Achilleus' Uninvolvement

Battle resumes. After speaking with Apollo, we decide to halt the acceleration of death by arranging a contest. After encouragement from Nestor, nine Argives volunteer and Aias wins. During the spear completion with Hektor, I watch like a vulture. After progressing far into the night, the contest is halted on account of the nightfall. When the Trojans suggest a truce for the collection and burial of the fallen, the Greeks agree.  During immortal council, Zeus again references the ominous fate of the Greeks in the fall of their wall after their city has been overtaken.

            Zeus retreats to Mt. Ida, where he has a pleasing view of the battle, after his instruction to the immortal Gods to stay out of it. To my great displeasure, Zeus mentions that the Trojans are fated to win today’s battles. With this in mind the men rage on. In her disobeying of Zeus, Hera summons on Agamemnon the urge to spew words of encouragement to his soldiers in addition to prayer to Zeus. With a bird sign as an omen, the Greeks are instilled again with courage and regain valor. Teukros demonstrates his aristeia, killing many Trojans. He fails in his attempts to kill Hektor, however, and is instead slain by him with a stone. I finally can’t take it anymore and alongside Hera begin to approach the battle via chariot when Zeus catches wind and puts an abrupt stop to it. As night falls, battle ceases. The Trojans camp amongst the plain, intending to lead the attack in the morning. 

            Agamemnon proposes an end to the war through retreat, to much disagreement from Diomedes who shuts the idea down. Nestor recommends to Agamemnon that he ought to apologize to Achilleus, and he agrees. He begins to list all the many things he will give in gift to Achilleus, including Briseis. After feasting, three ambassadors make their speeches concerning Achilleus’ return to battle. Odysseus begins first, attesting to the imminent danger he and his comrades’ face without him. He also speaks in the voice of his father before third repeating Agamemnon’s list of gifts, followed by the rhetorical dangle of Hektor’s death before their eyes. Achilleus rejects this argument, having valid considerations in retort. He again threatens his return home. Phoinix tries next, arguing the dangers of Atê. Although his impassioned speech moves him, he does not comply. The third ambassador, Aias, says simply that he is too un-adherent to societal norms. Now defiantly not participant, Achilleus says he will not only refuse their suggestions to enter battle, but he will never participate until the Trojans have completely burned down the Achaeans ships. Achilles and the others agree to enter battle without him.

The paradox of a true hero is illustrated in Achilleus’ refusal to enter battle, torn between the promise of kλέος through battle or a long and happy life, but not both. For mortals can never have both. As James Statford from the University of Melborne articulated, "Whilst a necessary part of the mortal condition, conflict, suffering and deathare shown to hold within them the vital forces of change, and to reveal the nature of humanity itself,". Suffering and pain bring kλέος that other men sing of, but a man may never sing his own. Achilleus demonstrates good points in regards to his refusal to participate in battle, and even brings understanding to why he refuses the gifts of Agamemnon, a seemingly riskless attainment. Marrying his daughter would simply give Agamemnon an upper-hand on him with the new title of father-in-law, and the possession of his land would pose the same insignificances. In general, these gifts are not a gift at all but instead a debt to be repayed. Nothing is ever free, this I know as well.

http://www.academia.edu/624446/The_Voice_of_Achilles_Communication_Self_and_Spectacle_in_Homers_Iliad