Book: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Publication Year: 2011
Plot: Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
Miscellaneous: When asked what inspired her, she said, “I stole it from Plato! The idea that Patroclus and Achilles were lovers is quite old. Many Greco-Roman authors read their relationship as a romantic one—it was a common and accepted interpretation in the ancient world. We even have a fragment from a lost tragedy of Aeschylus, where Achilles speaks of his and Patroclus’ ‘frequent kisses.’ There is a lot of support for their relationship in the text of the Iliad itself, though Homer never makes it explicit. For me, the most compelling piece of evidence, aside from the depth of Achilles’ grief, is how he grieves: Achilles refuses to burn Patroclus’ body, insisting instead on keeping the corpse in his tent, where he constantly weeps and embraces it—despite the horrified reactions of those around him. That sense of physical devastation spoke deeply to me of a true and total intimacy between the two men.”
One reader was very interested in the discussion around this novel. He wore glasses (which he hadn’t worn in the past) and a marked up copy of The Illiad. He was ready! The first thing we dove into was the way relationships are portrayed in this novel. In The Illiad, there’s no explicit hint at a romantic/sexual relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. This novel paints some beautiful pictures in between the lines that The Illiad did not detail.
On that note, some readers commented how the author is trying to address 21st-century audiences through reworking an ancient story. In Homer’s story, Patroclus is older than Achilles, where he is younger in The Song of Achilles. Even in TSoA, there is some shame and secrecy surrounding the relationship between the two. This stood out to the readers, because from what we know, homosexual relationships were not the taboo that they are in modern western civilization. The readers don’t love the move the author made by switching this around, but they understood that it adds some weight to their relationship and raises the stakes. She knows her audience.
We dissected Achilles from many different angles. He is the greatest warrior of his time. Half-man, half-god, he is the one many prophesy about. But that does not mean he doesn’t have any downfalls. One reader talked about how Achilles gets too focused on revenge, and that’s partly because he has a big heart. In some ways, this reader stated, this is his undoing. He was unable to see options that might be greater for others because his heart hurt too much. He cared too much about Patroclus. But as the novel shows, there is more to life than revenge and ego…love is what is important.
The “crush” aspect of the novel is something everyone could relate to. The way Patroclus admires and fawns over Achilles is something anyone who has ever had a crush relates to. Some readers were admittedly a little uncomfortable reading the gay sex scene. They understood they were in love before that scene, but they said it didn’t get too much in the way of their enjoyment of the novel and the development of the relationship. There’s an emotional intimacy in the novel that draws the reader in and helps make the relationship believable.
This novel makes the themes and experiences of these mythical stories relatable to us humans today. One of the readers talked about the soldier-world aspect of the novel and related it to prison. He talked about it being a male society that is dripping in ego, pride, and spite. And this allows for a lot of blind spots in times both ancient and modern. One interesting correlation is the blind rage of Achilles. Once he learns Patroclus is dead, he goes into battle in a frenzy, not wearing any armor, indulging in self-destructive behavior. One reader likened this to the way some people deal with pain and grief–they might go on a drug binge or lash out at those around them.
The way Achilles carries the expectations others have for him is something we talked about. Achilles was not the one to go out and proclaim himself as the best warrior, for that is left up to gods, oracles, and others. Achilles has this weight placed on him. But what about what he wants? Is he obligated to these duties? The readers talked about how they have shouldered different expectations others have for them at different times in their life.
We rounded out the conversation with linking the Trojan War to modern geopolitics. How have our perceptions of heroes changed? We went from the Greatest Generation to Vietnam (with draft dodgers) to the 21st-century soldier. How are soldiers treated? And if someone doesn’t want to fight in war, how are they treated? It was difficult for us to imagine how Greek or Trojan defectors would have been treated anyway but unfavorably. One reader related the way Achilles pumps up other soldiers to a scene in Space Jam. Michael Jordan gives his team a special sports drink to help them play better. It was actually water, but the team believed it to be a powerful potion. Achilles and his armor provides people with a similar motivation and effect.
Mortality gives us a desire for honor and for some kind of legacy. The gods of mythology don’t have to worry about it. But the mortals know they have a limited allotment of time and want to make the most of it. They want honor, or to be remembered in a good way. The readers related to this, as they have obviously done something that makes them viewed as less favorably. But from here on out, they aren’t looking for honor or fame; they are simply looking to be good citizens. Their ideas of honor and their legacy have changed, and they are adapting to that.
The readers loved this novel. Many of them wanted to keep a copy for themselves or send it to a friend. A few of them admitted to shedding some tears in the final few pages. I’m glad we read it. It resonated in many ways with the group.
Next week, we are reading a classic (that I’m embarrassed to say I hadn’t read up until this point): John Steinbeck’s magnum opus East of Eden.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on Miller, her work, and anything else related in the comments!
Here is a reader’s guide to the novel, which also shares some background information on the novel.
Until next time,
E.
You can purchase The Song of Achilles here: