Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction
Synopsis
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5/5)
Trigger/Content Warning: mentions of rape and sexual assault
I absolutely adore this book. It's one of the first books I read in 2019 that helped me get back into reading again.
Growing up, I really loved reading the Percy Jackson & The Olympians Series by Rick Riordan, and my love for these books kindled my interest in Greek mythology. And The Iliad is one of the Greek epics that I enjoyed learning about the most. The story of Achilles had always really fascinated me, and it was very refreshing to see the story of Achilles through the eyes of Patroclus.
I adored Patroclus. Though I started off the story thinking I'd fall in love with Achilles, I ended up falling in love with Patroclus. Throughout the story you see every bit of his self-loathing and all of his insecurities, and I really loved seeing his growth as a person. He'll never be as self-confident (cocky) as the others (Achilles, Diomedes, Odysseus), but you see him grow more comfortable in his skin and even as he is praised and loved by others he retains every bit of his humility.
I found it really interesting how Patroclus in the beginning of the book was always so bitter and quite cynical, yet as he grows up he becomes the most compassionate character in the book. Often times life causes people to grow into more cynical beings, yet Patroclus grows up and discovers the good in the world. I feel like Achilles was the one who followed the usual trajectory of emotional growth in human beings; he went from being sweet and innocent to becoming a prideful—and sometimes even brutal—warrior. It's very interesting how the book holds Achilles' name in its title, yet, in my opinion, it's an ode to Patroclus' character. I don't think I will ever get over how much I love Patroclus.
"A surety rose in me, lodged in my throat.
I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me."
The romance between Patroclus and Achilles was just so so sweet, I loved watching them grow up together and fall in love with each other. And when they fell in love, it was the kind of love everyone wishes they had. The passionate, all-consuming type of love. You could just tell how happy they were ever y moment they were together. Throughout the book they are so loyal to each other. Even when faced with the worst, the first thought in their heads is of each other—to protect each other—and honestly their love brings me to tears.
Patroclus by Jacques-Louis David (1780)
I actually read this many months ago, more than 7 months ago, yet I still feel pangs of sadness while reading different quotes from this book. Madeline Miller's writing is exquisite. Her writing is so beautiful and it makes for many very nice quotes. I find that her writing very much suits the story. Miller writes about this pure and beautiful love and the writing perfectly complements how beautiful their love is. And some of the lines, even now, still really get me. The very last scene makes me emotional every single time I read it.
"Name one hero who was happy."
I think a lot of people who read this book know the story of the Iliad. So most people know exactly how this is going to end. I think knowing the general story also brings about this sense of tension and foreboding, especially halfway through. You get to watch Achilles and Patroclus so in love and so happy with each other and the entire time, in the back of your mind, you're thinking about what you know will happen.
I think, since I love a good tragedy, this element of anticipation made me really excited to get to the Trojan War part of the story. But when it got there I wish we had stayed in the good, happy days. One part that I kind of glossed over was the part with Deidameia. I didn't like her. Or what she and Thetis did. But other than that I was completely invested in the rest of the story. And I think the part when I really began loving Patroclus was during the Trojan war. While Agamemnon and many of the other men were cruel to those that were not them, and especially cruel to the women, Patroclus did everything he could to save them.
I also really loved the other characters. I truthfully was pretty neutral towards Odysseus when reading the Odyssey, but I loved him in this book. Miller really showcased his wit and humor and I really loved him. One line that always gets me is when he's talking to Pyrrhus and he says:
"Perhaps one day even I will be famous. Perhaps more famous than you."
Because we all know the Odyssey, and we all know that there's a lot of truth in his speculation.
Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus by Gavin Hamilton (1760)
Overall, The Song of Achilles is an absolutely beautiful retelling of the Trojan War, and it is definitely worth a read. It is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read, and if you love Greek mythology and tragic romances, you should definitely give this book a try.
Now I would like to talk about very specific scenes, so if you don't want spoilers please don't read below!
