The Wrath of Achilles

It fascinates me the persona of Achilles. The primary source being the Iliad, but there are others. As it turns out the whole immortality thing didn't seem to exist until nearly a thousand years after the presumed war at Troy. But like I said, the persona is the key. Achilles' name is a compound in Greek (like nearly every Greek name from any epic each person's name said something about their character) meaning something like "the pain of a people" but Wikipedia defines it as "grief" which is still true to the word but slightly less accurate in my understanding. Achilles was driven by the greed of immortality, but I believe that he not only knew of his own mortality, but believed in it. I think much of himself is metaphorical. The prophecy of his death is tied to his lust. Early in life his mother is presented with the paths his life may take, he may grow old and die but live a long uneventful life, or he may be remembered forever but die young in war. See I believe that he knew well of his own mortality and that is why he sought fame so eagerly. Ironic though, and logical, that the fame of war brings death, ironic because from it grows a sense of immortality. Achilles is wronged by his superiors and insulted and not compensated for such a mis-justice. But the irony is, he fights for his own glory, and in his own rage strikes out, after a decade of idle sulking. First his stubbornness was so great that it brought the pain of loss and years to his people, and later so great was his rage that he brought shame and disgrace to all of his kind. Festering anger, unresolved emotions, such things rot in our soul and when they are brought into the light, they stink for all who see them.