There Are Two Things That I Didn’t Nessarcirily Like In Song Of Achilles. The First Will Be Discussed

There are two things that I didn’t nessarcirily like in Song of Achilles. The first will be discussed now and I will post later the second. I didn’t like how Miller portrayed why Achilles continued to not fight after quitting. Now, there is no fault to her, I might have read a different translation or just generally interpreted the Iliad differently. Or maybe she did include this, I just remember it not being as big of a deal.

So, I thought it was because Achilles realized that he could continue to live and live a long life with Patroclus. And that he didn’t need to fight or to be a hero. Achilles did say a throw away line that he didn’t need to fight in someone else’s war, but it was more portrayed as an excuse to throw a hissy fit. Which, I guess this is from Patroclus’ POV, but anyways.

We could’ve had a scene in the book where Achilles tells Patroclus that he has decided to live a long and happy life with him. Because of this, it would’ve hurt more when Patroclus dies and Achilles fights and dies. We would know that before Patroclus’ death, Achilles decided that he wanted to live a long and happy life with him. And that he gave up being a hero for that before his death.

Anyways, I’m just sad we didn’t get this extra angst in this story.

I've been waiting so long for Steel Ball Run to be animated I'm a different gender than when I first read it.

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crippled-gay

4 years ago

This is the second of the two things I didn’t necessarily like in Song of Achilles. With how Ancient Greece was, Achilles and Patroclus wouldn’t have been or had their reputation tarnished for being gay. Being gay WAS THE NORM. Because, to Ancient Greece, what was manlier than two men?

So, I don’t like how she put a more modern twist on it. I understand why, us gays don’t yet know what it is like to live with our partners without (for example) weird glances from onlookers. And it makes it more relatable. But, I wish I would’ve been able to project that hope onto this book. It’s similar to how The Song of Ice and Fire shows brutality towards women in a MADE UP WORLD. Like for once I want my fantasy, my books to show what the world could be.

Anyways, I’m just sad because sometimes I don’t like the modern lens of classical books and myths because it takes away some fire shit.