Zeus’ Authoritative Determination

Part I of Essay
When one is dishonored, there are certain expected reactions. These reactions between Agamemnon and Achilles in Homer’s Iliad cause the primary conflict. Each man reacts similarly. They become bitterly angry toward each other. Achilles’ anger goes far beyond any averag ....

Part II of Essay
.... kings are set in opposition and by using the word claims, Achilles implies that he himself is the greatest Achian, not Agamemnon. To punish Achilles, Agamemnon takes away his prize, Briseis, and makes an example of Achilles so that, “another man may shrink back/ from likening himself to me and contending against me” ( 1. 186-7). At this point Achilles’ heart is filled with menis (divine anger or wrath), and he vows to punish all of the Achains. This total anger is part of Zeus’ plan to balance out the pride and power between these two men ....