End of Non-Spoiler Section—Spoilers Ahead!
"If you have to go, you know I will go with you."
Hmm where should I start. I really haven't read this book in a while but I felt the need to talk about it so I made this. I guess I can start with Achilles' character during the Trojan War.
He kinda turned into an asshole during the Trojan War. But to be fair a lot of the men turned into assholes during the war. Probably too much testosterone in one place. They all turned into cocky, arrogant children and fought over the pettiest of things. However, since many of them are kings, or princes, or are destined to be heroes, I guess I see why so many of them are made of hubris.
"'I would not care...Whatever you became. It would not matter to me. We would be together.'
'I know,' he said quietly, but he did not look at me.
He knew, but it was not enough."
I absolutely love Patroclus and his bleeding heart. Despite the fact that Achilles kinda turned into an ass, Patroclus still loved him. And Patroclus still trusted him. And Patroclus still tried to protect his pride and honor. He went out to battle to protect his pride and honor.
The Body of Patroclus borne by Menelaus
WHY IS THIS SADDER THE SECOND TIME I'M READING IT?! I'm reading the part when Achilles is screaming over Patroclus' body and there are tears in my eyes. I wasn't anywhere near tears when I was reading this the first time so wHY NOW? I was pretty mad at Achilles when I read this part, since I, like Briseis, blamed him for Patroclus' death for a bit. If only he weren't so proud maybe Patroclus would have lived. However, I guess the prophecy said Patroclus, "best of men", would not live much longer. I also really loved how everyone fought to retrieve Patroclus' body. Not because of Achilles, but because Patroclus was a man well-loved by everyone.
"It is right to seek peace for the dead. You and I both know there is no peace for those who live after."
I also really liked the scene when Achilles returns Hector's body to his father. Though he is blind with grief and rage over Patroclus' death, the Achilles' that Patroclus knows and loves the most shows himself again with this one act of compassion. Achilles could have just killed Priam and allowed Hector to suffer for eternity for what he did to Patroclus, but empathizes with Priam and gives Hector's body back. It really showed how Patroclus really brought out the best in Achilles, and even in death the memory of Patroclus continues to persuade Achilles to do good.
"Odysseus looks at the young man's implacable face. 'I have done my best,' he says. 'Let it be remembered I tried.'
I remembered."
I HATE PYRRHUS. It really is a wonder how someone so terrible was a descendant of Achilles'. But I guess he just never had someone to ground him and hold him to his mortality as Achilles had Patroclus. I guess being raised as a god led him to become made of so much hubris, he felt as if he really were a god. I guess one could see this as Pyrrhus being a foil for Achilles. If Thetis had gotten her way with raising Achilles, if Patroclus had never been a part of Achilles' life, maybe Achilles would have turned out to be like his son.
This was the scene where I decided that I loved Odysseus. The only one who listened to Patroclus' cries of help. I guess he deserves the fame he got from the Odyssey :") I also found it kinda funny how Patroclus thought Odysseus' wife was a joke the entire time LOL
"I am made of memories."
But I guess the part I really want to talk about is the very last scene between Thetis and Patroclus. I love that scene so much. Thetis was far from a good mother, but in the end she was a mother. And, in my opinion, her visiting Achilles' grave every day and longing for him is both out of love for her fallen son, and also out of guilt for missing so much of his life and failing to understand him. My eyes teared up when Patroclus, weary from aimlessly roaming the Earth, began to speak of all the ways he remembers Achilles. While most stories speak of Achilles' conquests and triumphs, Patroclus recounts the way his hair looked in the summer sun, the color of his eyes when he laughed with him, his skill for the lyre, all memories full of love and happiness, all things swift and beautiful and bright that were buried with him.
"I would know him in death, at the end of the world."
And that's all I have to say about The Song of Achilles! If you're reading this part you probably have also finished the book and let me know:
What do you think of The Song of Achilles?
Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus by Nikolai Ge (1855)
"In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun."
—璇
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