The Song of Achilles Themes

Achilles is an ancient Greek warrior who’s prophesized to die during the Trojan War; he is, as a result, obsessed with what he’ll leave behind. His lover, Patroclus, notes that after Achilles dies, “his honor is all that will remain”—in Greek society, honor refers to social status, military rank, fame, and general reputation. Achilles’s honor is the novel’s central focus: the Fates have prophesized that the war will make him famous, so he believes…

In The Song of Achilles, the Greek gods, along with the Fates, predict and control events on Earth; humans can ask for guidance but can never overpower their will. The gods are particularly interested in the Greek warrior Achilles, half-god himself: the Fates predict some great destiny for him, which will eventually lead to his death in the Trojan War. Achilles, his lover Patroclus, and his mother Thetis all know Achilles’s fate…

The Song of Achilles is a love story, following the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus from childhood to adulthood. While their bond is an example of romantic love, various forms of platonic love also become important as the story progresses. But The Song of Achilles is also a war story, tracking the experiences of the Greek army fighting in the Trojan War. As a result, love and war intermix—in fact, the novel at first seems…

The Song of Achilles is narrated by Patroclus, but the story centers around the hero Achilles, who has been destined since birth to be the best fighter in Greece and who later discovers that he’s fated to die in the Trojan War. Achilles’s skill as a soldier is an innate part of him, but he’s also loving and kind toward Patroclus and initially dislikes violence. Patroclus constantly attempts to distinguish between the Achilles…