I have already written about Achilles' waiting, but what about Patroclus' willpower?
He continued to meet Achilles even though he knew he was the prince and he was an exile. He continued to stand by Achilles despite Thetis' threats. He ran after Achilles when he went with Chiron to train, determined not to stop running until he caught up with them. He begged Peleus to reveal Achilles' location and then sailed to Skyros to meet him. He followed him and the rest of the Myrmidons to the Trojan War. He followed him onto the battlefield and through the years there. He continued to wait for him every day in his tent to see him return from battle. He stood by his side after the conflict with Agamemnon. He stood by his side until he saw how Achilles was consumed by his self-centredness. Only then did he abandon him and beg him to fight for them again, as Patroclus had done since he met him.
Although he is not the "fighting" part (apparently), since that is what Achilles is supposed to be, Patroclus fights in another way. He never has things easy, unlike Achilles who is loved, respected and accepted by everyone; Patroclus has to fight against everything and everyone to be by the side of the one he loves. Patroclus is the tireless willpower that moves the soul to fight for what it believes in or loves.
Likewise, Patroclus represents the part of the soul that is always searching for its other half.
That is why Patroclus, as he claimed, followed Achilles until after his death.
Bro, my unyielding loyalty towards you is totally normal and healthy, I swear. It's just that it's definitely my duty to rip out your enemies throats with my bare teeth. You are the love of my life and I am your most valuable tool. Each night, I fantasize about dying in your arms, covered in blood, and then I close my eyes one final time, satisfied because I can feel your fingers on my face as I take my last breath. Haha anyways
“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone. [...] When he died, all things soft and beautiful and bright would be buried with him.” 🩸
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.” 🌻
Two souls, reunited.
(quotes from Madelline Miller's The Song Of Achilles)
on tragic heroes and the people who'd follow them anywhere.
tumblr textpost// Anne Carson, An Oresteia// Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles// Victor Hugo, Les Miserables// William Shakespeare, Hamlet// Anne Carson, An Oresteia
oresteia, robert icke // theatre of the oppressed, augusto boal // song of achilles, madeline miller // the book thief, markus zusak // antigone, jean anouilh // revisiting mockingjay ahead of the hunger games prequel, entertainment weekly // romeo and juliet, shakespeare // h of h playbook, anne carson // war of the foxes, richard siken // the road to hell (reprise), hadestown // planet of love, richard siken // they both die at the end, adam silvera
It’s the middle of the night. Chiron should probably get some sleep. Looking out of his window he sees two boys, they’re stargazing. Achilles! He thinks. Patroclus!
It’s only then that he realises that Patroclus’ skin is way too white and as glorious as Achilles was, he definitely didn’t light up like a glow stick in the night. It’s not them. It’s just Nico and Will.
It’s been over 2000 years, they’re dead, Chiron, they’re dead.