Iris appears to Achilles by command of Juno, and orders him to show himself at the . Because many Greeks of the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, centuries later after the Iliad was written, did portray Achilles and Patroclus as lovers. Your email address will not be published. However, the gods were warned of a prophecy that Thetis would have a son who would grow up to be greater than his father. Achilles attached Hectors lifeless body to the rear of his chariot and dragged him around the walls of the city of Troy. For the last time Achilles sees his friend, and he cannot embrace him. For the twelve days following Hectors death, his body was still attached to Achilles chariot. However, there is nothing overtly romantic or something that can be considered a sexual interaction that was stated in the Iliad. Adobe Illustrator Color Gradient, The idea that Patroclus and Achilles were lovers is quite old. Hector versus Achilles! Im not convinced he wanted us to think they were lovers, but there are a few passages that certainly open up the possibility. Always in these friendships one serves the other, one is less than the other: the hierarchy is always apparant, though the legends cannot be trusted-- their source is the survivor, the one who has been abandoned. Given that Homers epic poem, The Iliad, is the earliest surviving and most accurate narrative of their lives, it served as the foundation for the many different interpretations and depictions of the characters of Patroclus and Achilles. Shay places a strong emphasis on the relationships that soldiers who experience combat together forge, and points out that this kind of loss has in fact often led to "berserking" of soldiers stunned with grief and rage, in a way similar to the raging of Achilles in the Iliad. These are just a few examples of why Achilles and Patroclus being lovers may not be so far-fetched as some people may claim. The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is a key element of the stories associated with the Trojan War. After receiving assurance that his mother will look after Patroclus body, Achilles proceeded to the battlefield. Though it is improbable and impossible now, he hopes they will be reunited. 34 Favourites 0 Comments 368 Views. Patroclus speaks to Achilles, though he is not there. The idea that Patroclus and Achilles were lovers is quite old. Credit is given where known. Then the mother of Achilles, Thetis, asks the god Hephaestus to forge new armor for her son. But nothing between them in the Iliad is explicitly romantic or sexual. The Man Behind the Hero in the OdysseyContinue, Alliteration in Beowulf is the repeated use of initial sounds/letters right after the other, which occurs very often in Beowulf. 17.9K 466 4. Always in these friendships one serves the other, one is less than the other: the hierarchy is always apparant, though the legends cannot be trusted--their source is the survivor, the one who has been abandoned. After that, in book 16, Achilles lends Patroclus his armor, sends him off with a stern admonition to not to pursue the Trojans. Achilles' Song - I do not know more than the Sea tells me - The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. His death occurs because Achilles refuses to fight to protect his honor, so Patroclus dresses up in Achilles armor and goes out to the battlefield. Patroclus's father crowns him with a garland. See more ideas about achilles and patroclus achilles greek myths. In ancient texts, philos (often translated "most beloved") denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers. Achilles. After defeating Hector, Achilles drags his corpse by the heels behind his chariot. Theocritus (29.34), for instance, calls it No hero is ever happy, my dear Achilles, none of them. [20], When Alexander the Great and his confidant Hephaestion passed through the city of Troy on their Asian campaign, Alexander honoured the sacred tomb of Achilles and Patroclus in front of the entire army, and this was taken as a clear declaration of their own relationship. Oh, Achilles, Achilles, How they sing of your anger. did portray Achilles and Patroclus as lovers. There is a widespread attitude that Achilles and Patroclus were clearly in sexual relationship and that anyone who questions that or disagrees must have some hidden agenda that would cause them to deny their true nature. In the story of Patroclus no one survives, not even Achilles who was nearly a god. Join our Discord server and discuss Literature & Mythology. So certainty isnt really on the table here. The gods do not take sides. King Agamemnon realizes that Achilles, due to his heroic reputation, needs to enter the fight, but Achilles, having been disrespected by Agamemnon, refuses. They avoid the negative influence of Achilles' mother and eventually have to go to war together, assisting Agamemnon as he attempts to retrieve his brother Menelaus's wife, Helen, from Troy. However, he did agree that the "we-two alone" passage did imply a love relation and