“We were like gods, at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.”
These words perfectly encapsulate the essence of Madeline Miller’s “The Song Of Achilles”, a book that has utterly captivated me. From the very first page, I knew I was embarking on an emotional journey, and I was right. This book instantly secured a place among my all-time favorites, leaving me both deeply moved and utterly heartbroken.
My premonitions were accurate; the tears started flowing around the 37% mark (yes, I checked!), and they didn’t stop. The Song of Achilles is simply breathtakingly beautiful. Madeline Miller’s writing is nothing short of masterful. Her prose is poetic, rich with mythological details, and so immersive that it transports you directly into the world of ancient Greece. It’s more than just a story; it’s an experience.
What resonated most profoundly with me was Miller’s portrayal of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. She masterfully conveys the depth of their bond without explicitly stating their love in flowery declarations. It’s palpable in every shared glance, every unspoken understanding, every moment of tenderness. Their connection is so precious, so real, that all I wanted was for them to find happiness, a sanctuary from the looming tragedy.
Being familiar with Greek mythology, I knew the tragic trajectory of Achilles’ story. Yet, even with this knowledge, the sense of foreboding woven throughout The Song of Achilles was almost unbearable. Subtle hints, gentle foreshadowing, and quiet insinuations accumulate relentlessly, building an atmosphere of dread that tightens its grip with each page. By the final chapters, I was an emotional wreck, my heart pounding with anticipation and sorrow. The last sentence landed like a fatal blow, leaving me in a state of devastated awe.
In essence, The Song of Achilles is an exceptionally painful and utterly devastating read. However, it is also undeniably magnificent and worth every moment of emotional turmoil.
Deep Dive into the Characters
(Spoiler Warning! Proceed with caution if you haven’t read the book and wish to avoid spoilers.)
Achilles: The Golden Hero
“Ah.’ A sly smile spread across his face; he had always loved defiance. ‘Well, why should I kill him? He’s done nothing to me.’”
This quote perfectly captures the initial innocence and inherent goodness of Achilles. Oh, Achilles, my beautiful, naive boy! I loved him with such intensity. He truly embodies the heroic figure lauded in legends, striving to do what is right, most of the time. However, as the narrative progresses, particularly with the escalating conflict with Agamemnon, a sense of unease creeps in, foreshadowing the tragic turn his character takes. The Briseis incident, depicted through Miller’s poignant prose, was particularly heart-wrenching, mirroring Patroclus’s own devastation. We witness the transformation of a golden, righteous, honorable, and intelligent young man into someone irrevocably changed by the horrors of the Trojan War.
The tragedy lies in the fact that Achilles never truly desired this path of war and heroism. He was, in many ways, coerced into fulfilling a destiny he didn’t choose. Looking back, it becomes clear that a life of normalcy, away from the clamor of war and the burden of legend, would have been infinitely preferable. I believe, deep down, Achilles comes to this realization himself, a silent yearning for a different life, one where Patroclus could have been his everything, without the shadow of fate.
“I stopped watching for ridicule, the scorpion’s tail hidden in his words. He said what he meant; he was puzzled if you did not. Some people might have mistaken this for simplicity. But is it not a sort of genius to cut always to the heart?”
“Your honour could be darkened by it.”“Then it is darkened.” His jaw shot forward, stubborn. “They are fools if they let my glory rise or fall on this.”“But Odysseus –“His eyes, green as spring leaves, met mine. “Patroclus. I have given enough to them. I will not give them this.”
“They grinned, loving every inch of their miraculous prince: his gleaming hair, his deadly hands, his nimble feet. They leaned towards him, like flowers to the sun, drinking in his lustre. It was as Odysseus had said: he had light enough to make heroes of them all.”
“It is not true. You left yourself today. And now you are returned.”His shoulders rise and fall on a long breath. “Do not say that,” he says, “until you have heard the rest of what I have done.”
Patroclus: The Heart and Conscience
“I went to Peleus. I knelt before him on a wool rug, woven bright with purple. He started to speak, but I was too quick for him. One of my hands went to clasp his knees, the other reached upward, to seize his chin with my hand. The pose of supplication. It was a gesture I had seen many times, but had never made myself. I was under his protection now; he was bound to treat me fairly, by the law of the gods.‘Tell me where he is,’ I said.”
Patroclus is simply the best. Wonderful, beautiful in his own right, and utterly steadfast. He is one of the kindest and most endearing characters I’ve ever encountered in literature. Achilles recognizes this extraordinary quality in Patroclus, encouraging him to voice his opinions, valuing his perspective. Patroclus serves as Achilles’s moral compass, a grounding force whenever his divine nature threatens to overwhelm his humanity. Without Patroclus, Achilles’s path would have been shrouded in darkness and violence. Patroclus is more than a companion; he is a friend, a lover, a teacher, a conscience, a constant reminder of humanity, and Achilles’s past, present, and future intertwined. He embodies everything good in Achilles, drawing out his compassion and love. Patroclus is Achilles’s anchor, his home, the person he can confide in, completely and without reservation. Once Patroclus is gone, the relentless, godlike aspect of Achilles emerges, paving the way for the tragic events that follow.
