During the first 125 lines of book 18 of the Iliad, the character of Achilleus undergoes a metamorphosis as he responds to the death of his friend beloved, Patroklos. Tragically, Achilleus finally finds his role in the Trojan War just as he accepts the imminence of his own death. It is a decisive moment in the entire Iliad and especially in the evolution of the character of Achilles. The hero of Myrmidon seems to age suddenly as the pain of his companion's death makes him aware of the seriousness of both his past faults and his destiny. Basically, he recognizes his mistake in harboring his anger so unreasonably, and he submits to authority for the first time in the epic by recognizing the reality of his own death. The reader can also appreciate the loss of much of Achilles' selfishness, the grief that motivates his desire for revenge, as well as the misfortune of a youth cut short after being ravaged by rage. Say no to plagiarism . Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In line 109, Achilleus' description of anger "which swarms like smoke in a man's heart and becomes to him a thing far sweeter than the trickling of honey" captures perfectly account of his own behavior in the Iliad up to that point Despite the demands, apologies, and gifts offered to him by Agamemnon and other Achain rulers, Achilleus refused to admit his mistake until then. that his friend pays the price He chooses instead to wallow in his pride and convince himself that the loss of Briseus was an unforgivable insult to his honor. In his bitterness and childish stubbornness, he watches his companions die and allows him to die. his friend to go into battle without him It is not until book 18 that Achilles realizes how much anger had clouded his reason and his heart. Moreover, he accepts full responsibility for his actions. , saying: “So I must die soon, since I was not to stand by my companion when he was killed” (18.98). Achilleus blames himself, not the gods, for Patroklos' death. Unlike the other characters in the Iliad, Achilleus is able to objectively analyze his own character. Instead of complaining that Zeus has unjustly caused all his difficulties, Achilleus stoically faces the fact that he is responsible for the anger in his heart and the difficulties it has caused. Although he continues to act under the influence of his anger, perhaps even more than before, he is at least aware of his tragic flaw. Achilles also seems to suddenly gain wisdom through the necessity of accepting authority for the first time in his life. Before, he behaved like a spoiled child, always following his selfish whims and asking his divine mother to solve his problems. When Agamemnon initially insulted Achilleus, he immediately accepted his anger, rejected the king's leadership, and asked his mother to persuade Zeus to punish his own companions. Neither duty nor loyalty influenced his thinking. Without considering the consequences, he acted solely based on his desires. Even though he knew he was mortal, death still seemed far away because he knew he had no equal on the battlefield. However, when Achilleus learns from Thetis that he must die shortly after Hektor (line 96), he finds himself confronted with a power that he cannot reject, escape, or ask his mother to overthrow. Finally behaving like a man, he must bear the burden of this knowledge alone and submit to its reality. This is clearly a turning point in Achilleus' character. When he declares: "I will accept my own death, the moment Zeus wants it" (18. 446-7).