The Iliad: Book 9 Flashcards
World of the Hero (MSD)
Plot Summary
Book 9 of The Iliad, titled The Embassy to Achilles, marks a crucial turning point in the narrative as the Greeks, struggling without their greatest warrior, Achilles, attempt to persuade him to return to battle. The book is centred around the Greek leaders’ desperate mission to reconcile with Achilles and convince him to set aside his anger for the sake of the war effort.
The Greeks’ Desperate Situation
The Greek army is in a dire position. The Trojans, led by Hector, have been gaining the upper hand, and the Greeks are suffering heavy losses. Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces, recognises that the war is in jeopardy without Achilles, who has refused to fight due to his quarrel with Agamemnon. The Greeks are losing hope and fear the fall of their cause.
Agamemnon’s Decision to Send an Embassy
Agamemnon, realising the gravity of the situation, decides to send a delegation to Achilles to beg for his return to the fight. The embassy is composed of key Greek leaders: Odysseus, the eloquent and clever leader; Ajax, the mighty warrior; and Phoenix, an old warrior and mentor to Achilles. Together, they are tasked with persuading Achilles to end his rage and come back to the battlefield.
Odysseus Appeals to Achilles
The first speaker in the embassy is Odysseus, who speaks diplomatically and offers a series of gifts, including bribes and promises of honour, to Achilles. He reminds Achilles of the glory he will gain by returning to the battlefield and emphasises that his absence is damaging the Greek cause. Odysseus appeals to Achilles’ sense of honour, telling him that the Greeks cannot win without him. He also tells Achilles that Agamemnon is willing to offer a large ransom of gifts, including women and land, in return for his participation in the war.
Achilles’ Response
Achilles responds coldly and with contempt. He is unmoved by the promises of riches and honor, and he rejects the idea of returning to the war. Achilles expresses his deep disillusionment with the Greek leaders, particularly Agamemnon. He feels that he has been dishonored by Agamemnon, who took away his prize, Briseis, and believes that no amount of wealth can compensate for the wrongs he has suffered. Achilles also declares that he no longer values glory in war, seeing it as a fleeting and ultimately hollow pursuit.
Phoenix’s Appeal to Achilles
Phoenix, an older figure who served as a mentor to Achilles, speaks next. He tries a different approach, appealing to Achilles’ sense of familial duty and affection. Phoenix recounts stories of his own life and his bond with Achilles, portraying their relationship as one of fatherly love. He pleads with Achilles to return for the sake of his people and his own honour, telling him that it would be a great loss for both the Greeks and Achilles if he continues to sit out the war. Phoenix also reminds Achilles of the consequences of anger, telling him that his rage is destructive not only to the Greeks but to himself as well.
Ajax’s Appeal to Achilles
Finally, Ajax speaks, urging Achilles to return to battle for the sake of his comrades and the future of Troy. He argues that Achilles has no reason to remain angry now that Agamemnon has offered a substantial compensation. Ajax appeals to Achilles’ warrior spirit, encouraging him to fight in defense of his people.
Achilles’ Final Refusal
Despite the impassioned pleas of his comrades, Achilles remains firm in his decision not to fight. He tells them that he is no longer interested in the Greek cause and has lost all desire for glory in battle. He reiterates that he will not return to the war, even for the sake of the Greeks or his own reputation.
The Embassy Returns Empty-Handed
The embassy returns to the Greek camp with no success. Achilles’ anger remains unyielding, and the Greeks are left without their greatest warrior. This failure to persuade Achilles marks a critical moment in the war and sets the stage for later developments in the epic.
Achilles
His rage, refusal to fight, and disillusionment with the Greek leaders are key to the unfolding events. Achilles’ rejection of the embassy underscores his pride and sense of personal honor.
Agamemnon
Wants to leave Troy and sail back to Greece. His sense of duty to the Greek army drives him to attempt to reconcile with Achilles, even if it means offering vast compensation.
Diomedes
Refuses to return to Greece; calls A’s plan ‘stupid’,
and insists on staying and fighting.
Odysseus
Known for his cleverness and resourcefulness, Odysseus is tasked with speaking on behalf of the Greek leaders. His diplomatic skills are evident in his attempts to persuade Achilles, though he is ultimately unsuccessful.
Ajax
A mighty Greek warrior, Ajax’s straightforward approach contrasts with Odysseus’ diplomacy. His appeal to Achilles is direct and impassioned, highlighting the importance of solidarity among the Greek forces.
Nestor
Convinces Agamemnon to host the Greek leaders at a banquet. At the banquet, Nestor advises
Agamemnon to send an embassy to Achilles.
Phoenix
Achilles’ tutor when he was a child in Phthia. Sent to persuade Achilles by appealing to his vulnerable side.
