The Song of Achilles and Modernising Greek mythology
The Song of Achilles is a Greek mythology retelling that explores the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus from Homer’s Iliad. After working on this for 10 years, Madeline Miller published what would become a New York Times Bestseller and the winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction (2012).
Many people see this as one of the cornerstones of the resurgence of Greek mythology retellings in modern media. The success and acclaim of other books such as Stephen Fry’s Great Mythology series, Madeline Miller’s follow up book Circe, or Rick Riordan’s Hero of Olympus series demonstrate how receptive the contemporary audience has been to mythology retellings.
The Song of Achilles takes the perspective of Patroclus who grows up alongside Achilles after being exiled from his homeland. The close bond they form is explored from their teenage years through their 10 years in Troy until they reach their tragic end.
I should preface that the following essay will contain spoilers to Homer’s Iliad and subsequently The Song of Achilles. However, these are famous Greek myths so the details are unlikely to come as a surprise. Although, even while knowing the ending, there is still so much to gain from reading this book.
Historians hate lovers.
Through all interpretations of this myth it has been debated whether Achilles and Patroclus were just close companions or had a romantic relationship. Although Homer never states that they were lovers, interpreters have described Achilles and Patroclus’s relationship as the ideal romantic partnership. Madeline Miller takes the interpretation that has been closeted through history and explores the intricacies of their passionate relationship through this novel.
Miller expresses that she thinks Homer never explicitly stated that they were lovers because ‘it would be too obvious’. She felt enraged by how this relationship had been closeted for so long, which acted as her motivation to write the book.
It is obviously great to see positive representation of gay relationships especially in a book that has gained such mainstream success. However, even though The Song of Achilles would be classified as Historical Fiction, it highlights queer relationships in a way that is often missing in contemporary LGBTQIA+ novels.
Often, contemporary LGBTQIA+ novels focus on the queer protagonist struggling through personal hardship or looking to be accepted by others. We can often see a character’s relationship being overly-politicised or acting as a piece of gossip. It is important to showcase the hardships of coming out or accepting your sexuality since it allows people to feel like their experiences are being represented––but it is also important to write same-sex relationships just as any other relationship would be written: without sexuality at the forefront.
The lines between Achilles and Patroclus' relationship from friends to lovers in The Song of Achilles are naturally blurred, allowing their relationship to flourish in such an organic way. Miller’s approach to a gay romance is refreshing for a modern audience since it doesn’t let the matter of sexuality dictate the story.
Fatality at the hands of Toxic Masculinity.
One of the most emphasised traits of Achilles is rage. As Homer writes in the Iliad, ‘Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.’
Madeline Miller has shared how she sees Achilles’s character as being very applicable to the modern culture of toxic masculinity. The world of Agamemnon is extremely competitive and power-hungry, which is intensified through Achilles’ status as ‘the greatest of all Greek warriors’.
Achilles’ overwhelming pressure to preserve his legacies and maintain his honour can be applied to the modern culture of toxic masculinity. As Achilles is conditioned into believing he is the best and unstoppable, anything that challenges that is difficult for him to reckon with.
The much-needed discussion of how toxic masculinity can affect those who suffer from it is becoming much more prevalent in our current society. The recognition of toxic masculinity as a problem promotes society to work towards inhabiting a healthier mental wellbeing. A key effect of toxic masculinity is how it forces people to avoid vulnerability. Not only does this come at the expense of the individual's emotional and mental health but can harm society through things like gender-based violence.
Achilles’s pride can be interpreted as one of the reasons why Patroclus ends up dying at the hands of Hector after wearing Achilles’ armour. A quote from the book actually expresses this: ‘You’ve never deserved him, you don’t know why he ever loved you, you only care for yourself’. Briseis says this to Achilles after the death of Patroclus. Achilles’s resistance towards being vulnerable and the prospect of losing in the war is what ultimately cost the life of his most beloved partner.
Resisting the stereotypes of pederasty
Pederasty was a social norm in ancient Greece that described a relationship between an older, powerful male and a younger male often groomed by the former. Miller consciously avoided reflecting this norm in her story as to reject pederastic stereotypes of homosexuality.
Patroclus is the oldest out of the pair––however, he is a much more gentle and soft character in contrast to Achilles, who is bolder and stronger. This resists the stereotype of pederasty where the older male is the leading or more valiant partner. Thus ,emotional equality is displayed throughout all stages of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus.
Among the years, various media (whether it be film or books) has misrepresented same-sex couples as stereotypes or charicatures of a balanced relationship. In a society that should be working towards being accepting of any and all sexualities, it is so promising to see healthy and postitive representations of gay relationships.
Modernising Greek mythology
Greek mythology acts similarly to Aesop’s fables in the sense that they provide lessons and representations of real-life relationships and experiences. In Homer's stories, while some characters are gods, they are faced with simple moral dilemmas or relationship struggles that are still applicable to modern life. So although this is a mythological narrative, contemporary audiences flock to see raw, emotional and flawed characters navigate their lives against the dramatic backdrop of ancient Greece.
Miller aimed for The Song of Achilles to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their prior knowledge of Greek mythology. Her writing is poetic and vivid, reflecting Homer’s stylistic choices in the original texts. Miller humanizes the gods, giving them relatable flaws and vulnerabilities to appeal to the modern reader.
By taking a modern lens to ancient stories, authors can empower and highlight lesser-known stories and their interpretations. Similarly to how The Song of Achilles highlights queer stories, Madeline Miller’s other book, Circe, takes a more feminist approach to liberating a character who's struggles have be buried. Madeline Miller gives Circe a clear personality and opportunities to take agency in her life. Circe deals with the trauma of family rejection and sexual assault; seeing a strong female character battle such issues definitely will resonate with those who have had similar experiences. This provides an alternate example to how contemporary writers have interpreted these myths.
Progessive interpretations are now coming to the forefront of the Greek mythology retelling subgenre. Even in 2021 there are plenty of modern takes on Greek myths: Lore by Alexandra Bracken, A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes or Adriadne by Jennifer Saint.
Digestible narratives are more memorable and usually closely resonate with readers; this makes it easier to apply the social principles hidden within the myths into our everyday life. These progressive retellings allow us to learn from the timeless stories introduced by Homer while ensuring audiences are not stuck in the ideals of the past. Since most contemporary retellings choose to focus on historically silenced narratives. To modernise Greek mythology is to empower and refresh beloved tales.