lade” (18. 36-38). Achilles once again speaks of killing himself as he passes from depression into the stage of anger. “My spirit rebels—I’ve lost the will to live, to take my stand in the world of men—unless, before all else, Hector’s battered down by my spear and gasps away his life, the blood-price for Patroclus, Menoetius’ gallant son he’s killed and stripped!” (18.105-109). In anger the grieving person may be furious at the person who inflicted the hurt, much as Achilles was towards Hector. Achilles also briefly passes through the stage of bargaining when he is having a conversation with his mother, Thetis. “ ‘You’re doomed to a short life, my son, from all you say! For hard on the heals of Hector’s death your death must come at once—‘ ‘Then let me die at once’—Achilles burst out, despairing” (18. 111-115). In this passage Achilles is bargaining for the revenge of Hector and willing to offer his own life for this revenge. Once Achilles passes through the stage of bargaining he then again passes into the stage of Anger. He now begins to blame himself for what has occurred. “ since it was not my fate to save my dearest comrade from his death! Look, a world away from his fatherland he’s perished, lacking me, my fighting strength, to defend him” (18.115-118). And finally, Achilles begins to accept what has happened when he states, “Enough. Let bygones be bygones. Done is done. Despite my anguish I will beat it down” (18.132-134). The anger, sadness and mourning has tapered off and Achilles briefly accepts the fact that his dear friend is gone and he can not bring him back. Homer demonstrates each stage of grief when Achilles looses Patroclus. This is amazing when you think about the fact that this was first written in the late eighth century B.C. and it still holds true today. This proves that ...
