The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller was a birthday present. My friend that gave me the birthday present said, "You'll love this book." Just upon appearances, I turned my nose up. What's appealing about Greek mythology. It looked boring.
It didn't take long, however, before I was intrigued. I was in the story. The tale is told by Achilles' soul mate, Patroclus. Since Patroclus who wasn't loved by his father, anyway, had accidentally killed another boy, he was exiled forever, from his homeland. Patroclus was exiled to the homeland of Peleus, where other wayward boys were sent. Patroclus didn't fit in his original home and he doesn't fit in this new place either. However, Peleus' son, Achilles takes a liking to Patroclus and they soon become inseparable friends and lovers.
Achilles is the son of a champion, Peleus, and a sea nymph. The sea nymph, Thetis hates Patroclus from the "get-go." Everyone loves Achilles because he is beautiful and strong. The two boys grow up together. We see them get trained for fighting, music, and the healing arts by the centaur, Chiron. Life is good.
Enter the beautiful, Helen. She had so many suitors, that instead of killing each other for her hand, they agreed to honor her by vowing to protect her and whomever husband she chose. She chose Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon, and king of Sparta. Paris disregarded the vows and kidnapped Helen, setting off the war that had a thousand ships launched to Troy to get Helen bac. k.
The reader knows from predictions that both Patroclus and Achilles are killed. This is a Greek tragedy. Patroclus is killed indirectly by Achilles' stubbornness and anger. Achilles is offended because Agamemnon takes his concubine, Briseis, and refuses to fight anymore. As the Greeks lose and the men see their comrades die, their resentment toward Achilles turns to hate. Patroclus can't stand it. He doesn't want to see Achilles hated, so he puts on Achilles' armor and goes into battle, as Achilles.
Surprisingly, Patroclus fights well and is only stopped from scaling the wall to Troy by the god, Apollo. Patroclus is grievously mourned by Achilles, but he still narrates the story for us. Achilles goes crazy and kills the Trojan hero, Hector. Still, in a rage, Achilles dishonors Hector by dragging his body around the city, three times. Achilles has gone mad and is no longer interested in living. He gets his wish when Paris kills him.
A tomb is built for Achilles but as his last wish was to have his ashes mixed with Patroclus', the tomb only has Achilles' name on it. Thetis, Achilles' mother doesn't was Patroclus' name on the tomb. Only when, after a time, Patroclus' spirit talks to Thetis, and convinces her of his love for Achilles, does she add Patroclus's name to the tomb.
The last image we have is of Achilles and Patroclus walking off, hand in hand, together.
My "take away," love lasts.
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