Homer, throughout The Iliad, illustrates that although it can be difficult to reach, the rough road to compassion is noble and ultimately superior to the easier paths of anger and rage. In Book 22, Achilles demonstrates mindless rage as he desecrates the body of the Trojan warrior and son of King Priam, Hector. This violates Greek funeral rites, which say that a warrior of Hector’s status, like Patrokles before him, should receive a proper burial. Achilles’ rage over the death of Patrokles, however, prevents him from having compassion for a fellow warrior, namely Hector. Priam attempts to ransom his son’s body and, in turn, reawaken a sense of compassion in Achilles, who had become vengeful after his quarrel with Agamemnon and Hector’s slaying of Patrokles. He accomplishes this by supplicating himself and by reminding Achilles of the common tragedies that both men have suffered throughout the Trojan War. Priam helps Achilles regain his compassion and quell his anger that began after his quarrel with Agamemnon, festered throughout the poem and reached its pinnacle after the death of Patrokles. Thus, through the transformation of his main character and epic hero, Achilles, Homer is stressing the futility of rage and the importance of compassion in Greek society.

In Homeric Society, warfare and destruction dominate the lives of many citizens. During the Trojan War, many warriors, Trojan and Greek alike, die on the field of battle. These warriors are lauded for their strength, intelligence, and courage. When a great Homeric warrior dies, it is extremely important that they receive a proper burial according to Greek funeral rites. In Book 23, for example, the Greeks go to great lengths to prepare the body of Patrokles and give him a proper funeral. Achilles “set beside him two-handled jars of oil and honey leaning them against the bier, and drove four horses with