Achilles, in Greek legend, was the son of the mortal Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, and the Nereid, or sea nymph, Thetis. Hooker continues to negate Ledbetter's theory that Patroclus is in some way a surrogate for Achilles; rather, Hooker views Patroclus' character as a counterpart to that of Achilles. The death of Patroclus in Homer's ''The Iliad'' sets off a chain reaction of further violence. The son of Menoetius. He is hot-headed and passionate, often callous and impulsive. He currently resides in Elysium, and is one of the few shades there who does not attack Zagreus, instead offering an assortment of items, much like Sisyphus and Eurydice . Patroclus is also an important example of how the Greek gods control everything. Patroclus's death drives Achilles into an emotional rage that leads to a series of events and many deaths, the most iconic of which is Achilles's killing of Hector, after which Achilles drags Hector's corpse behind his chariot in revenge for Patroclus's death. [a][c] This reinforces Dowden's explanation of the relationship between an eromenos, a youth in transition, and an erastes, an older male who had recently made the same transition. Achilles : Patroclus has never seen war. [17](pp363 b. Hooker reminds us that it is Patroclus who pushes the Trojans back, which Hooker claims makes Patroclus a hero, as well as foreshadowing what Achilles is to do. In Greek mythology, as recorded in Homer's Iliad,[1] Patroclus (pronunciation variable but generally /pəˈtroʊkləs/; Ancient Greek: Πάτροκλος Pátroklos "glory of the father") was a childhood friend, and close wartime companion of Achilles. That’s what we saw in the film Troy, for example. Nevertheless, their relationship is said to have inspired Alexander the Great in his own close relationship with his life-long companion Hephaestion. Achilles asks Patroclus to hold back the Greeks, but not to pursue them if they retreat. Patroclus comments how he is seen as weak and effeminate and possibly ‘simple’. As we learn in the episode with Eurypylos, it was Achilles who taught Patroclus his medical skill, and Achilles himself learned it from the centaur Chiron. [17](pp474 b.23 l. 69–71) Patroclus was then cremated on a funeral pyre, which was covered in the hair of his sorrowful companions. [26][27][b] Aeschines asserts that there was no need to explicitly state the relationship as a romantic one,[27] for such "is manifest to such of his hearers as are educated men. Each main character, either by a spear or merely a scratch from an arrow, was wounded or killed during the progression of the story. Who is Patroclus, and why is he so important to Achilles? To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. [1](p561) The ashes of Achilles were said to have been buried in a golden urn along with those of Patroclus by the Hellespont.[20]. Homer’s Iliad describes Achilles as the greatest warrior in the army of Agamemnon in the Trojan War and recounts how his rage affects the outcomes of … Patroclus (Glory of the Father). Patroclus, or Patrokles or Patroklus, is the comrade and chariot driver of the famous warrior Achilles in Greek mythology.They are described as sharing a bond that is closer than brothers. Even Hector, Patroclus’ killer, will eventually fall to his own hubris and arrogance. | 1 When Patroclus asks Achilles for permission to push back the enemy Trojans, Achilles reluctantly agrees. "[28] Later Greek writings such as Plato's Symposium, the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is discussed as a model of romantic love. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Iliad/character-analysis How Long is the School Day in Homeschool Programs? [a][16], According to the Iliad, when the tide of the Trojan War had turned against the Greeks and the Trojans were threatening their ships, Patroclus convinced Achilles to let him lead the Myrmidons into combat. To settle a … During his childhood, Patroclus had killed another child in anger over a game. Patroclus is important because his death leads to a chain of events that ultimately ends in the deaths of many people, including the Trojan warrior Hector and Achilles himself. 's' : ''}}. Patroclus is Achilles's only close friend in the story of The Iliad. Patroclus also exists because his death spurs Achilles into action. [17](pp353 b. Hector then killed Patroclus by stabbing him in the stomach with a spear. Why did Achilles kill Hector? In this painting by Benjamin West (1806), Achilles sits by the body of Patroclus when his mother, Thetis, brings him his armor forged by Hephaestus so he can avenge the death of Patroclus. 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Patroclus wants to help the Greeks turn the tide of the war against the Trojans, and Achilles reluctantly lets Patroclus go to war. In Homer’s Illiad, Patroclus wore Achilles’ armor in battle against the Trojans, only to be killed by Hector. In fact, the Greek gods have taken sides and are the real entities that decide who will win between the Greeks and the Trojans. [2] Because the penultimate syllable is light in Latin prose (pă′.trŏ.clŭs), the antepenult was stressed in Latin and would normally be stressed in English as well, for /ˈpæ.trə.kləs/ (analogous to 'Sophocles'). All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. While the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is never explicitly described in The … Patroclus is Achilles's only close friend in the story of The Iliad. When Patroclus asks Achilles for permission to push back the enemy Trojans, Achilles reluctantly agrees. During this