English 212-Section 007-World Literature
Professor Augustine Okereke
February 21, 2012
Aristotle said the man who is incapable of working in common or who in his self sufficiency has no need for others, is no part of the community like a beast or a dog. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Self Sufficiency is defined as; able to maintain oneself or itself without outside aid, Capable of providing for one’s own need. Self Sufficiency is also defined as having an extreme confidence in one’s own ability or worth. The character Achilles from the poem “The Iliad” by Homer is the perfect example of the above saying by Aristotle. Achilles has such a great deal of confidence in him that he feels no need for anyone with the exception …show more content…
During the war the leaders of the Achaeans inherited women captured from their opponent. The Woman given to Agamemnon was requested back by her father but Agamemnon refused so a plague was cursed upon the people of Achaean. Many died during the Plague and the destruction will continue until the daughter is returned back to her father. Still Agamemnon is not willing to surrender, Achilles tried to convince him to cooperate but instead he got upset and says “Achilles, Valiant, through you be, you shall not this outwit me. You shall not overreach and you shall not persuade me. Are you to keep your own prize, while I sit tamely under my loss and give up the girl at your bidding? Let the Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking, or I will come and take your own, or that of Ajax or of Ulysses and he to whomsoever I may come shall rue my coming. But of this we will take hereafter; for the present, let us draw a ship into the sea, and find a crew for her expressly, let us put a hecatomb on board, and let us send Chrysies also; Further, let some chief man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idomeneus or yourself, son of Peleus, mighty warrior that you are, that we may offer sacrifice and appease the anger of the