argued it was a later interpolation. Achilles versus Hector! Although many debate the idea of the two characters sharing a romantic relationship, it was not uncommon for elite men in ancient Greece to share intimate interactions with other men, often younger than themselves. So it depends on how you approach finding truth in mythology. of the born and dying body) a party Achilles is used to being fawned over, and heres person jou stands back and just watches him, so he catches Achilles eye. Hector then takes Achilles armor from Patroclus body as a prize . In book 16 of the "Iliad," Patroclus, the dear friend of Achilles, attempts to will Achilles back into battle. University School Basketball Roster, They both spring to their feet in surprise as the guests enter. At least not to me. This request was to put their ashes together when Achilles died and to let them rest eternally together. Thus, on the one hand, Patroclus stands in for Achilles and Euphorbus for Paris, and, on the other, Patroclus does double-duty (quite literally) as Antilochus while Hector is busy playing Memnon.7 In wartime, it is difficult to process the loss of many troops aboard ships. According to this answer, which as of writing this has been upvoted over 6,000 times, one of those things they get wrong is the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. Zeus, the king of the gods and Poseidon, god of the sea, had both fallen in love with Thetis and were rivals for her hand in marriage. Different versions that came out depict Achilles and Patroclus in very distinct ways, such as Shakespeares Troilus and Cressida which shows them as lovers, whereas the Hollywood film Troy portrays them as cousins. On one side was a trickster who robbed people and left them to die at the hands of a sea monster whereas on the other hand was a brave war hero that won many wars, Read More Sciron: The Ancient Greek Robber and a WarlordContinue, Penelope in the Odyssey, the poem by Homer, is the faithful wife of Odysseus (or Ulysses for the Romans). Yes, Achilles is gay, he states definitively. It still has the same plot point of Patroclus assuming Achilles' identity, and his death is still his motivation for killing Hector, but as his little cousin it's a bit creepy. After all, they were much closer to Homer in terms of the timeline than we are. Furthermore, when Patroclus is killed by Hector in Book 18, Achilles reacts with intense sorrow and anger and claims that he cannot continue to live until he is able to have his revenge on Patroclus killer. Achilles was the son of Peleus, a Greek king, and Thetis, a sea nymph or goddess. News of Patroclus' death reaches Achilles through Nestor's son Antilochus, which throws Achilles into deep grief. Aristarchus believed that Homer did not intend the two to be lovers. Let my pale corse the rites of burial know, And give me entrance in the realms below: Till then the spirit finds no resting-place, But here and there the unbodied spectres chase The vagrant dead around the dark abode, Thersites. This request was to put their ashes together when Achilles died and to let them rest eternally together. The shield is described as an example of expression and has influenced many poems that came later, like the Shield of Hercules, which is credited to Hesiod. She has a series of poems written from the perspective of Penelope, Telemachus, and Circe and how they deal with the grief caused by Odysseuss absence. The death of Patroclus broke the heart of Achilles into many pieces. Those who believe they were lovers often cite lines where Achilles says that he loved Patroclus as his own life (Book 18). Achilles and Patroclus are known from Greek Mythology, and primarily from Homers Iliad, were friends as boys, and their close relationship (which may have been that they were lovers), only continued to grow until their untimely deaths during the Trojan War. As Achilles possessed traits typical of the eromenos, such as beauty and youth, as well as virtue and combat prowess, Phaedrus contends that Aeschylus was wrong in asserting that Achilles was the erastes. On Quora, I recently came across a popular answer to the question What important parts of Greek myths do filmmakers always seem to get wrong?. However, his adventuring is widely known and is an important component of, Read More Who is Laertes? Usafa Address For Transcripts, Who is Laertes? Poems would be written, plays performed; it was a glorious moment, immortalized by Homer. Hair lit like honey in the sun, and within it, glints of gold-the circlet of a prince." Achilles wins the race. Share. Achilles, mourning the death of Patroclus, prepares for battle. The earlier steadfast and unbreakable Achilles agonizes, touching Patroclus' dead body, smearing himself with ash and fasting. Timeshare Presentation Deals 2021, At the age of five, Patroclus's father hosts the games. Edsby Yrdsb Login Page, Timeshare Presentation Deals 2021, According to their works, throughout the fifth and fourth centuries BC, the relationship was portrayed