The Song of Achilles by: Madeline Miller

 

It’s very interesting to see the reaction to The Song of Achilles from people who perhaps haven’t had exposure to Homer’s The Iliad.  So much so that in writing this review, I am genuinely unsure of how exactly to tackle this one since Madeline Miller’s debut novel isn’t so much an original idea, but a fairly straightforward retelling and “modernization” of The Iliad.  Except modernization doesn’t really do it justice.  Certainly Miller writes with modern prose, but The Song of Achilles doesn’t so much as update the events of the text but offer some key additions to allow a modernization of sorts.  This is mainly to make our main characters just more morally in the right, but Miller never changes the characters enough so that they’d be unrecognizable to Homer’s original.  The translation of The Iliad I am the most familiar with is Robert Fagles’ lauded translation for comparison to Miller’s retelling.  Now The Song of Achilles at its heart is a romance and exploration of Achilles’ part in the Trojan War from the perspective of Patroclus, making it a fitting parallel to the epic poem which is primarily concerned with the rage of Achilles.  It’s also just a small part of a larger epic cycle, most of which has been lost to history, while The Song of Achilles is a novel that’s meant to stand on its own, launching instead a successful literary career following suit with other Greek myths to bring them into the modern day.

 

The Song of Achilles’ focus is squarely on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus from its beginning, to the death of the both of them, and Patroclus’ final resting place in the tomb of Achilles.  Miller primarily makes it a character piece, Patroclus’ narration begins with his childhood and making the fateful oath that will call him to the Trojan War and the murderous rage that sets him into the path of Achilles.  Patroclus as a character doesn’t succumb to his rage often through the novel, but Miller clearly sets him up as the perfect one for Achilles, who uses his rage for his lover.  Their relationship is utterly fascinating as presented here as it is written through a modern lens while not forgetting the very complex way this society viewed homosexuality (or perhaps more accurately bisexuality).  For instance, in The Iliad Achilles withdraws from the battle because Agamemnon takes a woman, Briseis, from him as a prize.  This aspect is the largest of the original poem that Miller alters, putting up the recorded version, with subtlety, as something that could be mythologized as the poem describes.  The way it occurs in The Song of Achilles is this relationship between Briseis, Patroclus, and Achilles, saving her from a terrible fate and becoming intertwined because Patroclus wanted to see her saved.  Patroclus and Briseis have this mutual respect where they are allowed to learn from one another with the fear that Achilles will go to his death once he fights in the war.  Miller takes the time to also really make the reader feel the war has dragged on ten years despite massive time jumps.

 

Overall, The Song of Achilles despite following a plot that is genuinely legendary, it’s not one that I wish to spoil for those who perhaps have not read it.  It’s not necessary to read The Iliad to enjoy it, the scope is much larger than The Iliad, but it is a song that will be sung for the ages.  10/10.