His fate is fixed, but there is still room for him to make a decision. When Achilles strides toward Agamemnon to kill him. For the sake of the two royal brothers, the Argives bloody their hands against men who have done them no wrong. She promises that Achilles will be justly compensated for this great dishonor. He insists, however, that one of the Achaeans give him a prize to compensate him for his loss. During the Trojan War, the Greeks (including Agamemnon and Achilles) conquered the city of Lyrnessus and everyone took a woman. The requirement of Agamemnon for Achilles to sacrifice his price from the war was not culturally acceptable. Back in ancient times, soldiers would take the women from cities they conquered as prizes. The Trojan War is the legendary (and almost certainly mythical) conflict in which Agamemnon laid siege to Troy in an effort to retrieve Helen, his sister-in-law after she had been taken to Troy by Paris. His king, Agamemnon, will not act, so Achilles decides to act: He calls for an assembly of the entire army. Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. Why did Achilles refuse to fight? Agamemnon: Family & Loyalty. Works Cited: Homer, Samuel Butler. Achilles also complains that though he bears the heaviest burden in battle, it is the king who is always greedy for prizes. Agamemnon, the commander of the Greek forces, had ordered Achilles to hand over his slave girl Briseis after Agamemnon had been forced to give his own slave back. Achilles already hates Agamemnon, so this final act of disrespect, causes Achilles to withdraw from the war. http://www.gradesaver.com/iliad/study-guide/summary-books-1-4. Due to their argument, Achilles decided to not fight for the Greeks anymore. Achilles stops fighting for the Greeks because Agamemnon took away his prize, Briseis. This causes him to stop fighting. For the sake of the two royal brothers, the Argives bloody their hands against men who have done them no wrong. The rest of the men were doomed without their best warrior, so Agamemnon was convinced to bring Achilles back. How did Achilles react to Agamemnon's action? Achilles has a strong sense of social order that in the beginning, manifests itself in his concern for the disorder in the Achaian camp; a deadly plague is destroying the soldiers, and Achilles wants to know the reason why. Achilles Refuses to Fight At one point during the war, Achilles captured a beautiful princess named Briseis and fell in love with her. During the Trojan War, the Greeks (including Agamemnon and Achilles) conquered the city of Lyrnessus and everyone took a woman. In Book One, Agamemnon has his war prize, a captured woman, taken away from him. Answers 1. Great chiefs in the old days, with whom no man now alive would dare to fight, had listened. Agamemnon and Achilles argue, each man insulting the other. Answered by jill d #170087 5 years ago 6/5/2016 6:16 PM. Eventually, Zeus, the leader of the Greeks gods, became so upset with Agamemnon's behavior, that he temporarily blinded the arrogant ruler. Achilles sees clearly that if he accepts Agamemnon’s treasure he will die fighting against Troy, and afterward Agamemnon’s treasure will be of no use to him. In Book One, Agamemnon has his war prize, a captured woman, taken away from him. Agamemnon threatens to take a prize if one is not given to him, and Achilles reminds him that all of the Achaeans are fighting against foes who have only wronged Menelaus. When the Greek fleet was at Aulis without any wind, Agamemnon agreed to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to Artemis in exchange for favorable winds. This conflict can be understood by examining the heroes’ conflicting views of the Gods. Agamemnon then responds to Achilles’ speech with own, long-winded one. His choice not fight led to the death of his friend. During the first nine years of the war, Achilles ravaged the country around Troy and took 12 cities. Achilles’ reason leads us to the idea the Greeks themselves control their fate. She promises that Achilles will be justly compensated for this great dishonor. Although it was wrong of Agamemnon to take Briseis, Achilles could have put his personal issues aside and continued to help the people of Greece. Achilles response is swift and at first does not seem well thought-out. This causes him to stop fighting. In this regard, why did Achilles re enter the war? Achilles, left with little choice, agreed, but retreated to his tent in a temper, refusing to fight. Achilles himself though wanted to fight unlike Odysseus. Agamemnon and Achilles argue, each man insulting the other. Finally, Odysseus reaches his conclusion by returning to the patriotic argument. After the death of some famous heroes, including Achilles, the Trojans fell victim to a ruse in which they accepted a large, … 14) Why did Achilles fight Hector? Back in ancient times, soldiers would take the women from cities they conquered as prizes. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_Achilles_and_Agamemnon_feud_in_the_Iliad. Last updated by jill d #170087 5 years ago 6/5/2016 6:16 PM. Agamemnon and the Trojan War . Achilles became depressed and refused to fight. Proud and autocratic, Agamemnon antagonized Achilles, causing Achilles to leave the battle. By taking Briseis away from Achilles, Agamemnon has committed a grave Greek injustice in robbing Achilles of all he had accomplished. Is Achilles ' own prize, the Argives bloody their hands against men who done! Took his war-prize from him last updated by jill d # 170087 5 years 6/5/2016! The war to lose a major battle will not act, so this act!, Achilles decided to not fight for the Greeks enjoys delivering evil prophecies, but is! 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