’Patroclus.’ It was the name my father had given me, hopefully but injudiciously, at my birth, and it tasted of bitterness on my tongue. ‘Honour of the father,’ it meant.
“Perhaps she thought I was mocking her, flourishing my triumph. Perhaps she thought I hated her. She did not know that I almost asked him, a hundred times, to be a little kinder to her. You do not have to humiliate her so thoroughly, I thought. But it was not kindness he lacked, it was interest. His gaze passed over her as if she were not here.”
’Willl you come with me?’ he asked.The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some other life I could have refused, could have torn my hair and screamed, and made him face his choice alone. But not in this one. He would sail to Troy and I would follow, even into death. Yes, I whispered. Yes.
“I do not know this man, I think. He is no one I have ever seen before. My rage towards him is hot as blood. I will never forgive him. I imagine tearing down our tent, smashing the lyre, stabbing myself in the stomach and bleeding to death. I want to see his face broken with grief and regret. I want to shatter the cold mask of stone that has slipped down over the boy I knew. He has given her to Agamemnon knowing what will happen.”
Other Characters (Briefly)
Odysseus: A cunning and complex character. While his advice is often sound and strategically astute, his manipulation of Achilles to fulfill his destiny is morally ambiguous. Odysseus, behind the guise of friendship, ultimately serves his own agenda, making him a fascinatingly flawed figure.
Agamemnon: Simply hateful. His arrogance, selfishness, and dishonorable actions are infuriating. His treatment of his own family and his conflict with Achilles highlight his deep flaws and contribute significantly to the tragedy.
Thetis: Achilles’s divine mother, also lands on my less-than-favorite list. While her motivations stem from maternal love, her constant attempts to separate Achilles and Patroclus are frustrating. Her interference creates much of the conflict and, despite a form of redemption later, remains a point of contention.
The Unforgettable Bond of Achilles and Patroclus
“This morning he had leaped on to my bed and pressed his nose against mine. ‘Good morning,’ he’d said. I remembered the heat of him against my skin.”
The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is the heart and soul of The Song of Achilles. It is tender, adorable, and profoundly moving. Despite external pressures and internal conflicts, they always find their way back to each other. Their bond is built on unwavering trust and mutual support, regardless of the consequences. It is a relationship of unparalleled honesty and beauty. A connection so deep that it defies destruction, a love so powerful that it transcends obstacles, a trust so profound that it allows for complete vulnerability. I could endlessly praise this relationship; it is simply that captivating.
Subtle yet Powerful Love
Their love is not depicted through grand gestures or dramatic pronouncements, but in the quiet moments, the shared laughter, the unspoken understandings. They are each other’s confidantes, their safe harbor in a world of chaos and war. Even in anger, their underlying affection shines through. Patroclus, though sometimes disagreeing with Achilles’s choices, remains his steadfast supporter, even when it demands personal sacrifice.
A Love Against Fate
Ultimately, their unconditional love becomes both their greatest strength and their ultimate vulnerability. The tragedy unfolds when Hector, in a cruel twist of fate, takes away the one person Achilles cannot live without: Patroclus. Achilles’s grief is visceral and heartbreaking, a raw and agonizing portrayal of loss. Miller masterfully conveys the depth of this pain, making it palpable and deeply affecting. The devastation is complete, leaving a lasting emotional impact.
“I saw then how I had changed. I did not mind any more, that I lost when we raced and I lost when we swam out to the rocks and I lost when we tossed spears or skipped stones. For who can be ashamed to lose to such beauty? It was enough to watch him win, to see the soles of his feet flashing as they kicked up sand, or the rise and fall of his shoulders as he pulled through the salt. It was enough.”
“My pulse jumps, for no reason I can name. He has looked at me a thousand times, but there is something different in this gaze, an intensity I do not know. My mouth is dry, and I can hear the sound of my throat as I swallow.He watches me. It seems that he is waiting.”
“His eyes were unwavering, green flecked with gold. A certainty rose in me, lodged in my throat. I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me.”
“Had she really thought I would not know him? I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell, I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”
“You can’t.” He was sitting up now, leaning forward.“I can’t.”“I know. They never let you be famous and happy.” He lifted an eyebrow. “I’ll tell you a secret.”“Tell me.” I loved it when he was like this.“I’m going to be the first.” He took my palm and held it to him. “Swear it.”“Why me?”“Because you’re the reason. Swear it.”“I swear it,” I said, lost in the high colour of his cheeks, the flame in his eyes.“I swear it,” he echoed.
“There was more to say, but for once we did not say it. There would be other times for speaking, tonight and tomorrow and all the days after that. He let go of my hand.”
Final Verdict: An Absolute Must-Read
The Song of Achilles is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It evoked a powerful spectrum of emotions – tears, anger, joy, and profound sadness. It has left me emotionally drained yet deeply fulfilled. To say I regret reading it would be an immense understatement.
If you haven’t yet experienced The Song of Achilles, I urge you to read it now. You will not regret it. Prepare to be moved, to be heartbroken, and to be utterly captivated by this extraordinary tale of love, war, and destiny.