time, Peleus made Patroclus one of Achilles' "henchmen". Patroclus exists to illustrate the ways in which the Greek gods interfered with human affairs. Patroclus is Achilles's friend. Please read on for an explanation of just who Patroclus is and why he is so important! flashcard set, {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | This contrasts with half god Achilles, for whom things come easy and who is strikingly handsome and talented. For those who have a somewhat superficial knowledge of the ancient Greek culture, Patroclus seems younger. The truth is, though, that most sources point towards Patroclus being older. [25] While Homer's Iliad never explicitly stated that Achilles and Patroclus were lovers, this concept was propounded by some later authors. Achilles and Patroclus are so emotionally close that Patroclus acts as Achilles’s emotional support. A former prince and Achilles ’s lover, Patroclus is the novel’s narrator. Finally she stands and looks at her son] If you stay here, with me, with your family, you'll have a long, peaceful life. Achilles shares his deepest thoughts and concerns with Patroclus, and Patroclus gives Achilles the emotional support that Achilles needs to be a strong leader for the Greek forces. The virtuous Hector, a good husband, father, champion of Troy is contrasted with Achilles, the passionate and isolated half-divine hero who, after Patroclus' death, was filled with superhuman power and ferocity. Ultimately, the gods control the outcome of the war because of their power, and no matter what the humans do, ultimately their fates are out of their hands. [22] However, as Patroclus is explicitly stated to be the elder of the two characters,[23] this is not evidence of their ages or social relation to each other. Later non-Homeric tales suggest that Patroclus was Achilles’ kinsman or lover. According to his theory, this affection allows for the even deeper tragedy that occurs. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? Why Does Achilles Return Hector's Body to Priam? 16 l. 804–822), Achilles retrieved his body, which had been stripped of armor by Hector and protected on the battlefield by Menelaus and Ajax. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} [24], Achilles and Patroclus grew up together after Menoitios gave Patroclus to Achilles' father, Peleus. The son of Menoetius. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Patroklos' main purpose in the Iliad is to bring Achilles back into the war. Patroclus, while wiser, is not much better. Jackie has taught college English and Critical Thinking and has a Master's degree in English Rhetoric and Composition. In The Iliad, Patroclus is a close friend and confidant of Achilles, who leads the Greeks in war against the Trojans. Hooker argues that the greater the love, the greater the loss. ( Public domain ) Aeschylus and Phaedrus, for example, state there was a clear relationship between them, and they both refer to Achilles as the eromenos of the relationship. They are heroes of their respective sides. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. Create your account, Already registered? Patroclus is the paramount casualty of the Achaeans. Patroclus is a Greek commander and Achilles' BFF / not-so-secret lover. Who is Agamemnon in The Iliad? The men share an intimate friendship, and Achilles is reluctant to let Patroclus go to battle because it is such a dangerous, life-risking mission. Sociology 110: Cultural Studies & Diversity in the U.S. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. [34][35], https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patroclus&oldid=1022804961, Articles with incomplete citations from February 2020, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with multiple identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 May 2021, at 15:56. 16 l. 460) While fighting, Patroclus' wits were removed by Apollo, after which Patroclus was hit with the spear of Euphorbos. He is fundamentally kind, which leads his father to dislike him. However, when Patroclus goes to battle, he drives the Trojans back to Troy, where after the interference of a Greek god on the side of the Trojans, he is eventually killed by Hector. Thus, Homer approaches this death from many angles: Zeus and Apollo contribute with the overarching divine plan, which has to be re- spected, and the notions of αἶσα and μοῖρα referring to a complementary sys- tem of order. In the play Achilles, who has become lazy, is besotted with Patroclus, and the other characters complain that Achilles and Patroclus are too busy having sex to fight in the war. [18] Patroclus killed many Trojans and Trojan allies, including a son of Zeus, Sarpedon. He states that another character could have filled the role of confidant for Achilles, and that it was only through Patroclus that we have a worthy reason for Achilles' wrath. [26][30], Achilles was younger than Patroclus. (Yeah, we know Achilles is engaged to Polyxena but ancient Greek men were known to have male lovers, even if they were married, engaged, or otherwise in with the ladies.If anything, the guys' relationship is a reminder that male bonds trump heterosexual romance in the world of this play.) As the cutting of hair was a sign of grief while also acting as a sign of the separation of the living and the dead, this points to how well-liked Patroclus had been. Achilles is one of the major protagonists, or main characters, of the story. They are, in some cases, cousins, as Patroclus' mother is sometimes an older half-sister of Achilles, or as Achille's sister, so Achilles might actually be Patroclus's … Achilles and Patroclus are so emotionally close that Patroclus acts as Achilles's emotional support. