Why The Song of Achilles is so Good

    

    The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is about the story of Achilles, the Greek warrior, and his companion Patroclus. In this book, Achilles and Patroclus are shown growing up and fighting in the Trojan war. It's a brilliant, moving tale that incorporates a variety of elements, be it action or love. For thousands of years, the relationship between the two mythological characters has been debated. Were they lovers, brothers, or just plain friends? In this retelling of the Trojan War and the backstory of its most famous fighter, Miller writes them as lovers. While there are some people who don't agree with the theory that they were partners, I absolutely love it. It provides so much more depth to the story than if it otherwise portrayed them as just friends.       

     I enjoyed how the book touched on some more personal components of an otherwise tragic and adventurous story, making it bittersweet. I loved reading and being able to see Achilles and Patroclus grow and fall in love, then go through the struggle of war and fight to be together in the end. The reason I liked it so much is because of the adventures they had together. Although it seems like there's only one, the war, they actually went through so much to be together in the end. In the beginning, we see them meet and slowly fall in love, then be wrenched apart only to fight to be together after all. When Achilles and Patroclus are becoming friends, the story is so light and fun to read that it is easy to forget the actual tale of the two and the Trojan war. I really enjoyed reading this because of Miller's writing style as well. It has an old feel to it while still being easy to read and very poetic. It is so nice because of how it sets the mood. Whether a scene is happy or dark, the word choice and style accentuates it perfectly.

    

    Now let's move on to the reasoning. While I loved the drama and tragedy of the war, it was even better to see the backstory, the personal side, the mystery that was their life before it. The way Miller chose to write their relationship was crucial to the rest of the story because it allowed a much more intimate view of their lives. After all, they are famous mythological figures that have stories written about them. Seeing what they were like behind the curtains is like a breath of fresh air. Besides this, Miller also chooses to tell the story from Patroclus' perspective. This is an extremely interesting choice because of how we see Achilles through his lover's eyes and all of Patroclus' thoughts. Patroclus falls deeper and deeper in love with Achilles with the turn of every page. During the war, it is known that Achilles is prideful and is also enemies with a king, Agamemnon. They have a conflict which leads to a string of events that are both tragic and bittersweet. All through that time Patroclus is narrating, which makes it so much sadder when he tries to bring Achilles back to what he remembers him as. You can see his thought processes and experience his feelings, his heartbreak when he realizes he can't change Achilles, his love and proudness, and so much more. Near the end of the book, there is an agonizingly sad change in perspective. This change from Patroclus' point of view to an unknown narrator is something so important because it is the first time it happens in the whole book, signaling a big event.

   

    You should most definitely read this heart wrenching but beautiful book that will probably make you cry a bit (or a lot). Even if you don't read it, it is still an amazing book with a great story hidden inside. Miller's variation of the tale offers something much different that other versions of Homer's Iliad, a story of the Trojan war and Achilles. Because of its sweet and beautiful moments at the start, you are able to feel so much more during the rest of the story. From the beginning to the end of this wonderful novel, you will absolutely love The Song of Achilles.

- Citlali