Chapter ZERO

               If I were to change one part of the Iliad, I would choose the chapter where Menelaus and Alexandros fought for the prize of Helen, wealth, and peace between the two countries. The chapter narrated how the two princes fought; risking their own lives, just to end the war. It also narrated how Aphrodite intervened with the fight, leaving the battle unfinished and hanging. I would change that part and here is how my story would go:

              The crowd was sitting on the ground, both Trojans and Achaians, watching both fighters, Alexandros and Menelaus, fight for their own country’s sake. There was a silent era among them. All eyes were on the two, nothing else caught their attention.

  Helen stood on the great gates of Troy seeing everything that was happening. Fear was trapped deep within her heart, with both fighters’ fate unknown. She felt great guilt inside, after seeing what she has brought upon her country. Her love for Paris has launched a war, with innocent lives dying all because of her. A stream of tears came rushing in. She held her hands on her chest, the right above the left. She looked up in the heavens, leaving it all up to the gods. A strong wind blew against her golden streaks of hair and her golden dress.

              Alexandros, wearing his bronze armor, rushed forward, holding his ten-inch dagger, at Menelaus. He threw punches at him, two to three shots. The first two, Menelaus had evaded, but the third hit him hard on his cheek bones, pushing him back on the ground. He reached for his dagger. Alexandros once again charged at him, this time with his dagger. Menelaus rolled and kicked him on his feet. Alexandros fell on the ground. The two got up back on their feet. Both fighters became enraged as their eyebrows curled. Alexandros again charged at Menelaus. Menelaus slid sidewards, elbowed Alexandros and sliced the poor prince’s face. Alexandros ran around him and held his left arm around Menelaus’s neck and his dagger pointed at his neck.

             “Aren’t you ashamed?” Alexandros whispered.

             Menelaus gave Alexandros’s feet a heavy stomp and he bent he smashed his head at the other’s face. Alexadros’s grip was loosened. Menelaus turned around and stabbed him at the stomach, right above the bellybutton. Blood came flowing out, and Alexandros stepped back away from him.

             Knowing that the opponent was weak, Agamemnon reached for the spear of his fellow warriors and threw it at Menelaus. He knew this is the time to end it, Alexandros’s life and the war.

             Menelaus caught the spear. He raised his arm and threw the spear at Alexandros. But as he was about to throw the spear, the place became filled with mist, grey smoke where no one could ever see what lied beyond it. Aphrodite couldn’t let this happen, not this early.

              Helen knew at this moment that the gods were once again intervening. There was nothing she could do except to watch what the gods have planned for them. She just wanted this war to come to an end.

              Menelaos threw the spear and it missed. Athena saw this. She darted from Olympos to the battlefield like a comet. She shined like the sun as she was descending down. She raised her arms, forcing strong winds to blow, pushing the mist away. Aphrodite ran towards Alexandros, but Athenaia Brighteyes didn’t let this happen. She charged towards her sister and grabbed both her arms.
              “What are you doing sis?” Athena asked her while she was dragging her away towards the walls of Troy.
               She pushed her against the wall and said “You know that Troy is destined to lose dear sis”.

               Zeus, upon seeing this event, stood up in great anger. His plan was all ruined. He was about to descend but Hera held her smooth hands upon his face. He faced him to her and she kissed him tenderly.

              The battle continued. Alexandros picked the spear up and threw it at Menelaus. It was a sure hit. It hit Menelaus on his biceps and it went through it. Menelaus took it off and charged towards Alexandros. He gave him a big stab at the same right spot where he hit him, above the bellybutton. Alexandros couldn’t evade, as his vision became a big blur. His vision now turned to black and his soul went straight to Hades.

              Helen saw all of this, and her heart was overwhelmed by pain. It was as if that she felt all of Paris’s pain. She fell on her knees and cried, mourning like a little child. Her love was gone. She then wiped all of her tears and stood up. She realized that it was not worth crying for because the war was now over. It was all she ever wanted, and it has been granted.

              Back in Achilles home, Thetis entered and knelt down in front of her son.

              “I’m dearly sorry my son for I have failed you. Troy lost its wealth, and Achaia has reined victory.” Thetis said as she slid her palm on his son's face.

              Upon hearing these words, Achilles raged up and threw all of his stuff on the ground.

             Arriving in Sparta, the soldiers marched along with Helen, Menelaus and Agamemnon. As they marched, some people were crying hearing upon the deaths of their loved ones, and some were shouting at Helen.

            “It’s because of you!” they shouted.

             Helen couldn’t help not to ignore those words. It went through her heart, but she held her composure. As the two, Helen and Menelaus, got inside their room, Menelaus locked the door.

            “They’re right; it was all because of you that this war had happened. It was all because of you that people’s lives were taken away from them. Because you betrayed me,” he said as he went closer.

            Helen stepped backwards. She saw the grin on his face, and the dagger he was hiding behind him. She took off his robe. Seeing the beauty of Helen’s body, he dropped the dagger. Helen’s beauty took control and the two kissed.

              That is how my story goes. The war was cut short, giving Achaia the victory and the wealth of Troy.

Patroclos, The Table Turner

          Crying, Patroclus approached Achilles because of the guilt and the pity he feels for the Achaians. He reproached him and told him that if he doesn’t want to enter the battlefield he could replace him to give hope for their country. He told him that he could wear his armor, even though people may think it was Achilles himself stepping in the battlefield, just to secure the other’s safety.
          Stepping out of the battlefield wearing Achilles’ armor brought shock upon the Trojan army.

