The Song of Achilles

by

Madeline Miller

Pyrrhus Character Analysis

Pyrrhus is Achilles and Deidameia’s son—though he’s taken from Deidameia in infancy and raised by his grandmother, Thetis, away from humans. He arrives in Troy after Achilles is dead. Though only 12, he bears a striking resemblance to his father and shares his skill in battle, as Thetis told Achilles that Pyrrhus was fated to end the Trojan War. However, the resemblance ends there: unlike the prideful but loving Achilles, Pyrrhus is sadistic, cruel, and incapable of love. He refuses to allow Patroclus’s grave to be marked, since Patroclus wasn’t famous and is therefore unworthy of any association with Achilles. He slaughters the royal family in Troy in Achilles’s name and attempts to assault Briseis before killing her. Eventually, Agamemnon’s son kills him for assaulting his wife. Thetis told Achilles that a human upbringing softened him too much, but the novel implies that if he were raised by gods, he and Pyrrhus might be indistinguishable. Pyrrhus’s inability to love separates him from his father, whose love for Patroclus ended up being his one redeeming quality.

Pyrrhus Quotes in The Song of Achilles

The The Song of Achilles quotes below are all either spoken by Pyrrhus or refer to Pyrrhus. 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:
Honor, Pride, and Legacy Theme Icon
).
Chapter 31 Quotes

Her skin is whiter than I have ever seen it. “Do not be a fool. It is only my power that—”

“What does it matter?” He cuts her off, snarling. "He is dead. Can your power bring him back?”

“No," she says. "Nothing can.”

He stands. “Do you think I cannot see your rejoicing? I know how you hated him. You have always hated him! If you had not gone to Zeus, he would be alive!”

“He is a mortal,” she says. “And mortals die.”

“I am a mortal!” he screams. “What good is godhead, if it cannot do this? What good are you?”

“I know you are mortal,” she says. She places each cold word as a tile in a mosaic. “I know it better than anyone. I left you too long on Pelion. It has ruined you.”

Related Characters: Achilles (speaker), Thetis (speaker), Patroclus, Odysseus, Chiron, Hector, Pyrrhus, Apollo, Zeus
Page Number: 346-347
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 33 Quotes

“Is it right that my father's fame should be diminished? Tainted by a commoner?”

“Patroclus was no commoner. He was born a prince and exiled. He served bravely in our army, and many men admired him. He killed Sarpedon, second only to Hector.”

“In my father's armor. With my father's fame. He has none of his own.”

Odysseus inclines his head. “True. But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” He spread his broad hands. “We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory. Who knows?” He smiles. “Perhaps one day even I will be famous. Perhaps more famous than you.”

[…]

Odysseus looks at the young man's implacable face. “I have done my best,” he says. “Let it be remembered I tried.”

I remember.

Related Characters: Odysseus (speaker), Pyrrhus (speaker), Patroclus, Achilles
Page Number: 363-364
Explanation and Analysis:

Others stand at the base to look at the scenes of his life carved on the stone. They are a little hastily done, but clear enough. Achilles killing Memnon, killing Hector, killing Penthesilea. Nothing but death. This is how Pyrrhus’ tomb might look. Is this how he will be remembered?

[…]

You said that Chiron ruined him. You are a goddess, and cold, and know nothing. You are the one who ruined him. Look at how he will be remembered now. Killing Hector, killing Troilus. For things he did cruelly in his grief.

Her face is like stone itself. It does not move. The days rise and fall.

Perhaps such things pass for virtue among the gods. But how is there glory in taking a life? We die so easily. Would you make him another Pyrrhus? Let the stories of him be something more.

"What more?" she says.

For once I am not afraid. What else can she do to me?

Returning Hector's body to Priam, I say. That should be remembered.

Related Characters: Patroclus (speaker), Thetis (speaker), Achilles, Hector, Pyrrhus, Priam
Page Number: 365-366
Explanation and Analysis:
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Pyrrhus Quotes in The Song of Achilles

The The Song of Achilles quotes below are all either spoken by Pyrrhus or refer to Pyrrhus. 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:
Honor, Pride, and Legacy Theme Icon
).
Chapter 31 Quotes

Her skin is whiter than I have ever seen it. “Do not be a fool. It is only my power that—”

“What does it matter?” He cuts her off, snarling. "He is dead. Can your power bring him back?”

“No," she says. "Nothing can.”

He stands. “Do you think I cannot see your rejoicing? I know how you hated him. You have always hated him! If you had not gone to Zeus, he would be alive!”

“He is a mortal,” she says. “And mortals die.”

“I am a mortal!” he screams. “What good is godhead, if it cannot do this? What good are you?”

“I know you are mortal,” she says. She places each cold word as a tile in a mosaic. “I know it better than anyone. I left you too long on Pelion. It has ruined you.”

Related Characters: Achilles (speaker), Thetis (speaker), Patroclus, Odysseus, Chiron, Hector, Pyrrhus, Apollo, Zeus
Page Number: 346-347
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 33 Quotes

“Is it right that my father's fame should be diminished? Tainted by a commoner?”

“Patroclus was no commoner. He was born a prince and exiled. He served bravely in our army, and many men admired him. He killed Sarpedon, second only to Hector.”

“In my father's armor. With my father's fame. He has none of his own.”

Odysseus inclines his head. “True. But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” He spread his broad hands. “We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory. Who knows?” He smiles. “Perhaps one day even I will be famous. Perhaps more famous than you.”

[…]

Odysseus looks at the young man's implacable face. “I have done my best,” he says. “Let it be remembered I tried.”

I remember.

Related Characters: Odysseus (speaker), Pyrrhus (speaker), Patroclus, Achilles
Page Number: 363-364
Explanation and Analysis:

Others stand at the base to look at the scenes of his life carved on the stone. They are a little hastily done, but clear enough. Achilles killing Memnon, killing Hector, killing Penthesilea. Nothing but death. This is how Pyrrhus’ tomb might look. Is this how he will be remembered?

[…]

You said that Chiron ruined him. You are a goddess, and cold, and know nothing. You are the one who ruined him. Look at how he will be remembered now. Killing Hector, killing Troilus. For things he did cruelly in his grief.

Her face is like stone itself. It does not move. The days rise and fall.

Perhaps such things pass for virtue among the gods. But how is there glory in taking a life? We die so easily. Would you make him another Pyrrhus? Let the stories of him be something more.

"What more?" she says.

For once I am not afraid. What else can she do to me?

Returning Hector's body to Priam, I say. That should be remembered.

Related Characters: Patroclus (speaker), Thetis (speaker), Achilles, Hector, Pyrrhus, Priam
Page Number: 365-366
Explanation and Analysis: