How Does Achilles Shape His Own Destiny
The most important factor that shaped his destiny or fate or destiny was the difficult decision he made at the turning point of his life. His life was definitely a result of the choice he made every time he encountered an event. The freedom of choice was the determining factor in shaping Priam’s life. Life was less about what happened to Priam and more about how he reacted to it. Priam is aware of the freedom and makes a choice to face the unknown for there can be different ends to the same story or as Priam says ‘the road my other self went down’ (68)
Even Achilles is told he will die young. That is fated but yet he chooses to ignore it and rebels against all the forces and endeavors to be remembered as a brave warrior. Achilles is the one …show more content…
It is time, not space, he is staring into.’ (Malouf 2009, 6)
The life of Achilles and Priam are tied between choice and chance. Achilles is very much aware he has to die, but ponders over his end at the beach or plains. We are told …show more content…
All humans and human things are indeed subject to decay, and even monarchs cannot help but obey. Malouf shows us that even death is a part of the individuals’ destiny and they have a choice to choose how they will die. Whether the characters believe that their destiny is fixed or changeable, what they have in common is the wish to be remembered, live honorably, and live on in the minds of men. Priam’s choice to be remembered as an extraordinary father and Achille’s decision to die a great warrior signifies the transient nature of life for men may come and men may go but few things last forever. When Priam challenges his fate, he is in fact challenging the gods by taking control over his own life. After treating him like a toy and playing with him for a while, demonstrating what they could do, the gods had finally relented. Priam reasserts that they are all mortals, not gods and that death is inevitable which is why it is necessary to be compassionate about each other’s losses. Both Achilles and Priam are grieving over their losses for as Somax says death always leaves a gaping
Even Achilles is told he will die young. That is fated but yet he chooses to ignore it and rebels against all the forces and endeavors to be remembered as a brave warrior. Achilles is the one …show more content…
It is time, not space, he is staring into.’ (Malouf 2009, 6)
The life of Achilles and Priam are tied between choice and chance. Achilles is very much aware he has to die, but ponders over his end at the beach or plains. We are told …show more content…
All humans and human things are indeed subject to decay, and even monarchs cannot help but obey. Malouf shows us that even death is a part of the individuals’ destiny and they have a choice to choose how they will die. Whether the characters believe that their destiny is fixed or changeable, what they have in common is the wish to be remembered, live honorably, and live on in the minds of men. Priam’s choice to be remembered as an extraordinary father and Achille’s decision to die a great warrior signifies the transient nature of life for men may come and men may go but few things last forever. When Priam challenges his fate, he is in fact challenging the gods by taking control over his own life. After treating him like a toy and playing with him for a while, demonstrating what they could do, the gods had finally relented. Priam reasserts that they are all mortals, not gods and that death is inevitable which is why it is necessary to be compassionate about each other’s losses. Both Achilles and Priam are grieving over their losses for as Somax says death always leaves a gaping