I did not know how fascinating Greek Mythology could be until I read “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller. I had some understanding of the story of Achilles from the Ancient Civilizations class taught at North Polk High School, though I had never looked further into it until I read the book.
I knew three things for certain going into the book:
1. It retells the story of Achilles, based on Homer’s “Iliad”
2. The two main characters fall in love
3. It made my friend cry
Miller’s 2011 novel tells the story of Achilles from the perspective of his companion, Patroclus, and outlines both of the characters’ motives and struggles. At first, I didn’t quite get why my friend had recommended the book, as it was only portraying Patroclus’s childhood and how he was exiled from his home for killing another boy. Though, as I started to read on, I started to notice the brilliant metaphors and allusions Miller uses to tell such an important and interesting story.
Even more, as I started to read the chapters where Patroclus and Achilles meet and become close friends, I started to understand the gravity the book holds because their relationship breaks several social norms. Miller conveyed themes such as honor and sacrifice to portray an aspect of the human experience, and this is shown through the charecters relationship with each other. Miller uses clever literary elements to convey how the charecters can grow indepentently from each other, but ultimately rely on the other to keep moving forward.
As Achilles and Patroclus spend more time together, they become closer and form an unbreakable bond. When they both agree to fight in the Trojan war, tension builds between Patroclus and Achilles, and as the war drags on, Achilles becomes distant and prioritizes fighting. When one character is talking about Achilles to Patroclus, he says, “[h]e is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.”
Miller effectively conveyed a part of the human experience through thoughtful metaphors. The story of Achilles and his companion Patroclus will stick with me for a very long time, because many of their struggles and motivations are still present today, such as growing distant from someone who was once close and the human cost of war.
One quote that stuck with me is, “I am made of memories.” Even though the book tells a story from hundreds of years ago, the themes that are present throughout the novel are so innately human that they can still apply to many lives.
This book was similar to looking through a window. Though the character’s experiences are something that could be hard to relate to in today’s world, their growth, development as characters and experiences is important in literature because their perspectives are crucial to understand.
