Loss and Heroicism (The Song of Achilles - review)

The Song of Achilles is a hauntingly beautiful retelling of the Battle of Troy, through the eyes of Achilles’ lover from youth, Patroclus. Outcasted by his father at a young age to reside under the wing of another ruler known for his generosity, Patroclus meets the king’s son, Achilles, fated to be the greatest warrior in the history of the Greeks. Growing together, they realise their love, only to be jarred apart by Achilles’ desperate fear of being forgotten. The novel treads the waters of many modern and relevant topics such as the objectification of women; being valued only as prizes, history’s forgotten same-sex relationships; love being more than just an image but an emotion, and the danger of pinning your honour to your chest; hubris being the killer of identity. 

This novel didn’t only make me mourn the loss of life; I longed for the return of childhood innocence, a time when love was so simple that it was a sole emotion. The cruel changeling of someone you once loved, replaced by one absorbed in the shallow lust for success and legacy, tainted by the fear of being forgotten. Early in the novel, we see tender moments of self-discovery and growth for each of the characters, as well as carving the formative points of their identity, coupled with the imminent knowledge that they will one day be pulled to the battlefield. Through this, we see the true cost of war; the destruction of someone you once knew.  

A critical flaw of Achilles’ character (or, one could argue, the entire army) was the excessive hubris and the glorification of murder. Throughout their entire lives, both opposed battle, even with Achilles blessed with the abilities of a brutal warrior. Patroclus was cast aside as a “weak” heir, taunted by a mistake in the rage of his youth, later, living in the shadow of Achilles, always behind him. Yet, his lifelong partner was one of few to value him for the person he truly was; kind and benevolent, gifted, with a pure heart. Unfortunately, his later attempts to pull Achilles from his deep pride (forged from his long years forced to fight) only push him further onward, deafening himself to the desperate calls to reason, looking through a tunnel to glory, not seeing the anarchy he leaves behind with the power of his image as a great and powerful warrior.  

What Miller has created is more than a story; she gracefully portrays the danger of fame and how you can lose someone to the hunger for a legacy. The love in this novel knows no status or ideal, is complex and layered. The Song of Achilles is a novel worth your time, a gift worth sharing with you today. 

I really have tried to make this piece as perfect as possible because there's actually a chance it could be published - not anything big but it's just exciting. I don't know how much it will be edited, I just hope they don't simplify it too much. But genuinely I really did enjoy the book, those who have read it will understand that there's so much more I could have written but I obviously can't give away the whole plot. Wish me luck.

Song Suggestion - Achilles Come Down - Gang Of Youths (I really couldn't have picked any other song for this, could I?)