The Song of Achilles

The year they turn 13, Patroclus notices that other boys their age have begun having sexual relationships with slave girls, but neither he nor Achilles does the same. Patroclus feels shy around everyone but Achilles, and Achilles turns down offers from his father to procure him a girl.

One evening, Achilles and Patroclus stay late in Peleus’s room listening to him tell the story of Meleager, a hero who became enraged at the king of Calydon after being denied special privileges. He stopped protecting the kingdom, leading to disaster. Achilles is lying on the floor and Patroclus sits in a chair. As Peleus recites Meleager’s exploits, Achilles tugs on Patroclus’s ankle, trying to pull him off the chair. Realizing the boys are no longer listening, Peleus dismisses them. He offers a girl to Achilles, but he declines, claiming to be tired. Back in their room, Patroclus asks Achilles if he is interested in the girl. In response, he pushes Patroclus onto his pallet, his face directly above Patroclus’s. Achilles says he is “sick of talking about her” (58), then rises and goes to his own bed.

That night, Patroclus dreams with longing of Achilles. Though Patroclus “cannot name the thing” he hopes for, the dream persists night after night (59).