as romantic love between people of the same sex. "[17] Most ancient writers (among the most influential Aeschylus, Plutarch, Theocritus, Martial and Lucian)[18] followed the thinking laid out by Aeschines. Passer, deliciae meae puellae (Catullus 2), Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus (Catullus 5), Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire (Catullus 8), eath of Patroclus is one of the most tragic and devastating scenes in the Iliad, https://ancient-literature.com/patroclus-and-achille/. Achilles, in Greek mythology, son of the mortal Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, and the Nereid, or sea nymph, Thetis. Perhaps more famous than you. In the Iliad, Homer describes a deep and meaningful relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, where Achilles is tender toward Patroclus but callous and arrogant toward others. Achilles, a demigod is the son of the sea nymph Thetis and the King of the Myrmidions Peleus. He also requests that when he dies, his bones be mixed with Patroclus' in a vase.[a]. Achilles quotes about patroclus. . The enormous size of Hamilton's painting conveys a sense of his ambition to depict episodes from Homer's Iliad in an overpowering, epic mode. Were Achilles and Patroclus Gay Lovers? Theres also a lot we dont know about the Archaic Age of Greece (the time of Homer), so were missing some valuable context. Oh, how Patroclus wished for a chance. To be heard and to be glanced. Their relationship is very beautiful and intimate in the novel, and author Madeline Miller does a great job of capturing the emotions they have for one another as the story unfolds. So, what has Hector ever done to you, Achilles? I think that their relationship is certainly intimate and can be perceived as romantic. In addition to Achilless commitment as he was determined to seek revenge on Hector, the best warrior in Troy, Hectors arrogance also contributed to the Trojans downfall. He is fundamentally kind, which leads his father to dislike him. Can Goguardian Only See Chrome, CDL Technical & Motorcycle Driving School Another one was Patroclus request to put their bones together when Achilles died. But with many different variations and interpretations, its hard to say for sure what kind of connection the pair has. This ambiguity may not be done on purpose, but it has led to a large number of divergent conclusions. The scene in which Priam and Achilles meet in book 24 of the poem, the Trojan king stealing silently through the Greek camp to beg the hero for the corpse of his son, is one of the most moving . These lines are spoken by the famed hero, Odysseus, whose presence eventually convinces Achilles to join the Trojan War with the Greeks. As Agamemnon and his councillors approach, Achilles goes inside his tent and refuses to meet them. If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. What Is The Odyssey? Here are a couple moments and quotes that proponents of the lover argument often cite: It is indisputable that Achilles and Patroclus are especially close to one another. [11], Aeschylus, in his lost tragedy The Myrmidons (5th century BC), assigned Achilles the role of erastes or protector (since he had avenged his lover's death, even though the gods told him it would cost him his own life), and assigned Patroclus the roles of eromenos. The death of Patroclus is one of the most tragic and devastating scenes in the Iliad. Cultural and Historical Monuments Left by the Thracians in Bulgaria, Medusa and the Tragedy of the Femme Fatale, Making A Traditional Home Feel More Contemporary, On History And Why It Fascinates Us: Nostalgia, Romance and Fascination, The Indian Weddings of Shenanigans and Hues, Women's History Month: Its Importance and Where We Are, Bulgarian Folklore Known Around the World. Two passages in the Iliad were thought by ancient critics to express paederastic love, and were athetized accordingly. He persuaded Achilles to think of his own father, Peleus, and if what happened to Hector happened to him, imagine how his father would feel. University School Basketball Roster, Usafa Address For Transcripts, The only person he seems to show any tenderness towards is his young colleague Patroclus. " /> Oh, Achilles Oh, Achilles, Achilles, How they sing of your anger. In addition, Priam, Hectors son, begged Achilles for the body of Hector. ago Oh they gave him the NA Sailor Uranus and Neptune treatment. By dianaiiz Watch. She also makes sure her son is protected, replacing his lost armor with a new set forged by a god. Its exact nature has been a subject of dispute in both the classical period and modern times. