Priam’s response to Hecuba and to Iris when he gets news of the gods’ decisions:
After getting the news of the gods’ decisions, Priam responds differently to both Hecuba (Priam’s wife) and Iris (the goddess). As a caring wife, Hecuba feared for her husband after realizing that Priam was going to the Achilles’ camp. Hecuba was concerned about the safety and security of Priam because she never imagined that her husband would be protected by the gods. Despite Hecuba’s concerns, Priam was still adamant about proceeding to the Achilles’ camp. For that matter, Priam responded to Hecuba, cautioning her not to be a bird of bad omen in his palace. Priam responded to Hecuba with a warning. But, Hecuba told Priam to at least purify himself to ensure that there is no room for bad omen. Priam did exactly what Hecuba told him, and he purified himself before leaving for the Achilles’ camp.
Before responding to Hecuba, Priam had received a message from Iris that required him to go to the Achilles’ camp. Iris instructed Priam not to go to the Achilles’ camp as a king of Troy but instead to go as a suppliant, playing a fatherly role. Iris further instructed Priam that if he were to go as a King of Troy, he would lose spiritual gain since the meeting would be purely for negotiating. But if he goes as a suppliant, he would fall into the class of a guest-friend, and Achilles would receive and honor him as the father of Hector. Priam was concerned about what would befall him when Hector died. This message from Iris to Priam was received with lots of trust. Priam had a lot of trust in all that came from Iris, and he responded by adhering to all the instructions.
How is Priam greeted by Achilles? Discuss.
When Priam went to Achilles under the instruction of Iris, he went as a suppliant instead of the king of Troy. When a person goes to the Achilles as a suppliant, the Achilles receives him as a guest-friend. On reaching Achilles’ place, Priam kissed the hands of the Achilles, which put aside his kingly role. This act made Achilles receive Priam the same way he would have received his father, even though Priam broke a taboo by kissing his hands of Achilles. In summary, Priam is greeted by Achilles in a manner that portrays Achilles as a suppliant. He is not greeted with the status of a King.
What does Achilles learn from his encounter with Priam?
An encounter with Priam enables Achilles to learn more about sympathy and human understanding. The act where Priam kisses the hands of Achilles awakens the character of sympathy in Achilles, where he sees Priam as his own father. Achilles did not believe that Priam would one day fail to avenge the death of his son Hector. Also, despite being a King, Priam humbles himself before Achilles, just as a suppliant would have done. Achilles realizes that if one wrongs another one, the result can not always be revenge but also forgiveness, as demonstrated by Priam. On human understanding, Achilles comes to better understand humanity when he sees Priam mourning his son Hector. Here, Achilles feels the pain that a father encounters when his son is killed. This inner feeling makes Achilles mourn when he remembers what his father will endure when Achilles finally dies.
What does Achilles learn about himself?
Achilles learns a new insight into human understanding. He learns an understanding of the world and its social mores. He begins to feel sympathy for other human sufferings. He feels the pain of a father when his son is murdered. It is at this juncture that Achilles begins to transform by purifying himself and accepting himself as a normal person. He begins to feel more human and deceased from his past spiritual practices, which he sees as being against the social mores of the world. To one extent, he regrets his past deeds by accepting that he was not doing the right things. Achilles learns a harsh lesson that sees his wrath becoming anguish while the anguish of Priam becomes forgiveness. This personal acceptance makes Achilles consider himself as being equal to other persons and that the sufferings that others undergo are the same suffering that can befall him.
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