Achilles

Paper Summary:

This paper attempts to address the question of myth and immortality through the study of Achilles in the "Iliad". The central thesis is that Achilles has a choice between human life and immortality through death and how he chooses death and immortality over a mundane, comfortable life. Another aspect explored is the realization that total transcendence of the world and godlike immortality are not humanly possible. It also attempts to place the Homeric myth in a broader context in terms of understanding the deeper significance of the story of Achilles. A Jungian view of the story and of myth is also explored.
The paper concludes with the view that the myth of Achilles and the search for immortality has a significance that goes beyond the story itself to reveal themes that pertain to the understanding of the human condition.

From the Paper:

"Achilles is one of the most important myths and legends created in Western literature. This is mainly due to the associations made within the story of Achilles and the questions that are raised with regard to immortality and the quest for permanence in the face of reality in which death is the only and enviable outcome. Achilles, through his mother Thetis, also has a close relationship with the transcendent and permanent world of the gods. However, he is also human and the decision that he makes has a profound significance for the meaning of life and for the eternal human quest for immortality."

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