Previous
Helen
Paris is one of the princes of Troy, Priam’s son, and Hector’s brother. He’s best known for stealing Menelaus’s wife, Helen, and instigating the Trojan War in the process. However, Patroclus eventually realizes that the Greeks would likely have attacked Troy even if Paris hadn’t abducted Helen. It remains unclear whether Helen went with Paris willingly. Priam eventually claims that she doesn’t want to return to Greece, but Achilles and Patroclus both think it wouldn’t matter either way—the war was inevitable. Paris is a favorite of the goddess Aphrodite and known for his beauty and vanity. He later challenges the Greek army to a single-combat fight, in which the winner takes Helen; he fights Menelaus, but the gods apparently interfere, and Paris slips away. Eventually, Apollo encourages Paris to shoot Achilles. Paris had thought Achilles invulnerable, but his arrow hits Achilles in the back and kills him.
Paris Quotes in The Song of Achilles
The The Song of Achilles quotes below are all either spoken by Paris or refer to Paris. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 22
Quotes
“She must have been willing, though. Menelaus' palace is like a fortress. If she had struggled or cried out, someone would have heard. She knew he must come after her, for his honor if nothing else. And that Agamemnon would seize this opportunity and invoke the oath.”
“So you think she did it on purpose? To cause the war?” This shocked me.
“Maybe. She used to be known as the most beautiful woman in our kingdoms. Now they say she's the most beautiful woman in the world." He put on his best singer's falsetto. "A thousand ships have sailed for her.”
[…]
“Maybe she really fell in love with Paris.”
“Maybe she was bored. After ten years shut up in Sparta, I'd want to leave too.”
“Maybe Aphrodite made her.”
“Maybe they'll bring her back with them.”
We considered this.
“I think Agamemnon would attack anyway.”
“I think so too. They never even mention her anymore.”
“Except in speeches to the men.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 30
Quotes
The thought of Troy's fall pierces me with vicious pleasure. They deserve to lose their city. It is their fault, all of it. We have lost ten years, and so many men, and Achilles will die, because of them. No more.
[…]
I will crack their uncrackable city, and capture Helen, the precious gold yolk within. I imagine dragging her out under my arm, dumping her before Menelaus. Done. No more men will have to die for her vanity.
[… ]
I am delirious, fevered with my dream of Helen captive in my arms. The stones are like dark waters that flow ceaselessly over something I have dropped, that I want back. I forget about the god, why I have fallen, why my feet stick in the same crevices I have already climbed. Perhaps this is all I do, I think, demented—climb walls and fall from them.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Song of Achilles LitChart as a printable PDF.
Paris Quotes in The Song of Achilles
The The Song of Achilles quotes below are all either spoken by Paris or refer to Paris. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 22
Quotes
“She must have been willing, though. Menelaus' palace is like a fortress. If she had struggled or cried out, someone would have heard. She knew he must come after her, for his honor if nothing else. And that Agamemnon would seize this opportunity and invoke the oath.”
“So you think she did it on purpose? To cause the war?” This shocked me.
“Maybe. She used to be known as the most beautiful woman in our kingdoms. Now they say she's the most beautiful woman in the world." He put on his best singer's falsetto. "A thousand ships have sailed for her.”
[…]
“Maybe she really fell in love with Paris.”
“Maybe she was bored. After ten years shut up in Sparta, I'd want to leave too.”
“Maybe Aphrodite made her.”
“Maybe they'll bring her back with them.”
We considered this.
“I think Agamemnon would attack anyway.”
“I think so too. They never even mention her anymore.”
“Except in speeches to the men.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 30
Quotes
The thought of Troy's fall pierces me with vicious pleasure. They deserve to lose their city. It is their fault, all of it. We have lost ten years, and so many men, and Achilles will die, because of them. No more.
[…]
I will crack their uncrackable city, and capture Helen, the precious gold yolk within. I imagine dragging her out under my arm, dumping her before Menelaus. Done. No more men will have to die for her vanity.
[… ]
I am delirious, fevered with my dream of Helen captive in my arms. The stones are like dark waters that flow ceaselessly over something I have dropped, that I want back. I forget about the god, why I have fallen, why my feet stick in the same crevices I have already climbed. Perhaps this is all I do, I think, demented—climb walls and fall from them.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