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Patroclus and Achilles had a one-of-a-kind relationship, and it was one of the major themes in Homers epic novel, The Iliad. When he returns to fight, Achilles is a changed man. He reminisces. Madeline Miller has a bright future in literature. Not only does Hector kill Patroclus, but he also takes the armor that belong to Achilles in which Patroclus wore. After this, Achilles conducted a heartfelt funeral ceremony for Patroclus. In the Symposium by Plato, the speaker Phaedrus cites Achilles and Patroclus as an illustration of a divinely sanctioned couple around 385 BC. Adobe Illustrator Color Gradient, It was a moment that would forever be etched in glorious history, a scene that would be memorialized in countless artistic renditions and paintings. Yup, you read that right, cousins. The epic poems, Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid, are set in the Greco-Roman world. How To Enable Graphics Processor In Photoshop, Usafa Address For Transcripts, This is in the hope that Patroclus will be able to start a new life. Anything beyond that is an exercise in speculation, projection, or interpretation (or all three). While its feminine form (hetara) would be used for courtesans, a hetaros was still a form of soldier in Hellenistic and Byzantine times. At . Finally, he agreed to release Hectors body. Achilles is not a pleasant man. Achilles gave in to the request of his mother, but he still made an appearance on the battlefield and stayed there long enough to scare the Trojans who were still fighting over Patroclus lifeless body. Patroclus was a faithful friend and companion to Achilles in the Trojan War. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Miller also admits that she took inspiration from other sources than the Iliad to develop her story. Achilles tries to clutch him, but the ghost evades him and goes away. Achilles/Patroclus; Achilles/Patroclus (Song of Achilles) Achilles (Song of Achilles) Patroclus (Song of Achilles) Death; Comfort; Angst; Love; Reunions; poem; Don't copy to another site; Summary. They almost seem like partners in life, even if you just examine their connection in a platonic context. Before Achilles joined the war, the Trojans were winning it. He wanted to punish Agamemnon for taking his war prize Briesis. D. Even enemies can become friends. Once Achilles finds out, he erupts with rage and murders Hector. According to the fifth-century BC work The Myrmidons by the ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus, who is also known as a father of tragedy, Achilles and Patroclus were in a same-gender relationship. Brothers-in-arms of Peleus' son Achilles! And what need these tricks? Degiro Customer Service Ireland, Its one of the big questions of Greek mythology that continues to be debated thousands of years later: were Achilles and Patroclus lovers? Ascanius in the Aeneid: The Story of the Son of Aeneas in the Poem, The Odyssey Ending: How Odysseus Rose to Power Again, Sciron: The Ancient Greek Robber and a Warlord, Penelope in the Odyssey: Story of the Faithful Wife of Odysseus. A. rosie shared a post on Instagram: "a million kisses in your lifetime I will never take this risk of probably ruining my book, but I love how this turned out!!! Achilles sees the burning and tells Patroclus to put on his armor while he gathers the Myrmidons. Oct 8, 2020 - This Pin was discovered by I. Can Goguardian Only See Chrome, Around the same time, there was a fierce warlord, also named Sciron. Alliteration was very popularly used in poetry in the time period, this is why Beowulf fits right in. Low Blood Sugar After Covid-19, 'Sing the rage of Achilles.' Twenty-three raids, After more battle, Nestor arrives back to the Greek allies base with a wounded soldier. Edsby Yrdsb Login Page, The lover-warriors Achilles and Patroclus are the direct spiritual ancestors of the sacred Band of Thebans, who died to a man on the field of Chrona. The Iliad 1 begins and ends showing people in a normal state, before and after the wrath of Achilles has precipitated the plan of Zeus. Read Homer poem:Now when Dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from the streams of Oceanus, to bring light to mortals and immortals, Thetis reached the ships with the armour that the god. The Iliad, Book 16, lines 92-106. Rage vs. Wit (An analysis of the differences and similarities of Achilles and Odysseus in Homers two epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey) A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Examples of Kleos. Thus, on the one hand, Patroclus stands in for Achilles and Euphorbus for Paris, and, on the other, Patroclus does double-duty (quite literally) as Antilochus while Hector is busy playing Memnon.7 Diane Goettel Date: February 16, 2021 Along with The Odyssey, The Iliad is a part of the oldest collection of epic poetry in history.. The Iliad: Book 19 Poem by Homer. our fates have been intertwined longer than i can even begin to remember and so when you fall, plummet into the void of time, did you think i would not follow? Achilles also gets his goddess mother, Thetis, to petition Zeus to keep the Trojans killing the Greeks until this happens. Patroklos thus realizes that by taking Achilles' place in battle, he has become the means by which Achilles' return to the war is assured. Achilles quotes about patroclus. Can Goguardian Only See Chrome, The