Book Review of Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

In my opinion, this book is really about Patroclus, but as usual the name Achilles has celebrity power whereas Patroclus (Cleopatra) does not. Patroclus is the voice in the story, and at the end of the novel, is considered the best man in the book. The author makes you know by the end of the novel that the person telling the story is a man of great character and deserves recognition.***** Achilles is used as the bait to develop fully the character of Patroclus, a young prince who is exiled because of having killed a nobleman when a child. He is sent to live with a man in a country who is known for taking in young boys, and there he meets up with Achilles, son of Thetis, a sea goddess, and Peleus, the mortal who Zeus chose to father the child if he could mate with the sea goddess. The sea goddess is capable of changing her shape into anything that she wishes, but she is conquered by the mortal to bear the child known as Achilles.******** In the author's fantasy in which she uses Patroclus to sell us on the virtues of Achilles, Achilles is half god, half mortal, and exceptional in every way. So exceptional that he does not need military training, schooling, training of any kind. Because Patroclus stays alone to himself, does not appear to have any friends, Achilles takes an interest in him, and eventually chooses him to be his bedmate, his companion. They are only young teenagers in the early part of the book, both about the same age.******* Miller spins a tale of days spent together creating a bonded friendship that makes them lovers instead of brothers, and we fall in love with Achilles through Patroclus's clever explanation of all his remarkable talents, hopes, fears, and ambitions. In this novel, we even come to know Thetis, his mother, who clearly dislikes Patroclus, since he is a mere mortal and totally unworthy of Achille's friendship. Who on earth would ever have been found worthy is more than anyone can know but Madeline sketches a Thetis who is demanding and frightening to the young Patroclus. ***** Eventually, halfway through the book, we get to the Trojan War. Having been schooled by a centaur, Chiron, to learn medicine, some warfare secrets, and patience above all, the boys grow up to be taken into battle after Achilles is discovered to be in hiding as a girl on an island. Thetis is so afraid of losing her son in battle that she secreted Achilles off to an island where he is hiding as a girl, but found by both his friend Patroclus who runs dashing after him, and by Odysseus who has sought him to lead his nation's army into battle against Troy. There he has been forced to father a child with the king's daughter, and then has to leave to fulfill his birth destiny, that of natural born military leader.***** What is so extraordinary to me is that Achilles has no need of any military training at all. He is a superb athlete without exercise or development. I found that part of this book to be preposterous but that is because I find it unnatural that he would have such resistance to a military life if born to it.****** Even worse is Patroclus who chooses not to learn how to throw a spear or shoot an arrow, but rather seeks only to learn medicinal capabilities, and musical skills.**** In that respect, I am very critical of a hero molded in this manner. However, this is a love story spun by Patroclus which in the last quarter of the book is very self serving and becomes the Song of Patroclus instead of that of Achilles. Achilles conveniently disappears to perform raids, and multiple killings while Patroclus stays behind to help in the medicine tents and thus, learns who is who in the armies. His character becomes the central and main figure from this point on as Achilles recedes into the background.******* Miller is skillful in her weaving the story to take you into the mind and heart of Patroclus even after his demise. She does choose to turn Patroclus into the noble hero instead of Achilles, and we follow along with Patroclus as he tries to "save" everyone in the camp from the soldiers to Achilles to the young prize Brisies but not himself. He recklessly tries to get Achilles back into the war, and it is only through his own act of courage that Achilles finally returns to save the Greek cause. But Achilles has somehow been pushed aside as the main character while Patroclus takes center stage in the last part of the book. One does glean why it is that Achilles acts as he does about his quarrel with Agamemnon but mortals can never understand gods and their thinking, so there is naturally a conflict about his indifference to the plight of the Greeks who are being trounced by the Trojans near the end. Through Miller, who is an expert in Greek classical literature, we learn of many Greek myths and tales which is a very rewarding experience in reading this book. Achilles is reminded of Meleager who had previously behaved in the same way that Achilles has done, so that Achilles realizes that he may become hated by the Greeks for his actions. It does not faze him but it does Patroclus who risks his life in a daring way to finally bring Achilles back into the war. Achilles only returns to take vengeance, but he does at least help to end the long term battle that has waged for so long. Finally, Thetis, who has dominated Achilles all the while in this tale, has finally come to the cause of Patroclus, who is now long remembered and associated with Achilles. Whether they were real characters or not, their legend persists, and whether they were gay or straight, is a matter of any author's opinion. The love story is paramount over the sexual relationship, and Miller chooses to tell her tale her way. I enjoyed this book very much as it touched me. I could see what was coming all the while, but I truly became very absorbed in her love of Achilles and the more common man, the mortal Patroclus. Gods are different from mortals, and Achilles is an example of how lonely it may be for them to be half breeds. ##############################