Patroclus
Achilles’ closest companion
Theme 1 - The herioc code
Achilles is found in his tent, playing the lyre and singing about great heroes, wasting time while his comrades are dying without his help.
The book raises questions about the nature of heroism, as Achilles expresses disillusionment with the idea of fighting for glory. His rejection of honour and material rewards calls into question the values that underlie the Greek warrior ethos.
Theme 2 - Xenia
Achilles welcomes and feeds the men when they
arrive, displaying hospitality.
Theme 3 - Honour and pride
Achilles’ refusal to return to battle reflects the theme of honor and pride. His anger at Agamemnon is based on the sense that his personal honor has been damaged, and no amount of material compensation can repair that injury. The conflict between personal pride and the greater good is central to Achilles’ motivations in this book.
Theme 4 - Leadership and responsibility
Agamemnon’s inability to reconcile with Achilles highlights the difficulties of leadership. Despite his power as leader of the Greeks, Agamemnon is unable to manage the personal conflict with Achilles, which severely impacts the Greek war effort.
Theme 5 - Anger
Achilles’ wrath is a central theme in the Iliad, and in this book, the cost of his anger becomes even clearer. Not only does his refusal to fight endanger the Greek army, but it also isolates him from his fellow warriors and undermines the collective effort to defend Troy.
Descriptive dialogue
The speeches of Odysseus, Phoenix, and Ajax are marked by sophisticated rhetoric and persuasive techniques. These speeches serve as a vehicle for presenting different views on honor, duty, and the nature of war. The contrast between their styles of persuasion adds depth to the narrative.
Foreshadowing
Achilles’ refusal to rejoin the fight foreshadows the eventual tragedy that will unfold later in the epic. His continued withdrawal from battle sets in motion the chain of events that leads to the death of his close friend Patroclus and Achilles’ eventual return to battle.
Pathos
The emotional appeals made by Phoenix, in particular, evoke a strong sense of pathos. Phoenix’s attempt to appeal to Achilles’ sense of familial duty adds a layer of emotional depth to the scene, emphasizing the personal loss and potential tragedy.
Imagery
The description of the Greek leaders’ attempt to persuade Achilles is full of vivid imagery, particularly in the contrast between Achilles’ solitary figure and the efforts of the embassy. The imagery enhances the emotional weight of Achilles’ isolation and stubbornness.
Similes
Greek morale is ‘shattered’ like ‘seaweed’ piled upon the beach.
Achilles describes his role in the Greek army as being like a ‘bird’ who sacrifices her own needs to provide for her chicks – and he is sick of it!
Persuasive speech - Odysseus
describes the terrible situation the Greeks
are in to persuade Achilles to return; also details the
geras Agamemnon is offering, which will bring timê.
Persuasive speech - Phoenix
Reminds Achilles of how he raised him as a
child in Phthia; reminds him to honour the Litae
(gods of supplication); tells the story of Meleager,
who also refused gifts and therefore eventually
received no gifts when he did return (loss of geras
and timê).
Persuasive speech - Ajax
Appeals to Achilles in the name of friendship.
Stands for ‘baffled common sense’ (Richard Jenkyns)
– can’t understand why Achilles is giving up on
account of one woman.
“My honour has been robbed by Agamemnon, son of Atreus, and I will not fight for a man who does not respect me.” (Achilles)
This quote encapsulates Achilles’ sense of personal honour and pride. His refusal to fight is rooted in a deep feeling of being wronged by Agamemnon, and it underscores the theme of personal pride versus collective good.
“Do not try to persuade me with promises of honour, for I no longer care for honour or wealth.” (Achilles)
Achilles’ rejection of material rewards reveals his disillusionment with the traditional values of honour and glory. He has become detached from the motivations that drive other warriors, making his anger and pride seem more tragic.
“Achilles, my son, do not be so hard-hearted.” (Phoenix)
This plea by Phoenix reveals his deep emotional connection to Achilles. Phoenix’s role as a father figure highlights the human side of Achilles, reminding the reader of the personal relationships that underlie the epic’s heroic narrative.
“Ajax spoke, and his words were like iron: ‘Achilles, think of your own honour.’” (Ajax)
Ajax’s direct and forceful appeal to Achilles reflects his straightforward approach to leadership. His words highlight the centrality of honour in the Greek warrior code, even as Achilles rejects it.
Summarisation
Book 9 of The Iliad, The Embassy to Achilles, is a critical moment in the epic that underscores the themes of pride, honor, and the costs of anger. The failure of the embassy to convince Achilles to return to battle deepens the tragedy of the Greeks’ situation and sets the stage for the events that follow. Achilles’ refusal to fight is not just a personal choice but a profound statement on the nature of heroism and the destructive power of rage. The emotional appeals made by Odysseus, Phoenix, and Ajax add complexity to the story, highlighting the tensions between personal honor, duty to the group, and the tragic consequences of unchecked pride.
