Achilles in The Illiad is not a Hero Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive

Achilles in The Illiad is not a Hero In the introduction of the essential Illiad given by Sheila Murnaghan, Achilles is labeled as the greatest of the Greek submarinees. In classic mythology a hero is a person of great force-out and courage celebrated for bold exploits and is often the offspring of a soulfulness and a divinity. Achilles was the greatest fighter among the Greeks or Trojans and feared no man in battle. He was also the offspring of a mortal and a god so by classic mythology definition, Achilles was indeed a hero. A hero is defined by the present day Websters Dictionary as iodin who inspires through manners and actions an individual who leads through personal example and accomplishments requiring bravery, skill, determination, and other(a) admirable qualities. Achilles, in no manner, fits this definition. By contemporary standards, he is rather a pathetic villain. Aside from being a kidnapper, rapist and murderer, Achilles proves to be emotionally weak, selfish, a nd malicious. Many times throughout the Illiad, Achilles is also referred to as godlike. The gods of Greek mythology were subject to the same emotions and character flaws as humans, and though inside to some foresight, the gods had similar mental capacities as humans. What really set the gods asunder were their powers (controlling the elements, changing their appearance, etc.), great strength, and immortality. Because of his great strength and apparent invincibility, it is easy to prove why Achilles would...