#when he writes achilles’ having a vision of priam’s death at the hands of neoptolemus | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

adriles · 2 years ago

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I’m curious which war crimes you do and don’t approve of

i enjoy any war crime induced by rage, racking up a ton of kills, maiming every enemy combatant in sight. only shitheads kill in attempt to live up to the heroism of others

#thinking about malouf’s ransom specifically here lol #when he writes achilles’ having a vision of priam’s death at the hands of neoptolemus #with the attempt of avenging his father. but their is nothing to avenge. same with polyxena #in hecuba they have it be tbat achilles’ spirit comes before neoptolemus and tells him to kill her to return #but i could just be a euripides hater with the exception of his helen play but. that doesnt sit right with me #it is to appease the wind in the same way iphigenia was to appease the gods #it was bound to happen anyways. but it is upon achilles’ grave as neoptolemus again sees himself as avenging his father #it is an unsatisfying act. all that killing for the sake of achilles #sure u can be like. polyxena led him to the gates #but she didnt kill him that is paris and apollo #but paris is already dead so who is left for neoptolemus to target as his father’s avenger #it is a role without any use. it is pointless.#and when we see achilles in the odyssey he barely cares about the news of his own son beyond odysseus saying yeah he is chilling #it is more to lament his own suffering #i dont think achilles cares in the end about neoptolemus. he is just a boy like his father bred for war and desperate #for purpose and attachment #beyond that tho. i dont think achilles would approve of killing priam like that is the main thing #he is not above violence to the man. he threatens him in book 24. but in the end there is a respect there. for the grief and loss they share #malouf writes about the shame that follows neoptolemus after everything #and i think that is a far more poignant thing than disappointment from the father you barely know #to carry the weight of your actions knowing that your father would so differently #again achilles is a piece of shit and would do the same if not worse in his son’s place #but in his place toward priam he wouldnt. and neoptolemus reaps that destruction anyways #this is long winded the point is the shame rather than the actual disapproval of war crimes lol #i will say i dont think achilles’ rage and revenge is to the same level. he laments after patroclus died that it hurts more than he thought #because he would think losing a father or son to be more heartbreaking #but no it is the loss of the equal and confidant that hurts the most #but neoptolemus never knew his father. this isnt for his father’s personal sake it is for his legacy + where neoptolemus will end up with it #and therein lies the difference. they have that familial bond but no real connection #ask

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