The Song of Achilles

Consistent with ancient Greek mythology, The Song of Achilles is concerned with what it means for an event to be fated and explores the extent to which fate and choice intertwine. Illustrating this at the language level, Miller’s text is dense with instances of the literary technique foreshadowing. Knowledge of certain prophecies provokes characters to make choices, either to avoid or fulfill said prophecies. This raises the question, which is the more “real” force, action or choice?

In Chapter 6, for example, after Patroclus explains to Achilles that the boy he killed had been trying to steal his dice, he asks Achilles what he would have done. Achilles replies that he doesn’t know because no one has ever tried to take something from him. He suspects, however, that he “would be angry” (48). His response in this moment foreshadows the rage he feels at Agamemnon after he confiscates Briseis.

We might read the latter event as fated, creating the conditions necessary for Achilles to withdraw from battle. This causes Patroclus to impersonate him, which leads to Hector killing him, which forces Achilles to avenge his lover by killing Hector, which precipitates his own death.