How is Achilles the greatest warrior presented in both the film Troy and the Illiad?
Believe it or not, the film “waters down” Achilles’ anger. Both me and my wife are fans of the Iliad and after seeing the film we immediately had a conversation about why they softened up Achilles so much. 2 theories came to mind. One was that Brad Pitt wouldn’t play such a character. The second is that modern sensibilities wouldn’t let someone as mean as Achilles be anything of a hero. My copy of the Iliad starts out (from memory) “The wrath of Achilles is my theme. That fatal wrath which in the fulfillment of the will of Zeus sent so many noblemen to the Hall of Hades leaving their bodies for carrion for the dogs and passing birds…” Achilles is one mean SOB. He is the “best” fighter the Greeks have. In time, because the war hasn’t gone well, Achilles (the best of the best fighters) blames the commander in chief of the Greek forces (Agamemnon). They have a great big argument, a p*ssing contest, and Achilles withdraws his warrior services to sit on his ship and delight in watching as