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Thetis : [Thetis examines the shells in the palm of her hand. a key element of the stories associated with the Trojan War. Patroclus is killed in the bloody fighting by the Trojan prince Hector, who mistakes him for Achilles, and the real Achilles is utterly distraught. Those who believe they were lovers often cite lines where Achilles says that he loved Patroclus as his own life (Book 18). His death, caused in part by the interference of one of the gods on the Trojans' side, is an example of how human beings can't fight their fate or overcome the powerful forces that exert their will over the world. Patroclus. [4] Who is Patroclus? Achilles was Greece's best warrior in the Trojan War. Required Assignments for Computer Science 103, Required Assignments for Political Science 103, COVID-19 Education Trends that are Here to Stay, What to Do with a COVID-19 College Gap Year, Active Learning Strategies for the Online Classroom, How to Promote Online Safety for Students in Online Learning, 2021 Study.com Scholarship for Homeschool Students, How Teachers Can Improve a Student's Hybrid Learning Experience. In Greek mythology, as recorded in Homer's Iliad, Patroclus was a childhood friend, and close wartime companion of Achilles. Achilles - best warrior and most heroic of the Greeks, although he is sitting out the war. Create an account to start this course today. Patroclus was Achilles's "Cousin," Instead of his Lover. Patroclus and Achilles met when they were boys and grew up as adoptive brothers, so Achilles’s sense of himself is deeply intertwined with Patroclus. Menoetius gave Patroclus to Peleus, Achilles' father, who named Patroclus Achilles' "squire" as Patroclus and Achilles grew up together, and became close friends. [33](p 114), Patroclus is a character in William Shakespeare's play Troilus and Cressida. Ledbetter believes this puts Patroclus into a subordinate role to that of Achilles. All rights reserved. There are at least three pronunciations of the name 'Patroclus' in English. Though Achilles is arrogant and dismissive of other people, he is extremely close with Patroclus. [15] Patroclus acted as a male role model for Achilles, as he was both older than Achilles and wise regarding counsel. He invited his own death by first demanding access to Achilles’ armor and then taking the life of the son of a god. …Phthia with his inseparable companion Patroclus. [21] Morales and Mariscal state "there is a polemical tradition concerning the nature of the relationship between the two heroes". This attempt affords an insight into Achilles' character and brings about Achilles' new evaluation of life. - Character Analysis & Description, Agamemnon vs. Achilles in The Iliad: Relationship & Differences, Odysseus in The Iliad: Character Analysis, Menelaus in The Iliad: Characteristics & Traits, Who is Diomedes in The Iliad? Patroclus is a disposable character in that he largely exists to spur Achilles into action. Achilles uses a simile containing a young girl tearfully looking at her mother to complete the comparison. Achilles consented, giving Patroclus the armor Achilles had received from his father, in order for Patroclus to impersonate Achilles. [29] However, Xenophon, in his Symposium, had Socrates argue that it was inaccurate to label their relationship as romantic. Patroclus was Achilles' best friend and lover. However, the interference of a Greek god leads to Patroclus's death at the hands of Hector. PATROCLUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY Patroclus was a famous hero amongst the Achaean forces who besieged Troy, and during the Trojan War, Patroclus was a close friend of Achilles. Although there is no explicit sexual relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in the Homeric tradition, a few later Greek authors wrote about what they saw as implied in the text regarding their relationship. [19] Achilles did not allow the burial of Patroclus' body until the ghost of Patroclus appeared and demanded his burial in order to pass into Hades. James Hooker describes the literary reasons for Patroclus' character within the Iliad. In fact, he views Patroclus as his “soulmate,” implying a possible sexual or romantic relationship. It takes the section of The Iliad that starts with the death of Patroclus. Achilles commands the Greek army, while Hector commands the Trojan army. [13] Menoetius was the son of Actor,[14] king of Opus in Locris by Aegina, daughter of Asopus. [33](p 112) Dowden also notes the common occurrence of such relationships as a form of initiation. Patroclus was the son of Menoetius by either Philomela[6][7] or Polymele, Sthenele,[8] Periopis,[9] or lastly Damocrateia. His father was one of the Argonauts, while many different women have been mentioned as Patroclus' mother; Polymele, Sthenele, and Periopis. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Achilles in The Iliad: Character Analysis & Description, Achilles' Anger & Pride in The Iliad: Analysis & Examples, Shield of Achilles in The Iliad: Description & Analysis. You earn progress by passing quizzes and exams, giving Patroclus the armor Achilles had received from his,! 'S emotional who is patroclus a chain reaction of further violence his only sibling was Myrto mother! Patroclus wants to help the Greeks, but not to pursue them if retreat... To dislike him 18 ) culture, Patroclus ’ killer, will eventually fall to his,. 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