Achillies heel, what is ours?

Achillies is an interesting character, we would say that he doesn't fit the 21st century ideal of heroism. I read another article by Sam Jordison in his article "Achilles is Brutal, Vain, Pitiless-and a True Hero" in which he draws some interesting parallels to modern day "heroes". Not the firefighter, policeman, or man who saves a child from drowning type of hero. As much as we may deny it, we look up to others in the media spotlight. It may be a sports figure, music icon, or someone reality type star like the Kardashian drama queens (no I am not a fan). In his article he points out how we all tend to put these very human figures on a pedestal and then tear them down when they are, well human. 

We become surprised when these modern day heroes are caught cheating, doing drugs, spouse abuse, murder, etc. Yet they are just people, with our modern day issues and magnified with constant attention. In the Illiad, we have a demigod who is everything the Greeks admire in battle he is strong, invincible, and a winner. No one can stand against him in battle. We see him vehemently angry over what today is a slight, as Dr. Cleworth mentioned this was not a slight but a high insult in Greek terms. He is going to take his "ball" and go home. 

Maybe he isn't our idea of a hero, but Achilles has some moments. One such moment is when he says no to going back on the field of battle, even after being offered the riches. Glory, honor and virtue were defining themes for the Greeks. He turned his back on this and said that things were not right. How many people stand up to those in power today, when offered more than what was taken, and still say no it was not right? That took courage, to forgo homecoming and glory, especially as a demigod.

The myth goes that his mother dipped him in the river Styx to make him invincible, all except his heel where she held him. In the Illiad, it is plain that the real "Heel" is his anger. It sets him against his friends, countrymen, the gods, and ultimately sends him to his death. 

We can learn from Achilles: Never let whatever something consume you to the point that nothing else matters. He let his rage take him so far from being human that he did things that dishonored the Greeks and angered the Gods. He had to live with Patroclus death, how much of his rage was against himself? 

I can think of many times where, if I had taken a moment, I would have done things differently. We like to read about something and then judge it as just a story. If we do not find the deeper truths and how we can learn from them, then shame on us! If we cannot look at history and try to avoid the mistakes of the past, we are doomed to repeat them (paraphrase of  George Santayana).

If you nare interested in the article by Sam Jordison, click his name below.

Achilleion Museum: Achilles mercilessly dragging Hector

Jordison, Sam. "Achilles is Brutal, Vain, Pitiless-and a True Hero". The Guardian, 16 February 2016, 7:00 EST, https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/feb/16/achilles-homer-iliad-brutal-vain-pitiless-hero 

Santayana, George. "The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress". Volume 1, 1905-1906