         "But when the Trojans saw Patroclos and his companions in their shining armor, they were amazed and the ranks wavered; for they believed that Achilles had thrown off and made friends again. Every man who looked about him for some escape from certain death"

           The Trojans began to be overwhelmed by fear, knowing that Achilles had once again joined the opposing team. Because of this, their momentum, their motivation was lost. They started to become afraid and to run for their lives. Because of this, they were slowly defeated by the hands of Patroclos.

           After the death of Patroclos, based on their reactions after believing he was Achilles before, they might be humiliated because they became afraid for the wrong reason and because of that, the Achaians regained control. It was because of that false belief that got them to their knees, that got them retreating, and that made them more vulnerable than ever before. Because of that small mistake, the tables had turned.

           The Achaians knew it all along in the first place. They were the ones who told Patroclos to disguise himself as Achilles unless Achilles would agree on joining the team again. It was their plan to do this because they knew that Achilles would be feared by the Trojans.

           Patroclos, based on their reactions, was the key to make the tables turn. He was brave enough to volunteer himself, even though his life would be most likely to be at risk, just for the sake of his country. He did what he has to do, what he was asked to do. He proved himself as a worthy warrior for he killed many, thousands, of Trojans. This made him feared by most of the Trojans. He was a warrior with determination and strong will. Because of this great courage and determination, he was able to turn the table even for a short little while. He was able to change the situation of the Achaians.

Achilles, the Greek Hero of the Trojan War

                 Achilles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, the greatest warrior of Homer’s Iliad, was introduced in the book as a brave righteous warrior that fights for his stand and his belief. He fights with King Agamemnon, a debate that centralizes on freeing Chryseis or not, that helps us distinguish the characteristics of the two, Achilles being the righteous one. After the big harsh debate comes the taking over of the soft sacrificing side of Achilles. He accepts his fate that his prize Bryseis is taken away from him, knowing that it is for his town’s own good. He holds all the anger inside and never lets it show.

                   That anger is not seen until Book 9 of Iliad. Phoinix, along with Oddyseus, comes to Achilles to deliver King Agamemnon’s message including his promise, oath, and gifts for the lad. King Agamemnon offers him such likeable gifts that only few can resist, and Achilles is one of those few. Achilles firmly stands on his ground. Boiling in temper, he freely refuses the offer. He believes that whatever choice he makes, he will still end up with similar fate. He even loses hope on beating the Trojans. Even with the plea of his fatherly Phoinix, he again refuses the offer as if no one can melt the ice inside his heart. He decides to stay for the night and decide on it tomorrow. This features the metamorphosis of another side of Achilles, a hard-hearted, grudge-holding, proud king.

                For me, Achilles doesn’t even touch the standard of a mighty king rightful of the
position that he’s holding with his reply. A king should do whatever it takes to help, to raise, and to support his country for all’s sake. A king should consider every direction of his decisions before even making one. He should see to it that every step he makes will help his country embark on new roads, opportunities, and success. Based on his answers, he is far from a rightful king. He lets his emotions, particularly his anger, control him and his decisions that will determine the fate of his fellow countrymen. He knows that he will be of big help but he still chooses to refuse. He lets his pride ruin his dignity as a king and as a warrior. He, who fears to be like Agamemnon, slowly turns into one without even realizing it. He suddenly adapted the “stubbornness of the heart”.

The Stubborn-Hearted King

    Homer’s Iliad narrates the story of how the famous Trojan Wars occurred. It includes how the “stubborn hearted” King Agamemnon participated in the mentioned war.

    King Agamemnon, the son of King Atreus and brother of Menelaos, rules Argos. He is the king that has the so called “stubbornness of the heart”. It is deeply enchained in his character, a stubborn proud king that always thinks he is right and is in control of everything.

     Hoping he can set her daughter free, priest Chryses makes King Agamemnon an offer, a ransom. Although the people talk good words about this, and they agree to accept the ransom, King Agamemnon is still unsatisfied. He sends the priest leaving the place with a broken heart that makes them suffer from Apollo Shootafar. During the assembly, he gets into a debate with Achilles. Achilles gets into his stand and tells Agamemnon that he is selfish and that he needs to set the priest’s daughter free for them to avoid any harm from Apollo Shootafar. Being humiliated, King Agamemnon disagrees. Instead, he makes Achilles a threat to rob his wife in return of setting the priest’s daughter home. Agamemnon keeps on doing things even without thinking about the consequences of these just to prove that he is right.

    One example of "The stubbornness of the heart" is seen in the character Micah in the movie Paranormal Activity. The movie focuses on the lives of a couple who begins to experience paranormal activities inside their new home. After experiencing such activities, the couple tries to ask for help from a physic. They are informed that the demon inside their house feeds on negative energies and is intent to haunting Katie wherever she goes. The physic recommends them to call a demonologist. He also tells them not to talk to the demon for this will only let him in and make him stronger. Despite the advices given to them, Micah, Katie’s husband, starts to talk to the demon. He keeps on taunting the him and asking him questions. This makes the demon stronger and makes him more able to haunt Katie which slowly leads to their suffering.


     It is clear the Micah possesses the "stubbornness of the heart" that makes them suffer more. The advices the psychic has given them are just like trash ignored. Instead, he decides to do it his way which he believes is right. Just like any typical teen or adult, he will always tend to do things the way he wants to even if it disregards the things people advice him as long as he accomplish his goal.