The Song of Achilles Summary

"Name one hero who was happy," Achilles said. In Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles, this question and its answer echo through a story of love, destiny, and war.

1. A Love Unfolding in Ancient Greece

Patroclus and Achilles begin their story as children, sons of kings from different walks of life. Patroclus is exiled to Achilles’s palace after accidentally killing another boy, and their friendship begins almost immediately. Patroclus is captivated by Achilles's magnetic presence, his beauty, and his brilliance.

As they grow closer, their connection deepens from friendship into a profound love. They train together in the cave of the wise centaur Chiron, spending their days exploring forests and their nights immersed in shared stories and dreams. Patroclus is consumed by an unshakable certainty: "I will never leave him."

Their love becomes both a sanctuary and a source of strength. Patroclus believes himself to be ordinary, but through Achilles, he finds a higher purpose. Achilles promises Patroclus that he will defy heroism’s usual tragedies. “I’ll be the first hero to live happily,” Achilles says, “and you’re the reason.”

Examples

• Young Patroclus is sent to live in Achilles's father’s palace after his exile.
• The pair forge their bond while studying with Chiron in the solitude of the wilderness.
• Achilles's bold statement that Patroclus will make him happy challenges the destiny of heroes.

2. An Uneasy Prophecy Looms Over Achilles

Achilles carries a prophecy that he will become the greatest warrior of his generation, yet it warns of a grim end on the battlefield of Troy. This knowledge shadows his every move as he comes of age. Even his divine mother, Thetis, dismisses his romance with Patroclus, focusing instead on trying to save him from his fate.

When Achilles is summoned to fight in the Trojan War, Thetis attempts to protect him by hiding him in Scyros disguised as a girl. However, prophecy and destiny have ways of finding their prey. Odysseus soon discovers Achilles and tells him the cost of ignoring the call to war: anonymity and a forgotten name.

Achilles is forced to decide. He can avoid the war and live a quiet, obscure existence—or embrace his destiny, achieve eternal glory, and die. He chooses fame, but he’s deeply torn, confessing to Patroclus that he fears losing his vigor more than he fears death.

Examples

• Thetis hides Achilles in women’s clothing on the island of Scyros.
• Odysseus persuades Achilles to join the war, warning him of obscurity without it.
• Achilles shares his terror of fading away into irrelevance while contemplating his choice.

3. Glory and Violence Define Achilles’s Role in War

On the battlefield of Troy, Achilles becomes legendary. He wields unparalleled skill and kills with a grace that cements his name in history. He seems untouchable, bound by the prophecy that he’ll live until Hector, Troy’s greatest warrior, is slain.

Despite this, Achilles harbors no bloodlust. His prowess is a matter of birthright and discipline. Meanwhile, Patroclus finds his own path, avoiding the violence that defines Achilles. He instead befriends the enslaved Trojan woman Briseis, offering her solace amidst the chaos.

Their diverging strengths—Achilles as a warrior and Patroclus as a compassionate soul—bring them together rather than pushing them apart. Achieving glory doesn’t lessen Achilles’s love for Patroclus. But as the war drags on, the weight of their different choices begins to take its toll.

Examples

• Achilles’s renown grows as he slaughters countless Trojan enemies effortlessly.
• Patroclus saves Briseis from brutality by urging Achilles to take her under his protection.
• The prophecy of Achilles's survival hinges on Hector remaining alive.

4. Pride and Conflict Tear the Greek Camp Apart

Nine years into the war, tensions escalate within the Greek camp. Agamemnon, the commander, confiscates Briseis from Achilles as an act of dominance. Achilles’s pride is wounded, and he refuses to fight for the Greeks any longer, withdrawing to their tent.

This marks a sudden shift in Achilles's character. Once a seemingly invincible warrior, he becomes consumed by his sense of insult. He prioritizes his name and legacy over the collective cause. Patroclus, distraught, cannot understand how Achilles could abandon his fellow Greeks and leave Briseis unprotected.

Achilles's decision has devastating impacts. Without him, the Greek forces suffer catastrophic losses. Achilles's pride becomes a test of his heroism, showing that even the greatest among men are not beyond flaws.

Examples

• Agamemnon seizes Briseis, sparking Achilles’s bitter withdrawal.
• Achilles declares that his honor matters more than fighting Agamemnon’s war.
• Patroclus negotiates to prevent the abuse of Briseis after she’s taken.

5. Patroclus Sacrifices Himself in Achilles’s Place

Driven by love and desperation, Patroclus takes to the battlefield wearing Achilles's armor. His hope is that Trojan soldiers will mistake him for Achilles and retreat. At first, the deception works, rallying the Greeks and sowing terror among the Trojans.

However, emboldened by the chaos of war, Patroclus overreaches. He attempts to storm the city of Troy, only to face Apollo's wrath. For defying the gods, Apollo intervenes, casting him off the fortress walls, weakening him for Hector’s spear. Hector kills Patroclus, fulfilling the prophecy.

Patroclus dies thinking of Achilles. This act transforms Achilles. His grief reignites his rage, compelling him to return to the battlefield for vengeance—a choice that seals the fate of both men.

Examples

• Patroclus dons Achilles’s armor to intimidate Trojan forces.
• Apollo intervenes to stop Patroclus from entering Troy.
• Hector delivers the killing blow, unaware of Patroclus’s identity.

6. The Tragic Fall of Achilles

With Patroclus gone, Achilles is consumed by rage and grief. He slays thousands of Trojans, including Hector, whom he kills in single combat. Although victorious, he knows Hector’s death has fulfilled the prophecy and marked the countdown to his own end.

Achilles fights recklessly, inviting death until Paris, aided by Apollo, shoots an arrow into his back. Achilles dies young, but with a smile, knowing he’ll forever be remembered as a hero.

His death underscores the tragic irony of his life: despite his extraordinary talent and strength, it’s love and fate—not mere combat—that truly define him. Through Patroclus, Achilles learns the value of devotion, even as it costs him everything.

Examples

• Achilles avenges Patroclus by killing Hector in a climactic fight.
• Paris, with divine guidance, fatally strikes Achilles in his only weak spot.
• Achilles dies accepting both his prophecy and the legacy he’ll leave behind.

7. Love Beyond Death

Achilles is buried under a prominent tombstone marking his heroism. Patroclus, however, is denied the same honor. His ashes lie unrecognized, his soul adrift between life and the underworld.

But in a final, poignant act of reconciliation, Thetis engraves Patroclus’s name beside Achilles’s. By acknowledging their bond, she allows the lovers to reunite in death.

This resolution signals the true power of their relationship. Though mortal life could tear them apart, their love transcends time and space. They join hands once again in the underworld, finding peace.

Examples

• Thetis mourns Achilles at his grave and listens to Patroclus’s stories.
• Patroclus’s name is finally added to Achilles’s tombstone.
• The souls of Achilles and Patroclus find reunion and solace in the afterlife.

Takeaways

1. Cherish the people you love while you have time. The story reminds us how fleeting life can be, showing the importance of expressing loyalty and care.
2. Balance ambition with empathy. Achilles’s pursuit of fame contrasts with Patroclus’s compassion, demonstrating the need for harmony between personal goals and human connection.
3. Don’t let pride control your actions. From Achilles’s stubborn retreat to Agamemnon’s arrogance, the consequences of unchecked pride are evident throughout the tale.