moment of Patroclus death is so crucial to the epic because it represents a turning point in the storythe beginning of Achilles return to battle. Homer displays the theme of relationships throughout the poem in which relationship brings out the emotional side of Achilles and King Priam . For Patroclus part, according to the poem, he made a final request to Achilles by speaking with him as a ghost. See more ideas about achilles and patroclus achilles greek myths. If by Were Achilles and Patroclus lovers?, one is asking about the meaning behind the oldest and most comprehensive source we have, the answer for me is probably not. He was one of a long line of bards, or poets, who worked in the oral tradition. Living, I seem'd his dearest, tenderest care, But now forgot, I wander in the air. Text HOME to 741741, CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. This confusion makes it pretty clear to me that the Classical Greeks were merely trying to project their culture onto a different, much older culture portrayed in the Iliad (which was written around the 8th century BCE and based on legends dating back to the 12th century BCE). However, Achilles and Patroclus also both have female sex slaves. Want to discover art related to patroclus? Although the piece details their lives, the nature of their relationship is unclear. In The Iliad, Achilles and Hector battle it out. Instead, he continued to chase down the Trojan warriors all the way to the gates of Troy. Thetis, knowing that Achilles was fated to die at Troy, disguised him as a girl and hid him among the women at the court of King Lycomedes of Skyros. There is a lot of support for their relationship in the text of theIliaditself, though Homer never makes it explicit. Based on the material we have on them, its clear that their bond is intimate. The Iliad therefore has for its whole subject the passion of Achilles that ardent energy or of the hero which displayed itself first as anger against Agamemnon, and afterwards as love for the lost Patroclus. Achilles knows this act will bring upon his own fated death, but he still carries it out. The best of all the Greeksstrong, beautiful, and the child of a goddessAchilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Patroclus resembled him; they wore the same armor. Maybe the Greeks of the Classical Age knew something about this earlier time period we dont. As Achilles knew the weakness of the stolen armor that Hector was wearing, he was able to spear him in the throat, thereby killing him. Achilles did not just refuse to return Hectors body, but he further disgraced him by desecrating his body. Even though they were all based on Homers The Iliad, various philosophers, authors, and historians analyzed and placed the written descriptions into context. Hectors wise counselor, Polydamas, advised him to retreat into the city walls, but he refused and decided to fight to bring honor to him and Troy. Further evidence of this debate is found in a speech by an Athenian politician, Aeschines, at his trial in 345 BC. In this passage, Achilles intimates to Patroclus The helm of Achilles Falls to the hoofbeat thunder, Rolls to the fouling of blood and dust. Achilles and Patroklos bedded together as teens. He was then instructed by Achilles to go back after driving away the Trojans from their ships, but Patroclus did not listen. Its exact nature has been a subject of dispute in both the classical period and modern times. Achilles receives motivation to return to war, and reason for new armor, following the death of his good friend Patroclus. Achilles is the strongest, more virile of menthe son of a nymph and a mortal man, Achilles was prophesized at birth to either die an unimportant old man, or to die a young hero. ( Iliad, 16.315-320) The Trojans instantly mistook Patroclus for Achilles. It is true that Achilles, the hero of the Iliad, is distinguished by his friendship for Patroclus no less emphatically than Odysseus, the hero of the Odyssey, by lifelong attachment to Penelope, and Hector by love for Andromache. [25] Achilles' decision to spend his days in his tent with Patroclus is seen by Odysseus (called Ulysses in the play) and many other Greeks as the chief reason for anxiety about Troy.[26]. achilles x patroclus. time adapts to the breathing. Ranked poetry on Achilles, by famous & modern poets. Patroclus's mother was intellectually disabled, and his father believes that both Patroclus and his mother were weak. Ask yourself: if it were a man and a woman who acted the same way, would you possibly be more inclined to believe it as romantic? Jan 22, 2023 - Explore Christina Furtado's board "Achilles and Patroclus", followed by 198 people on Pinterest. Although, there is no certainty regarding what the proper label is to put on the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles. Always in these friendships one serves the other, one is less than the other: the hierarchy is always apparant, though the legends cannot be trusted--their source is the survivor, the