I read The Song of Achilles (2012) after We Have to Talk about
Kevin (2005). Shriver is more memorable and forceful than Madeline
Miller. I selected the novel as an attempt to have some more depth in
classical literature when going off tangent with my Latin scholar son.
Somehow I think he regards my efforts as “Homer for Dummies.”
So why would Miller rewrite or
update the story of the Trojan War? Is her intent to compare and
contrast this Middle East war with the more current ones; to display
cultural DNA; to show that base motives and degeneration into petty
vanity is inevitable? When I read the write up on the Orange Prize
website, it mentioned that Miller threw out her first attempt after five
years of writing. Her “do-over” was to emphasize the voice of
Patroclus, Achilles boon friend and homosexual lover. So is she
intentionally overlaying a gays in the military theme? Where does one
draw the line on revisionist history?
But are the writings of the
ancient Greeks factual or mythical or hybrid? Why does my son want his
family, friends and students to read these classics, if possible, in
their original tongue? Are these Greek warriors patriot models for the
current world? Do we admire them as military role models, national
heroes, literary prototypes? Does this version of Achilles loving
Patroclus tarnish his reputation at the expense of making him more
identifiable to a contemporary audience?
Sorry, the re-write doesn’t work
for me. Yes, it is better than the epic Troy movie which strikes me as
so much computer animation and sweating muscles. But Miller’s book
imposes too much of personal motivation speculation rather than the call
of honor, nation and valor.
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