Throughout Homer's The Iliad, death comes from around every corner and seems to be inevitable during the war. It seems as if no one can escape an agonizing and excruciating death. Sarpedon, Zeus" son, takes a spear to the heart, and Hektor is pierced in the neck by the point of Achilles. Each man dies a death of his own but all for one purpose, to receive honor and glory for his heroic actions. Patroklos, Achilles" dear friend, dies a death that is the most interesting of them all because it raises the question of who is responsible for his death. Although the gods take an active role in the lives of the characters in Homer's The Iliad, Patroklos" death is directly caused by his decisions and choices made to receive honor.
Patroklos is responsible for his own death because he asks to be put into the battle. He says:.
send me out at least, let the rest of the Myrmidon people follow me, and I may be a light given to the Danaans. .
Give me your armour to wear on my shoulders into the fighting; .
so perhaps the Trojans might think I am you, and give way from their attack (XVI 38-42).
Patroklos is aware that the Achaians are being slaughtered mercilessly, yet he opts to take up the armor of Achilles in hope that the Trojans will be scared into a retreat. Their flight would make him the hero of the day. The odds are clearly against Patroklos, but his passion to defeat the Trojans and his thirst for honor are enough to drive him forward without the assistance of Achilles. When he pleads to Achilles to allow him to go into battle, he is asking for his death.
The blame for Patroklos" death can only be put upon his own shoulders because he chooses to ignore the warnings of Achilles. Achilles warns him:.
You must not, in the pride and fury of fighting, go on slaughtering the Trojans, and lead the way against Ilion, .
for fear some one of the everlasting gods on Olympos .
might crush you. Apollo who works from afar loves these people .
