THE WRATH OF ACHILLES: HEROISM OR HUBRIS

Abstrak

This study explores the complex duality of heroism through the character of Achilles as portrayed in The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. The study examines Achilles’s journey through the lens of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey framework, analyzing his transformation from a noble warrior to a grief driven avenger. By contrasting the perspectives of Patroclus and Briseis, the paper highlights how narrative voice influences the perception of heroism. The research uses qualitative textual analysis to explore how love, loss, pride, and violence shape Achilles's legacy. Findings suggest that heroism is subjective, shaped by perspective and context, and that Achilles embodies both heroic ideals and human flaws. This analysis invites readers to reconsider fixed definitions of heroism and to understand that a hero can also be a figure of moral ambiguity.