Analyzing Phoinix’s Speech Part 1

1. Analyzing Phoinix’s Speech Part 1 By Meghan Elliott, Jay Corcoran-Shaffer, and Jose Morales

2. Summary In this passage, Phoinix responds to Achilleus’s refusal to accept Agamemnon’s apology. Phoinix makes a lengthy speech, attempting to convince Achilleus to return and fight for the Greeks. Phoinix relates his own life story with particular emphasis on how he came to be a second father to Achilleus. He then uses scenes of Achilleus’s childhood to invoke a feeling of guilt.

3. After talking about how he cared for Achilleus as a baby, Phoinix launches into a metaphor about prayer and ruin, and what happens if Achilleus doesn’t listen to prayer. Then Phoinix uses logic to persuade Achilleus, saying that Agamemnon is sending gifts and doing everything he can to satisfy Achilleus’s tîmé, so Achilleus should accept it. At the end of the speech, Phoinix is about to present an example of a similar case in their history to show Achilleus the decision of another person, who decided as Phoinix would like Achilleus to decide.

4. Context • Speaker: Phoinix • Speaking to: Achilleus • Events prior: Phoinix and a group of Achilleus’s friends went to Achilleus’s tent to try to persuade him to come back and fight. They brought gifts and an apology from Agamemnon. Achilleus refused angrily, and the speech Phoinix makes come directly after. • Events following: After Phoinix’s speech, Achilleus refuses again and invites Phoinix to stay with him for the night.

5. Purpose • Phoinix makes his speech to attempt to convince Achilleus to reconsider his refusal to fight for Greece. The army is losing, the Trojans are almost at the Greeks’ ships, and Achilleus still sits in his tent and does nothing. Phoinix is trying to convince him to accept Agamemnon’s apology.

6. Unfamiliar Words • Endearment: an expression of affection. • Entreaty: an earnest request or petition. • Maledictions: curses. • Pre-eminent: superior or notable above all others. • Rancour: long-lasting resentment. • Shambling: to walk in an awkward or lazy manner.

7. Similes • Lines 481-482: “…even as a father loves his own son, who is a single child brought up among many possessions.” This simile is made by Phoinix, who is comparing his relationship with Achilleus’s father to that of a father and his only child. The simile is used to add ethos and pathos to the speech; the connection to someone Achilleus respects with Phoinix adds ethos and the emotional implication adds pathos.

8. Metaphors • Lines 502-512: “For there are also the spirits of prayer, the daughters of great Zeus, and they are lame on their feet, and wrinkled, and cast their eyes sidelong, who toil on their way left far behind by the spirit of Ruin: but she, Ruin, is strong and sound on her feet, and therefore, far outruns all Prayers, and wins into every country to force men astray; and the Prayers follow as healers after her. If a man venerates these daughters of Zeus as they draw near, such a man they bring great advantage, and hear his entreaty; but if a man shall deny them, and stubbornly with harsh word refuse, they go to Zeus, son of Kronos, in supplication that Ruin may overtake this man that he be hurt, and punished.” • This metaphor is used to show what happens of a person if they don’t honor prayer, and therefore what will happen to Achilleus if he doesn’t reconsider.

9. Tîmé • Tîmé: used throughout, also the purpose of the speech is partially to satisfy Achilleus’s tîmé. • Ex.: Lines 496-497: “Then, Achilleus, beat down your anger. It is not yours to have a pitiless heart.” • This passage is meant to compliment Achilleus as well as referencing his anger which stems from his slighted tîmé.

10. Oikos • Oikos: In his speech Phoinix makes many references to oikos to add pathos to his argument. • The entire backstory is about oikos (Lines 438-495). • A specific example is lines 470-473: “Nine nights they slept nightlong in their places beside me and they kept up an interchange of watches, and the fire was never put out; one below the gate of the strong-closed courtyard, and one in the ante-chamber before the doors of the bedroom.” • This example shows something about Phoinix’s oikos and what he left behind, adding both ethos and pathos.

11. Philos • Philos: Shown in the relationship between Achilleus and Phoinix, as well as between Phoinix and Peleus. • Ex.: Lines 485-486: “…and, godlike Achilleus, I made you all that you are now, and loved you out of my heart, for you would not go with another…” • This is used to add pathos and make Achilleus feel guilty for disappointing Phoinix.

12. Agathos • Achilleus is an agathos, which Phoinix references in his argument. • Ex.: Lines 496-497: “Then, Achilleus, beat down your anger. It is not yours to have a pitiless heart.” • Phoinix says this to remind Achilleus of his responsibilities as an agathosand his true self as it was before the argument.

13. Ethos • A large part of this speech is focused on adding ethos to Phoinix’s argument. • The entire backstory is used to prove the ethos of the speaker. • Lines 524-528: “Thus it was in the old days also, the deeds that we hear of from the great men, when the swelling anger descended upon them. The heroes would take gifts; they would listen, and be persuaded. For I remember this action of old, it is not a new thing, and how it went; you are all my friends, I will tell it among you.” • In this passage, Phoinix uses an example of how great heroes reacted to a similar situation to the one Achilleus is facing. He uses this example to show that what he is saying is what great heroes would say, thereby adding credibility to his argument.

14. Logos • Most of Phoinix’s speech is based on pathos and ethos, but logos is also used. • Ex.: Lines 515-523: “Since, were he not bringing gifts and naming still more hereafter, Atreus’ son; were he to remain still swollen with rancour, even I would not bid you to throw your anger aside, nor defend the Argives, though they needed you sorely. But see now, he offers you much straightaway, and has promised you more hereafter; he has sent the best men to supplicate you, choosing them who to yourself are dearest of all the Argives. Do not make vain their argument nor their footsteps, though before this one could not blame your anger.” • Phoinix uses logic to show that accepting Agamemnon’s apology is the best choice for all concerned.

15. Pathos • Most of Phoinix’s speech is based on pathos. There is pathos in every part of the speech. • Ex.: At the beginning of the speech, it is said: Phoinix “spoke out in a stormburst of tears…” (Lines 432-433). • His tears were used to show how deeply he feels about the matter, as well as make Achilleus feel guilty.

16. More Pathos • Ex.: Lines 486-495: “…for you would not go with another out to any feast, nor taste any food in your own halls until I had set you on my knees, and cut little pieces from the meat, and given you all you wished, and held the wine for you. And many times you soaked the shirt that was on my body with wine you would spit up in the troublesomeness of your childhood. So I have suffered much through you, and have had much trouble, thinking always how the gods would not bring to birth any children of my own; so that it was you, godlike Achilleus, I made my own child, so that some day you might keep hard affliction from me.” • This example of pathoswas used to invoke extreme guilt and sentimentality, so that Achilleus would reconsider his refusal.