Achilles: Selfish Or Self Preservation?
Can Achilles be considered selfish or self preserving? Yes he can, not only did he leave the Greeks to fend for themselves in the battle, he wouldn't return to fight with them even after his break from it, and he said that he would rather leave and go back to Pythia to live a long life than live a short glorious one in battle with them. He is also considered selfish to the Greeks and their soldiers, because they looked up to him and now, when they need him most, he is gone. In the first place Achilles, knowing that he may be the best soldier the Greeks have, left the war because he said he was to grief stricken. Even though he knew that many would suffer without him. Soon after he left the Greeks started losing, horribly. The Trojans started
wining and they tried really hard to keep it that way. This was their chance, with the Greeks just a little less stronger they could get an attack on them. None of the Greeks could believe that their best soldier left, they were probably imagining the worst for their fate. Then, later on in book 16 Agamemnon offered him a deal, he would give him many wonderful gifts if he would come back and fight with the Greeks. Achilles turned the offer down and still felt strongly that he did not want to fight for the Greeks. He was trying to prove a point to Agamemnon that he shouldn't be treated wrongly, so that's why he wouldn't accept Agamemnon offer. Another reason he didn't is because he obviously still did not want to go back the the war and fight because he knew that there is a very slim chance of him making it out of it alive. Finally, one last reason Achilles could be considered selfish and self preserving is he fact that he wanted to leave. Achilles said he wanted to go back to Pythia, where he was born, to live a long life far away from the war. He would rather live a long and ordinary life than a short glorious one spent fighting in the war. He wanted to spend the rest of his life happy and with his loving family, not fighting in a war. Which is very selfish if everyone else if fighting why does he deserve not to, especially since he is, or was, the Greeks best and most powerful soldier. In conclusion, Achilles is a very selfish and self preserving person for many reasons. One reason is that he was one of the best soldiers the Greeks had and he left them for his own safety. Another is that he wouldn't return even after king Agamemnon offered him a fair deal and after he had a break. Lastly, Achilles even said he wanted to leave all together and go to his home in Pythia to live a long and normal life away from the horrible, horrible war. So yes Achilles is selfish and self preserving ,but, if he wasn't this way we wouldn't have a book.
wining and they tried really hard to keep it that way. This was their chance, with the Greeks just a little less stronger they could get an attack on them. None of the Greeks could believe that their best soldier left, they were probably imagining the worst for their fate. Then, later on in book 16 Agamemnon offered him a deal, he would give him many wonderful gifts if he would come back and fight with the Greeks. Achilles turned the offer down and still felt strongly that he did not want to fight for the Greeks. He was trying to prove a point to Agamemnon that he shouldn't be treated wrongly, so that's why he wouldn't accept Agamemnon offer. Another reason he didn't is because he obviously still did not want to go back the the war and fight because he knew that there is a very slim chance of him making it out of it alive. Finally, one last reason Achilles could be considered selfish and self preserving is he fact that he wanted to leave. Achilles said he wanted to go back to Pythia, where he was born, to live a long life far away from the war. He would rather live a long and ordinary life than a short glorious one spent fighting in the war. He wanted to spend the rest of his life happy and with his loving family, not fighting in a war. Which is very selfish if everyone else if fighting why does he deserve not to, especially since he is, or was, the Greeks best and most powerful soldier. In conclusion, Achilles is a very selfish and self preserving person for many reasons. One reason is that he was one of the best soldiers the Greeks had and he left them for his own safety. Another is that he wouldn't return even after king Agamemnon offered him a fair deal and after he had a break. Lastly, Achilles even said he wanted to leave all together and go to his home in Pythia to live a long and normal life away from the horrible, horrible war. So yes Achilles is selfish and self preserving ,but, if he wasn't this way we wouldn't have a book.