The Song of Achilles Character Analysis

Patroclus

A former prince and Achilles’s lover, Patroclus is the novel’s narrator. He is fundamentally kind, which leads his father to dislike him. Patroclus’s mother was intellectually disabled, and his father believes that both Patroclus… read analysis of Patroclus

Achilles

Achilles is the prince of Phthia, Patroclus’s lover, and the best fighter in Greece. According to prophecy, he is prophesized to attain fame during the Trojan War. His battle skills are in his blood… read analysis of Achilles

Thetis

Thetis is a sea-nymph and mother to the demigod Achilles; she gave birth to Achilles after the gods forced her to have sex with Peleus. The assault was meant to be a reward… read analysis of Thetis

Briseis

Briseis is a Trojan citizen captured during the Greek army’s early raids on Troy. At Patroclus’s urging, Achilles claims her as a war spoil, but the two give her free reign in the Phthian… read analysis of Briseis

Odysseus

Odysseus is the clever, charming prince of Ithaca. In the Trojan War, he serves as one of Achilles’s fellow generals, though Achilles and Patroclus distrust him and believe he’s sneaky and self-serving. Patroclus first… read analysis of Odysseus

Agamemnon

Agamemnon is the king of Mycenae, commander-in-chief of the Greek army, and brother to Menelaus (whose wife, Helen, was stolen by the Trojan prince Paris). Although Menelaus is the one who was wronged… read analysis of Agamemnon

Chiron

Chiron is a centaur (half-man, half-horse) who is Achilles and Patroclus’s mentor. He’s trained many heroes at his home in Mount Pelion, and the two boys live with him for much of their adolescence… read analysis of Chiron

Peleus

Peleus is the king of Phthia, Achilles’s father, and sea-nymph Thetis’s husband. The gods forced Thetis to marry and have sex with Peleus, which was meant as a reward for Peleus’s piety. Peleus… read analysis of Peleus

Deidameia

Deidameia is the princess of Scyros and King Lycomedes’s daughter; she’s also Achilles’s wife and mother to their son, Pyrrhus. Because Lycomedes is old and ailing, Deidameia runs the island, acting as… read analysis of Deidameia

Hector

Hector is one of the princes of Troy, son of Priam and brother of Paris; he’s also the second-best fighter in the Trojan War, bested only by Achilles. He’s known for his strength… read analysis of Hector

Pyrrhus

Pyrrhus is Achilles and Deidameia’s son—though he’s taken from Deidameia in infancy and raised by his grandmother, Thetis, away from humans. He arrives in Troy after Achilles is dead. Though only 12, he… read analysis of Pyrrhus

Apollo

Apollo is the god of light and music; he favors the Trojans, especially Hector. Apollo plays a role in many of the novel’s most significant events: after Agamemnon refuses to ransom a young priest’s… read analysis of Apollo

Menelaus

Menelaus is a prince of Mycenae and Agamemnon’s brother. Paris steals his wife, Helen, from his kingdom, an incident that instigates the Trojan War. He seems to genuinely care about Helen—he eventually fights… read analysis of Menelaus

Helen

Helen is a Spartan princess and known to be the most beautiful woman in Greece. Her abduction at the hands of Paris kicks off the Trojan War, as her husband, Menelaus, comes to rescue… read analysis of Helen

Paris

Paris is one of the princes of Troy, Priam’s son, and Hector’s brother. He’s best known for stealing Menelaus’s wife, Helen, and instigating the Trojan War in the process. However, Patroclus… read analysis of Paris

Priam

Priam is the Trojan king and father to Hector and Paris—the latter of whom stole Menelaus’s wife, Helen, and instigated the Trojan War. Priam tells the Greek army that the Trojans will… read analysis of Priam

Phoinix

Phoinix is Peleus’s most trusted advisor who helps raise Achilles; he later accompanies Achilles and Patroclus to Troy. When Thetis takes Achilles to Scyros, Phoinix is the one to tell Patroclus that he’s… read analysis of Phoinix

Diomedes

Diomedes is the king of Argos and one of the generals in the Trojan War. He is also a close friend of Odysseus, and the two have a rough banter which establishes them as… read analysis of Diomedes

