Who Achilles is
Achilles is swift, proud and quick to anger, a warrior whose absence changes the course of the fighting. He is the son of King Peleus and Thetis, a sea goddess who listens when he calls for help.
His quarrel with Agamemnon opens the poem and divides the Greek camp. When the king takes Briseis, Achilles sees the loss as an insult to his standing in the army.
What Achilles wants
Achilles wants his honour restored, not simply the return of a prize. He asks Thetis to persuade Zeus to let the Greeks suffer defeat until they recognise his worth.
Yet he also questions whether the rewards of battle can ever match the value of a life. He knows he faces a choice between a long life without glory and a short life with lasting fame.
Achilles and the others in the story
Agamemnon commands the army, but Achilles refuses to accept the king's treatment of him. When Odysseus, Phoenix and Ajax bring an offer of gifts, he welcomes them as friends but resists their appeals.
Patroclus, his dearest companion, grieves for the wounded Greeks and longs to help them. Their friendship brings the army's suffering close to Achilles, even while he stays beside his ships.
Questions
Why does Achilles refuse to fight?
He refuses because Agamemnon takes Briseis and dishonours him before the army.
Who is Achilles' mother?
His mother is Thetis, the sea goddess who carries his appeal to Zeus.
Is Achilles a hero or a villain?
Achilles is a Greek hero, but his anger has consequences for others. His courage stands beside pride and a fierce need for recognition.