Analysis Of The Embassy\'s Speech To Achilles In The Iliad

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Analysis of the speeches of the Embassy to Achilles (Book 9)


The Greek word hubris, when translated to English, means an exaggerated pride. Achilles’ greatest flaw is completely exposed in Book 9 when Agamemnon sends forth humble terms in an attempt to heal the damage that has been done to his kleos.
The result of Agamemnon’s desperate meeting with his assembly results in the decision, put forward by Nestor, to send Odysseus, Phoenix and Ajax on an embassy to convince Achilles to return to the Achaean forces. Of the three men Odysseus, known for his great skills as an orator, is the first to plead their case. Odysseus uses morality as the basis of his argument by appealing to Achilles through the words of his own father who urged him control his temper while in battle. He then goes on to list the gifts Agamemnon has offered in an attempt to show the king’s newly emerged growth as a leader; seeking the interest of his men over that of himself. Phoenix, an old tutor of Achilles, is able to relate the story of Meleager and Cleopatra to a tee because he shares a similar relationship of love with Achilles. He uses the parallels of the personas of Meleager and Achilles to show that the capacity to be loved can bring any man to sanity. He asks him to consider that it is better to return now and receive some glory than waiting too long and receiving no glory at all. The final argument is given by Ajax who speaks through emotion from one warrior to another. He tries to mirror Achilles’ rage through his words in hopes that he will see the foolishness of his actions and the toll it has taken on the forces.
Achilles appreciates the spirit of the men behind the arguments, but finds that the negotiations fail in the unwillingness to persuade him. His response to Phoenix is that the idea that someone could have a shared loyalty to both him and Agamemnon is completely unacceptable to him. Ajax has the greatest affect on the w...