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Which would you classify as a more sympathetic character Achilles or Priam?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
I feel more sympathetic towards Priam, because he has to beg Achilles for his son's body back and kiss Achilles' hands, the hands by which the spear that killed his son was thrust into Hector's throat, killing him. He lowered down his standards by visiting Achilles, and showing him respect. He was ready to do anything to retrieve his son's body. Priam was a hurt father that lost his son. -Raneem Fares-
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoa "sympathetic character" does not have to be defined as one that shows sympathy. A sympathetic character is merely a character that the reader is able to identify with. This does not mean that the reader has to like that character, but the reader should at least have a good understanding of where that character is coming from. Achilles may be seen as selfish to many, but the reader should at least try to understand WHY he acted selfishly.
Achilles was a great warrior, and because he was such a proficient warrior he was entitled to his share of the spoils of war. Achilles had choosen Briseis as one of his spoils, and he claimed to love her, so naturally he was angered when Agamemnon took her in place of his own woman that he had to give up. So he chose to disengage himself from battle until the injury to his pride (and reputation) was righted.
If one were to look at Achilles in terms of his showing or lacking of sympathy, then he did also exhibit sympathy as well. Recall in the Iliad after Hector was killed at the hand of Achilles, when Priam entered the Greek camp to speak with Achilles and ransom his son's body back. Priam asks Achilles to think of his own father and how he would feel if he had lost his son like he had, and Achilles is able to feel both sympathy and empathy. He can relate to Priam's grief over his son, because he too is grieving over the loss of someone near and dear to him.
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Who does priam ask Achilles to remember?
Priam asks Achilles to remember his own father, Peleus.
What is the relationship between Achilles and priam?
It is the gods which inspire Priam to seek Achilles. Zeus holds yet another meeting discussing Achilles irrational behavior. They argue but decide to return Hektor's body to Priam for a proper burial. When Priam visits Achilles in Book XXIV, it is evident that, up until this point, Achilles has been consumed by irrational feelings of anger, ego, and unjust pride. Now, Priam appeals to Achilles emotional intelligence, appearing as the father of Hektor and not as the King of Troy. He asks Achilles to remember his own father- suggesting that a father's wish is to see his son treated with the respect he deserves. Achilles is compassionate. He remembers the "vision" of Patroklos, looking inside himself and understanding Priam's pain and anguish. This adds to the psychological component of the book. Achilles is aware of himself in a more humane way- he is sympathetic to Priam. His uncontrolled anger has subsided and he has reached a state of enlightenment and personal development.
Why did king priam kiss the hand of Achilles?
Priam kissed Achilles hands to get him to give back Hectors body.
What does Priam talk about which stirs Achilles' pity?
Priam talks about Achilles's own father, Peleus, who is awaiting his return.
Why does Achilles surrender hector to priam?
He drew on the universal themes of grief; his own for his son and Achilles' for Patroklos, and also asks Achilles to think of him as his own father, who has the hope that his son, Achilles will come back alive, yet Priam hasn't even got this. Priam also brings a large ransom with him.
Who does priam ask Achilles to remember?
Priam asks Achilles to remember his own father, Peleus.
What is the relationship between Achilles and priam?
It is the gods which inspire Priam to seek Achilles. Zeus holds yet another meeting discussing Achilles irrational behavior. They argue but decide to return Hektor's body to Priam for a proper burial. When Priam visits Achilles in Book XXIV, it is evident that, up until this point, Achilles has been consumed by irrational feelings of anger, ego, and unjust pride. Now, Priam appeals to Achilles emotional intelligence, appearing as the father of Hektor and not as the King of Troy. He asks Achilles to remember his own father- suggesting that a father's wish is to see his son treated with the respect he deserves. Achilles is compassionate. He remembers the "vision" of Patroklos, looking inside himself and understanding Priam's pain and anguish. This adds to the psychological component of the book. Achilles is aware of himself in a more humane way- he is sympathetic to Priam. His uncontrolled anger has subsided and he has reached a state of enlightenment and personal development.
Why did king priam kiss the hand of Achilles?
Priam kissed Achilles hands to get him to give back Hectors body.
What does Priam talk about which stirs Achilles' pity?
Priam talks about Achilles's own father, Peleus, who is awaiting his return.
He went to Achilles to ask for his sons body?
Priam
Why does Achilles surrender hector to priam?
He drew on the universal themes of grief; his own for his son and Achilles' for Patroklos, and also asks Achilles to think of him as his own father, who has the hope that his son, Achilles will come back alive, yet Priam hasn't even got this. Priam also brings a large ransom with him.
Who was the son of Priam and Hecuba?
paris Hector was the eldest son of Priam and Hecuba.
What was the argument Piram used to persuade Achilles?
The main thing Achilles reacted to was that Priam compared himself to Achilles father, saying that he would want his son's body back too. Achilles was also impressed because Priam had had the courage to just walk up to him, even though he realized Priam had some help of the gods (or maybe BECAUSE he realized that).
Who went to Achilles to ask for his son's body?
King Priam
What does Priam request of Achilles?
He drew on the universal themes of grief; his own for his son and Achilles' for Patroklos, and also asks Achilles to think of him as his own father, who has the hope that his son, Achilles will come back alive, yet Priam hasn't even got this. Priam also brings a large ransom with him.
How does Achilles show hospitality to Priam?
He lets Priam give his son Hector a proper Trojan funeral and some peace.
Major character of troy?
Helen, Menalaeus, Paris and Achilles. [Then Agamemnon, Nestor, Hector, and Odessyus. Also Priam, Lacoon, Clymenstra, Iphigenia, Cassandra, and Patroclus.]
