Agamemnon's Dream, Thersites Address, and the Duel between Paris and Menelaos

     In response to Thetis plea on my behalf, Zeus agrees to have the Greeks temporarily suffer in light of Agamemnon’s dishonoring of me. His tactic was to send Agamemnon a deceitful dream giving him confidence that this was the right time to attack the Trojans. A council between all the chiefs results in Nestor’s approval of the dream. However, Agamemnon’s way of motivating the Greek warriors failed miserably. He tells them that they are going to abandon Troy and set sail for home, and immediately just about everyone bolted for the ships. The war would have perhaps ended here if not for wily Odysseus, through the help of Athena, to stall the rush for the ships, inciting hope and honor into the fleeing troops. Once the Greeks are reassembled Thersites, a commoner with no significance or authority, stood up to Agamemnon and his quarrel with me, as I’m still not fighting. Odysseus promptly rectifies this situation, humiliating Thersites to the pleasure of the rest of the Greeks. Odysseus, who has a status high enough to address Agamemnon, pleas that they stay until Troy is sacked once and for all. Otherwise all the loss of blood, sweat, and life, over the past nine years would’ve been for naught. Finally, Agamemnon approves that those who are eager to fight will stay, and he sends us off for a sacrificial offering to Zeus and feasting before preparing for battle the next day. When the armies are readying for battle on the plains of Troy, Paris comes forward with an offer to duel with Menelaos for the right to be with Helen. Paris is fairly cowardly and needed Hector to persuade him to do this. Meanwhile Helen is upon the walls of Troy with the Trojan elders, including Priam, who is questioning Helen about several Greek soldiers gaining insight into the Greek army. At last the duel had begun and neither could really gain an advantage at first. Eventually Menelaos seemed to take the lead and was closing in on the kill until Aphrodite rescues him, sending him to his room with Helen. Agamemnon feels the Trojans broke the agreement and the war should resume, while the opposite feelings side with the Trojans.  

     Even though Thersites, known as the worst of the Achaeans, may have been out of place, I believe he had some insightful things Agamemnon should concern himself with. I am the greatest Greek warrior and not fighting currently due to his lack of honor. If he could swallow the slightest bit of pride, I would be out there on the battlefield and maybe our army would be prevailing over the Trojans. None of the nonsense about a dream from Zeus or testing the spirit of the troops would have been necessary. Obviously he doesn’t have the pulse of the morale for his troops and his only concern is taking Troy so his name is remembered throughout history. But the one thing he’s overlooking is that Troy cannot be taken without me.