ACHILLES

Jacob Pacansky Matt Toro

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ACHILLES

Summary:

Achilles was the son of King Peleus of Phthia and the minor sea-goddess, Thetis. When Achilles was a young boy his mom, Thetis desired her son Achilles to be an immortal and dipped him into the waters of the Styx in the Underworld and then began to burn off his mortality, but since his ankles remained covered by her hands during the ritual, that part of him remained mortal. Thetis, however, knew of the Trojan War growing inevitable and hid Achilles as a female among the daughters of King Lycomedes of Scyros. Trying to stop her son from entering war with the Trojans, Thetis warned him that he was destined for a long life in Phthia or a short glory at Troy.

SUMMARY

He chose glory.Hector, the trojan hero, killed Achilles best friend Patroclus and this led up to Achilles most notable feat. During the Trojan War, Achilles slayed Hector outside the gates of Troy.Achilles was soon thereafter killed by Paris whose arrow was guided by Apollo to Achilles’ ankle in order to avenge his son, Tenes. His armor was given to Odysseus and his ashes were mixed with that of Patroclus. To replace him, Odysseus brought Achilles own son, Neoptolemus, who was now a young man, into the war.

SYMBOLS ARCHETYPES

Achilles Heel: it symbolizes your week or vulnerable spot. That you cannot protect if someone figures It out. In the myth the only way to kill Achilles is his “Achilles heel”.

River Styx: it symbolizes immortality in this story, because if you dip someone in it they become immortal. Achilles is dipped into the River to become immortal.

The Hero: Achilles, he takes glory over living forever, and he wants to be the best.

The Jester: Achilles wants to live in the moment with glory

The Caregiver: Mom, she dips her son in the river to save him from other people.

THEME

We all have our weak or vulnerable areas, our Achilles' heels. Even someone

who may outwardly appear to be all-powerful, or even invincible, isn't without

a weak spot, or Achilles' heel.