King Menoitius

King Menoitius is Patroclus’s father and husband to Patroclus’s mother. He’s a cruel man, often disparaging his son—he resents Patroclus for his physical weakness and alleged stupidity, and Patroclus’s mother for her intellectual… read analysis of King Menoitius

Ajax

The large and powerful Ajax is the king of Salamis and Greece’s second-best fighter after his cousin, Achilles; he’s also one of the Trojan War’s generals. Though he’s skilled in battle, he isn’t fated… read analysis of Ajax

Automedon

Automedon is Achilles’s extremely young charioteer; Peleus places Automedon at Achilles service for the Trojan War. Patroclus notes that Automedon’s skills grow during the war, and he remains extremely loyal to Achilles, serving as… read analysis of Automedon

Patroclus’s Mother

Patroclus’s mother is King Menoitius’s wife; she’s implied to be intellectually disabled. Menoitius married her when she was only 14 due to her large dowry. But after Patroclus is born, she has little… read analysis of Patroclus’s Mother

King Lycomedes

King Lycomedes is the ruler of Scyros and the father of Deidameia. He’s old and ill, so Deidameia essentially runs their kingdom, which leaves it (and Deidameia) vulnerable. Because of Lycomedes’s inattention, Thetis is able… read analysis of King Lycomedes

Iphigenia

Iphigenia is Agamemnon’s priestess daughter; Agamemnon summons her to Aulis, telling her mother that she’ll marry Achilles there. However, he sacrifices her upon arrival. The goddess Artemis demanded this sacrifice before she allowed the… read analysis of Iphigenia

Clysonymus

Clysonymus is the young boy Patroclus accidentally murders after he attempts to steal Patroclus’s dice. The son of a nobleman, Clysonymus taunts Patroclus over his cowardice, believing that Patroclus is simple and weak—these taunts… read analysis of Clysonymus

Meleager

Meleager was a famous hero, the greatest and proudest of his age, who was married to Cleopatra. After his people (or, in some versions of the story, the king) insulted him, he refused to… read analysis of Meleager

Heracles

Heracles was a hero of days past who was taught by Chiron. He eventually went mad, failing to recognize his own wife and children and killing them. This was the gods’ punishment, and though… read analysis of Heracles

Artemis

Artemis is Apollo’s twin sister and the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and virginity. Before the Trojan War begins, she’s angry about the upcoming slaughter and maroons the Greek army on Aulis by… read analysis of Artemis

Zeus

Zeus is the king of the gods, father to many heroes, and assumed grandfather of Helen. Odysseus tells the story of Zeus’s son, Tantalus, who killed his own child to taunt Zeus; Zeus later… read analysis of Zeus

Tyndareus

Tyndareus is the king of Sparta and Helen’s father. When Helen is ready to marry, he summons a group of suitors to woo her—but he ends up taking Odysseus’s advice to allow Helen… read analysis of Tyndareus

Calchas

Calchas is the Greek army’s chief priest. Though he conveys information from the gods, he’s deferential to Agamemnon and afraid of his wrath. When prodded by Achilles, he’s the one to break the news about… read analysis of Calchas

Machaon

Machaon is the Greek army’s physician, who works in the medical tent with his brother. He recognizes Patroclus as a student of Chiron’s and allows him to help treat patients, eventually deferring to Patroclus’s… read analysis of Machaon

Minor Characters

Cleopatra

Cleopatra was the hero Meleager’s wife. After he refused to fight for his people any longer, Cleopatra convinced him to fight for her. Phoinix subtly draws a parallel between Cleopatra and Patroclus, hoping Patroclus will convince Achilles to fight again after Achilles’s quarrel with Agamemnon.

Athena

Athena is the goddess of wisdom and favors both Odysseus and Diomedes; she doesn’t interfere in the Trojan War directly, but she does protect Odysseus from Thetis when he’s trying to convey the gods’ prophecies about Achilles.

Nestor

Nestor is the king of Pylos and rumored to be the oldest man alive. He’s one of the generals in the Trojan War and the former companion of the hero Heracles. Patroclus eventually saves the life of one of Nestor’s sons while working in the army’s medical tent.