I like to think that after the âmy husbandâ scene in the book, Achilles was absolutely insufferable about it, calling Patroclus his husband whenever he could and really playing up the whole married woman thing while they were there lmao
The way that after Patroclus died, Achilles slept next to his corpse, fought a river God, butchered Hector and dragged his body around Troy several times with his chariot.
âHe is half of my soul, as the poets sayâ.
Patroclus literally was Achillesâ impulse control. He was the half with the empathy and the generosity and the immense kindness. When he died, all that was left of Achilles was a human weapon.
Literally how destructively beautiful is that. Imagine the depth of this love. *lets out a mental guttural scream and sob*
i will always wait. i will always follow. we will always find eachother.
Have you ever thought about the faith Achilles had in Patroclus? Achilles always waits for Patroclus.
Achilles waited for Patroclus to come to his palace. He waited for Patroclus to come closer to him to be his friend and right hand man. He waited for him to sleep together. He waited for their first kiss. He waited for Patroclus to reach him, for he was not going to leave with Chiron without him. He waited for him on the island of Skyros in order to be reunited one day. He waited for âhis husbandâ. Achilles waited to see Patroclus every evening or morning after the battle because he was his life breath. He hoped to be reunited with him because he was his home and safe place.
He waited for his return after Patroclus left in his armor for Troy. He waited for a sign or a message from his spirit. He wished that his wait would be short and that the gods would finally give his soul a rest so that he could be with Patroclus again.
He waited for Patroclus in the Underworld.
Achilles always hoped that Patroclus would find a way to be reunited with him. They are the eternal reunion.
So I just finished reading The Song of Achilles, and forgive me if I'm stating the obvious but . . .
About two thirds of the way in, Thetis tells the boys that there is a new prophecy, that "the best of Myrmidons will die before two more years have passed." And at first they're afraid that it's Achilles, but then Thetis tells them that he will be alive when it happens
The first time I read this, I didn't understand. It was only when I read that passage again, after knowing what happens, that I realized the prophecy was about Patroclus
The book even acknowledges it later on, when Briseis is saying goodbye to him . . . "'Best of men. Best of Myrmidons.' She places her fingers to my lips, stopping my objection. 'It is truth,' she says. 'Let it stand for once.'"
In the first half of the book, a lot of Patroclus's pov is dedicated to describing how beautiful and amazing Achilles is. And when you see how ordinary and pathetic Patroclus makes himself look in comparison, you almost start to wonder why Achilles loves him in the first place
But Patroclus was the best of all of them, even better than Achilles. No one else had his kindness, his tenderness, his unwavering care for others
And Achilles knew this. Further on, Briseis says that Patroclus was worth ten of him, and Achilles doesn't disagree
The true blasphemy of literature is the romanticization of romance. They make it beautifulâall soft words, and elegant linesâand enchanting, with magic sparkling in the margins.
And you can feel it in the depths of your soul, an unexplored ocean of laughter and tears and dreams all melded together.
The yearning of a kiss that brushes against the steady and so so warm pulsing beat of lifeâagainst the smooth skin of a lovers neck. The desperation to touch another being and feel that theyâre alive, right there next to youâright there, and never leaving.
To love and be loved is a jewel among treasures and all that we each seekâall that we each desire.
It burns and it burns and it burns.
âI would know him in death, at the end of the world.â
âCome home and break my heart, if you must.â
âOccasionally, Fate pulls itself together again and Time is always waiting.â
âAnd perhaps it is the greatest grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.â
âBy you, I am forever undone.â
âOne word from you shall silence me forever.â
âA heartâs a heavy burden.â
âMy sweet nemesis.â
âIf you have to go, you know I will go with you.â
and then?
and then.
The book is over.
And you remember that love like that doesn't exist.