one who has been abandoned. The Iliad is one of the most famous epic poems created by the Greek poet Homer and the piece recounts the last weeks of the Trojan War.In book 18 of the series, Homer writes about Achilles shield - this poem is one of the epic's most famous portions. What, indeed, has Hector ever done to you, Achilles? theilliad. The epic poem the Iliad relates a series of episodes nine years into the Trojan War that include the stubbornness of Achilles, the death of Patroclus, and Achilles's revenge on Hector. Plato presents one version in his Symposium, while Aeschylus presents another in his lost play The Myrmidons (meanwhile others at the time, such as Xenophon, dont seem convinced the two were lovers at all). Such a scene would anyhow be wretched and terrible. The first recorded appearance of a deep emotional bond between adult men in ancient Greek culture was in the Iliad (800 BC). achilles emerges for the first time as a lover as well as a fighter in this beautifully written novel natalie haynes''book review the song of achilles by madeline miller may 27th, 2020 - the song of achilles is centred on two main characters patroclus and achilles patroclus a prince is exiled A reading of the text shows they were lovers. Some historians say that the two of them were practicing pederasty, in which an older man (the erastes) and a younger man (the eromenos), typically in his teens, are in a relationship. THERSITES The surgeons box or the patients wound. Avani is a Rutgers University student who is passionate about television and bands. Achilles' mother, the sea-nymph Thetis, expresses her dislike of Achilles and Patroclus' relationship, and hates that Patroclus followed Achilles to Mount Pelion. As Gregory Nagy points out: For Achilles[] in his own ascending scale of affection as dramatized by the entire composition of the Iliad, the highest place must belong to Patroklos[] In fact Patroklos is for Achilles the [] the 'hetaros who is the most phlos by far' (XVII 411, 655).[5]. He smelled like almonds and earth. Patroclus resembled him; they wore the same armor. However, during the main action of the Iliad, the wrath of Achilles and the plan of Zeus, people live in an extraordinary state of human/divine . Needless to say, Aeschylus believed Patroclus and Achilles lovers are one of a kind. What would or could learners have done if they had been there to help Achilles? Given that Patroclus was more experienced and much more mature, he served as a guardian and guide. I did not know what to do, what he would like. The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus might be seen in two different ways. In Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, Achilles is a great warrior who traces the stages of the behavior cycle twice, from arete to hubris to ate and then to nemesis. Answers: 1 on a question: ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS PLS Question 1 What is a theme of How the Death of Patroclus Roused Achilles, The Making of the Arms, and The Vengeance of Achilles from the Iliad? Achilles himself laments that Patroclus death is more painful to him than the death of his own father or child would be -327). So what is the verdict? Achilles even wishes that all of the other soldiers, both Greek and Trojan, would perish so he and Patroclus could conquer Troy by themselves (Book 16). Thus, events were manipulated to lead him to his death. #reelsinstagram #bookstagram #bookstaexplore #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #reader #readerlife #readersofinstagram #romance #romancebooks #contemporary #newadult #fantasy #annotations #annotatedbooks #bookshelf # . Wrath Subdues Towards the end of the poem, Achilles still hasn't buried and properly mourned for Patroclus and he was still desecrating Hector's body. Its also worth noting that some folks with much better credentials than me appear to disagree with some of my conclusions. From whence, fragment? In an article about the film Troy in the Guardian, the reviewer writes, It seems the Greek hero (Achilles) has undergone a radical straightening process and I'm not talking about his hair any more. The crushing weight, heavy on your chest, The undesirable yearning to continue this life Without your better half. He argues that while a modern reader is inclined to interpret the portrayal of these intense same-sex male warrior friendships as being fundamentally homoerotic, it is important to consider the greater themes of these relationships: The thematic insistence on mutuality and the merging of individual identities, although it may invoke in the minds of modern readers the formulas of heterosexual romantic love[] in fact situates avowals of reciprocal love between male friends in an honorable, even glamorous tradition of heroic comradeship: precisely by banishing any hint of subordination on the part of one friend to the other, and thus any suggestion of hierarchy, the emphasis on the fusion of two souls into one actually distances such a love from erotic passion.
