What we wear plays a huge role in the way people perceive us. This should not surprise anyone. My best and most relateable comparison to the Iliad is the meaning of "appearance" in football. Often times, the best player on the field simply looks the best. Bulging muscles, unbelievably tight-to-the-pads jerseys, and a unique use of accessories such as facemask visors, long sleeves, half sleeves, etc all contribute to a superstar's appearance. Sure, there are a few exceptions where a team has a player who looks a lot better than he plays, but for the most part, the players that look good can play well. While the armour and shield of Achilles supports this simple claim, it delves deeper and provides great examples of what this impressive outwear actually represents.
In the Iliad, Achilles' armour is everything. Sure, like on a football field, it can be an indicator of how strong a warrior may be, but here the analogy must be separated. In battle, at least in the Iliad, you simply did not have impressive armour if you did not demand respect. Achilles, the greatest warrior alive, has this venerable armour and shield. It defines him. When Patroclus goes out in battle with Achilles' armour, the inevitable happens: Patroclus is killed. This death shows the importance of the armour as it belongs to its owner. When the Armour, or status represented by it, is compromised, unfavorable outcomes are the result. The death of Patroclus shows the power the armour and shield have. By not being worthy of wearing the armour, Patroclus shows disrespect, and pays the extreme consequences and is killed. In this story, Armour is more than just the protection from the death, it is an indicator of the quality of fighting a warrior posesses, and when a man wrongfully attempts to achieve more respect than he deserves, like Patroclus he pays the price.
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11 comments:
Wow I didn't think you could actually relate Achilles armor to a football uniform but you did. Brad's comparison actually brings up an interesting point, in that a warrior such as Achilles did not own or wear such impressive armor without earning it through hard work and skill.
I guess you could make another football comparison regarding the necessary accomplishments to wear such armor with the helmet stickers football players can earn. These stickers are earned through accomplishing a goal and proving your skill on the playing field. Just like the way a warrior would earn such impressive armor, through exemplifying extraordinary skills in combat fighting.
Everything you say about Achilles' armor and its persona is true but you leave out one thing. Even though he is clad in Achilles' armor, Hector and the Trojans still know its Patroclus. This goes along with what Jack said in regards to your football comment. It's like a scrub wearing a visor, cowboy collar and sweat bands, it just doesn't fit. Surely Achilles has the most impressive and intimidating armor in the Trojan War but it is only in full effect when he is the one beneath it. Even though Achilles was not the one in the armor at the time, its value is still evident when Hector shows how badly he wants it. Achilles armor truly is something in and of itself.
There is no doubt that you are right when you say what we wear or use plays a role in the way we are perceived. I doubt anyone will disagree with you. However, I think, while this statement is true, it raises fundamentally wrong values.
When I started playing guitar in 6th grade, I wanted this sweet Martin that costed $1200, but when I told my uncle, he told me that the best guitarists play with the most run down guitars you'll find. He showed my a picture of Stevie Ray Vaughn playing this scratched up, old Stratocaster, and, only then did I realize the importance of being humble.
I think the actual "superstar" should wear only what's necessary. In the Iliad, Achilles' armor, like you say, stands for more than just protection but also for his identity. It is important to realize that he was most likely being to superficial, and his ego contributes to the armor he feels he needs to wear.
Obviously I am going to agree with your claim that what we wear plays a role in how we are perceived. Your relation to football and that the best looking person is usually the best player is interesting and valid but I have one disagreement. Like Nick said, a scrub with all the cool accessories is still a scrub, and Patroclus wearing Achilles armor is still Patroclus. The armor, like Michael said a while ago, has an aura of its own and belongs only to Achilles. To look the best, you must be the best. You cannot just try and dress pretty and expect to be great at something.
I think Michael's point is a great one. Achilles armor is so extravagant because of Achilles character. The armor is extravagant because it represents his enormous ego. His armor displays his true identity, which in actuality is that he is a warrior motivated by self-interest with a massive ego.
i actually really like Michael's idea that a superstar should be the one to wear the most simplistic armor/uniform/whatever. instead of showing off the glitz and gold, a warrior (or football player) doesn't really need that. He can use the simplicity to show off his own skills.
The armor or weapons do not make the warrior, just like the pads don’t make the football player. A person decided how they want to be remembered. His armor is just a symbol for who someone can be. Since they cannot be Achilles, If they posses something that is a part of him, they could hopefully be the same person. But when a person can achieve anything that they want to by putting their heart in it.
I do like most of your football comparison, but I have one thought. If in Patroclus's case, he died for wearing armor above his fighting level, what happens in football to a player who wears cool gear, but isn't very good? I think that for football, wearing cooler gear can't hurt, however because Achilles' armor is blessed by Gods to only work for him, that is why it fails Patroclus. I don't think if a bad football player wears a good player's visor that he is any worse of a football player.
I see what you are saying and even though there are inconsistencies in the comparison, it is a pretty good one.
To respond to what Paul is saying, normally when a player in any sport wears something that makes him or her stand out, it is generally because they think that they are good enough and should stand out. Therefore, when a player wears cool stuff and performs badly, it is a shot to their ego. Perhaps it does not fail them in the sense that they die, but it does fail their perception of themselves.
I think Achilles' armor is similar to the name on the back of a football jersey. If a scrub puts on Demarcus Ware's jersey than the opposition will have the perception of a great pass rusher and all around football player. Similarly, Achilles' armor gives the impression of a strong and fierce warrior. Wearing his armor is basically like wearing a jersey with Achilles' name on it. Once the opposition realizes that Demarcus Ware is not the scrub's true identity, he will be overpowered and shut down. Once Hector realized that Patroclus, not Achilles is in the armor, he takes advantage and kills an inferior warrior.
I'm afraid I must disagree with the majority of brad's post. I do agree that the armor is just more than a metal plate that can stop a blade. I disagree that Achilles's armor is in any sense "magical". Patroclus dies because he's not as strong as Achilles or as good a warrior. Plain and simple. The trojans know they can break the Acheans' will if they kill Achilles, and when Patroclus rides out in that armor, they gang up and kill him. The armor isn't special or magical. It's like the football example, the more stars you have on your helmet the better you are, if someone borrows your helmet and sucks it's because they suck, not because the helmet god said they were unworthy to wear so many stars.
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