show of goodwill, listing the many gifts and rewards that he would receive if he rejoined the army (Homer 9:167, 168). It is important to note that Odysseus wisely left out the King’s haughty statement that Achilles’ was his junior. To sum it up, Odysseus believes that Achilles can attain personal glory and honor if he saves the Achaeans from the impending doom.
Achilles out rightly rejected the offers given by the King through Odysseus, showing that he still harbored hard feelings towards the monarch. His response is not only swift, but also not properly thought-out, creating a major turning point in the epic. Until this point, one could sympathize with the great warrior because Agamemnon had clearly wronged him. However, it is clear that his injured pride is a hindrance to any logical considerations, refusing to agree with the king’s honorable terms. Ajax later says, “Fix’d is his wrath, unconquer’d is his pride; He slights thy friendship, thy proposals scorns, And, thus implored, with fiercer fury burns” (Homer 9:178). At this point, it is not far-fetched to infer that Achilles moral balance takes a tumble, and begins to fall against him.
Achilles, a true fighter and a man of great passion openly questions whether the entire heroic code of honor is valid in the first place (Homer 9:169, 170). Seemingly, nothing will satisfy the great warrior’s ego, except he completely humbles Agamemnon, a demand which is not only unreasonable but also unwarranted. One can conclude that the warrior’s quest for revenge is overwhelming his ability to make proper judgment, straining his loyalty to his friends and the soldier’s code of honor that he has always claimed to hold in high regard.
Other pundits view this episode in a different light, arguing that Achilles’ refusal to accept the king’s offer is morally and psychologically valid since he is not interested in receiving Agamemnon’s gifts. After all, his fate is fixed, and he will die shortly after the ratification of the gift. Moreover, he recognizes Agamemnon’s ability to play treachery upon as he did before with by taking Briesis, Achilles’ war prize away.
Phoenix’s argument is that Achilles has a moral duty to help in the situation because he is a father figure to him. He uses different stories and scenarios to drive the point home. For instance, he reminds Achilles how his father sent him to the battle. Additionally, Phoenix retells a story about the conflict he had with his own father which forced him to go for exile in Phthia, where he helped in raising Achilles (Homer 9:173).
He also argues that Achille’s should learn to tame his anger, and that it could be clouding his mind from making the right decision. He says, “Learn hence, betimes to curb pernicious ire, Nor stay till yonder fleets ascend in fire; Accept the presents; draw thy conquering sword; And be amongst our guardian gods adored” (Homer 9:176). He buttresses this argument by recounting Maleager’s story, the warrior who in his fury declined to fight for his city, but went on to fight without receiving the great treasures.
Achilles’ responded to Phoneix by stating that he has neither a moral duty to fight, nor a desire to gain any material wealth out of the expedition. “Thy friend, believe me, no such gifts demands, And asks no honours from a mortal’s hands” (Homer 9:176). He believes that giving in to Agamemnon’s emissaries will seal his fate for a worthless price.
Great Ajax’s argument is that fighting will make other soldiers to have a high opinion of Achilles, ultimately growing his honor and glory among the people. It had a great impact on Achilles’, softening his stance. He agrees not to sail the following day, but insists that he will not get into combat until the battle reaches his own ships. From the responses, it is clear that Achilles shifted his position since he rejected Odysseus and Phoenix’s arguments but accepted Great Ajax’s appeal. It is Great Ajax’s argument that persuades the warrior to fight by speaking to his heart’s desire of attaining honor among his colleagues.
To sum it, it is clear that the three ambassadors sent to Achilles: Odysseus, Phoenix, and Great Ajax, argued differently. Odysseus argued that it was only logical that Achilles comes to the rescue of the Achaeans because of their desperate situation. Phoenix stated that the warrior was morally obligated to go to the war because he took care of him as a father. The Great Ajax appealed to Achilles’ heart by telling him that he would be honored if he agreed to fight. Even though the warrior rejected Odysseus and Phoenix’s arguments, the Great Ajax’s argument convinced him to stay back and fight.
Works Cited
Homer. The Iliad by Homer. Translated by Alexander Pope, The Project Gutenberg EBook, 2006.