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In Book 1 of the Iliad, Who Do You Think Is Most to Blame for the Rage of Achilles, Achilles or Agamemnon

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In Book 1 of the Iliad, Who Do You Think Is Most to Blame for the Rage of Achilles, Achilles or Agamemnon
In Book 1 of the Iliad, Agamemnon should be the one that is responsible for the rage of Achiles. As the victory of the Achaeans’ battle, Agamemnon takes Chryseis as his prize while Achilles claims Briseis. Chryses begs Agamemnon to return his daughter but Agamemnon refuses to do it so Chryses asks Apollo for help. Apollo sends a plague which kills many Greek soldiers. Agamemnon returns Chryseis to Chryses and takes Briseis away from Achiles. Agamemnon’s action is inconsiderate and disrespectful to his warrior. He is a commander in chief therefore he should respect the agreement between him and Achilles when they claim the woman as their prize after the victory fight. By taking back Brises from Achiles, Agamemnon is creating a crisis for the Achaeans when Achilles’s wrath at Agamemnon by withdrawing from the amry. Agamemnon prioritizes his glories over his own people. He is not willing to scarify his personal honor. During the argument with Achilles, he said: Then Agamemnon said, "Achilles, valiant though you be, you shall not thus 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; This example is emphasized that Agamemnon is clearly a selfish and self serving leader. He doesn’t want to lose Chryseis while Achilles has Briseis. He doesn’t portray his altruism as a leader. Agamemnon also demonstrates a dictator and authoritative figure which he believes he can do whatever he wants despite how his warriors feel. He doesn’t think of the consequence of his action. He should try his best to keep Achilles since Achilles is the most powerful warrior. By satisfying his personal desire, he has to pay the great cost to his country by the loss of Achilles. If he has thought thoroughly and considerate for his people, he wouldn’t take Briseis from Achilles then nothing would happen. Agamemnon is truly responsible for the rage of Achilles.

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