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 fight in the army any longer and instead sought comfort from Cleopatra. His people begged him to save them, but he continued to refuse; eventually, Cleopatra asked him to fight for her, and he did so. It was too late, however, and his people despised him forever. Peleus is the first to tell this story to Achilles and Patroclus, though he doesn’t get to the end; later, Phoinix picks up the same thread, attempting to convince Patroclus to beg Achilles to fight. Eventually, Patroclus tries, worried that the Greeks will always hate Achilles if he doesn’t.
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Meleager Character Timeline in The Song of Achilles
The timeline below shows where the character Meleager appears in The Song of Achilles. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 7
One night, Peleus is telling Achilles and Patroclus a story about the hero Meleager, the best and proudest fighter of his era. Patroclus is barely paying attention since he’s...
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Chapter 28
Phoinix interjects: there’s a story he wants to tell Achilles. Many years ago, the hero Meleager was winning a war. (Patroclus realizes that he’s heard this story before, back in Phthia.)...
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Chapter 29
...Agamemnon, Odysseus. Machaon asks if Patroclus can speak to Achilles. Patroclus remembers the story about Meleager and Cleopatra, and he imagines her trying to say no to her people. He rushes...
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