Book 9 Of the Iliad Essay

However, he makes it equally clear that he feels no obligation to help Agamemnon's men.

Achilles' responses to all three ambassadors make it clear that he feels that Agamemnon has not treated him fairly or with respect. He feels like he has repeatedly put his life at risk and accomplished much as a warrior, only to be spurned by Agamemnon. Moreover, Achilles countered the arguments made by the ambassadors that his quarrel with Agamemnon was silly, since it was over a woman, with his counterargument that the entire Trojan War was over a woman. What is most remarkable is that the ambassadors and Agamemnon continue to refuse to see any merit in Achilles' responses. In fact, Diomed chastises Agamemnon for ever sending ambassadors to Achilles, saying, "you ought not to have sued the son of Peleus nor offered him gifts.He is proud enough as it is, and you have encouraged him in his pride further. Let him stay or go as he will. He will fight later when he is in the humour, and heaven puts it in his mind to do so." (Iliad, IX, 525-528). The other ambassadors seemed to endorse Diomed's statement, and all went to bed, despite the fact that they had been unable to persuade Achilles to rejoin the battle. What that attitude makes clear is that Agamemnon and his ambassadors continue to treat Achilles with disregard and contempt, despite his numerous explanations about why is so upset.

References

Homer, the Iliad. Retrieved September 11, 2009 from Internet Classics Library. Web site: http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/iliad.9.ix.html.....