Book One of the Iliad opens in medias res: the war has been raging between the Trojans and Acheans for ten years. The first word, "Rage," sets the tone for the action that follows, and reminds us of one of the epic's central themes. We are first introduced to Achilles, whose rage threatens to not only destroy him, but to dictate the direction of the war. A skirmish between two leaders of the Acheans, Agamemnon and Achilles has broken out over a matter of the spoils of war: Chriseis and Briseis: two slave girls taken as concubines. But these women are far more than simple concubines: they represent prizes won for contributions to the war and stand as symbols of each man's honor.
The circumstances of the quarrel begin when Chryses, a sage, prays to the god Apollo, to send a plague lest Agamemnon hand over his daughter, Chriseis. The plague lasts nine days. By this stage, Achilles suggests they give up, because there is no use in attempting to fight a war amidst a plague. This, of course, is a ploy by Achilles to shame Agamemnon into giving up his prize. Sitting in a huddle, the men speak to each other. Calchas, a diviner, warns Achilles about his temper, saying, "you know how it is when a king is angry with an underling. He might swallow his temper for a day, but he holds it in his heart until later on and it all comes out" (lines 87-90). Further, he advises that Apollo will not lift the plague until Agamemnon releases the girl back to her father.
Agamemnon is outraged. He begins a rather childish rant that begins, "You damn soothsayer! You've never given me a good omen yet. You take some kind of perverse pleasure in prophesying doom, don't you? Not a single favorable omen ever! (112-115).
Agamemnon wants to keep Chryses' daughter because he likes her far better than his wife, Clytemnestra. He reluctantly agrees to give her up, but not without compensation: if Achilles will offer him his prize, Briseis, then all will be well and they can go back to fighting, plague-fee.
This suggestion makes Achilles even madder. He says he didn't have a grudge against the Trojans, but he, being a good sport, agreed to fight against them. For all his trouble, he was awarded Briseis, but now he's supposed to give her up? He's ready to walk off and forget this whole war issue. But, just as he's reaching for his sword to slice up Agamemnon, Athena appears only to him, grabs him by his hair and gives him a good talking to. She tells him that his anger will get him nowhere, and that she loves both him and Agamemnon--and besides, if he'll drop it, Agamemnon's arrogance will yield a whole bounty of prizes for Achilles.
Achilles grudgingly accepts this advisement from the goddess, but he still sounds off at Agamemnon, telling him that he will regret his insolence. Once again, a wiseman steps up to offer some good counsel to Achilles. Nestor tells both Agamemnon and Achilles that he knew some brave warriors who, while being very good in battle, also had the wisdom to heed advice. He says, "taking advice is a good thing" and proceeds to explain:
"Agamemnon, for all your nobility, don't take his girl.
Leave her be: the army originally gave her to him as a prize.
Nor should you, son of Peleus, want to lock horns with a king.
A sceptor-holding king has honor beyond the rest of men,
Power and glory given by Zeus himself.
You are stronger, and it is a goddess who bore you.
But he is more powerful, since he rules over more.
Son of Atreus, cease your anger. And I appeal
Personally to Achilles to control his temper, since he is,
For all the Greeks, a mighty bulwark in this evil war" (290-299).
Agamemnon is outraged. He begins a rather childish rant that begins, "You damn soothsayer! You've never given me a good omen yet. You take some kind of perverse pleasure in prophesying doom, don't you? Not a single favorable omen ever! (112-115).
Agamemnon wants to keep Chryses' daughter because he likes her far better than his wife, Clytemnestra. He reluctantly agrees to give her up, but not without compensation: if Achilles will offer him his prize, Briseis, then all will be well and they can go back to fighting, plague-fee.
This suggestion makes Achilles even madder. He says he didn't have a grudge against the Trojans, but he, being a good sport, agreed to fight against them. For all his trouble, he was awarded Briseis, but now he's supposed to give her up? He's ready to walk off and forget this whole war issue. But, just as he's reaching for his sword to slice up Agamemnon, Athena appears only to him, grabs him by his hair and gives him a good talking to. She tells him that his anger will get him nowhere, and that she loves both him and Agamemnon--and besides, if he'll drop it, Agamemnon's arrogance will yield a whole bounty of prizes for Achilles.
Achilles grudgingly accepts this advisement from the goddess, but he still sounds off at Agamemnon, telling him that he will regret his insolence. Once again, a wiseman steps up to offer some good counsel to Achilles. Nestor tells both Agamemnon and Achilles that he knew some brave warriors who, while being very good in battle, also had the wisdom to heed advice. He says, "taking advice is a good thing" and proceeds to explain:
"Agamemnon, for all your nobility, don't take his girl.
Leave her be: the army originally gave her to him as a prize.
Nor should you, son of Peleus, want to lock horns with a king.
A sceptor-holding king has honor beyond the rest of men,
Power and glory given by Zeus himself.
You are stronger, and it is a goddess who bore you.
But he is more powerful, since he rules over more.
Son of Atreus, cease your anger. And I appeal
Personally to Achilles to control his temper, since he is,
For all the Greeks, a mighty bulwark in this evil war" (290-299).
Both men are surly and stubborn, returning to petty accusations and cursing at one another. Achilles returns to his encampments and sulks, eventually turning Briseis over to Agamemnon. His pride wounded, he resorts to praying to his mother, Thetis, to do a favor for him. Once upon a time, she helped out the god, Zeus, by setting him free when the other gods bound him. He asks Thetis to plead with Zeus to allow the Greeks to begin losing the war under Agamemnon's leadership--then they will see Achilles worth to them and start showing some respect. Thetis agrees, but not without a deep sense of pity for her son. She wishes he'd stop all this war nonsense and come live with her where he'll be safe. As a mortal, he has only a short life, which is a matter of deep concern here.
Meanwhile, Chriseis is returned to her father. The Greeks immediately set to work preparing a sacrifice to the god Apollo, so that he will lift the plague. Once all is well, a feast is held. As Zeus returns to Olympus, Thetis makes her request. Zeus agrees--but reluctantly--saying that if he gives in and his wife, Hera, finds out, she will have a fit: she accuses him of favoring the Trojans. And, of course she does. Hera behaves very badly when she finds out about this business and chews her husband out. However, her son, Hephaestus, begs her to be nicer to Zeus, lest his anger spoil their feast.
Questions:
At this point, we understand that it is not only Achilles' anger that becomes a concern for the outcome of the war, but the anger of Agamemnon--and even the goddess, Hera. How might we read this text in light of this theme? Is it an allegory? A cautionary tale?
How are women represented in the text?
How do the gods respond to the action of mortals? What is their stake in the war?
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