"Achilles, a remorseful myrmidon"

Achilles’ heel maybe everyone’s connotation of Achilles. It is the weakness of the latter but also he is a ruthless and revengeful warrior, who will do anything for glory and power.

As Achilles chases Apollo, he said, 


“…I’d make you pay,

If only I were powerful enough”

(22.28.29.220)

Achilles showed how competitive he is while talking with Phoebus Apollo.  He really boasted and showed off to the god. With his words, he expressed a lot of courage and fierceness.

            Also, Achilles ended up a lot of lives. It is evident to King Priam’s words to Hector how Achilles slays his victims. King Priam expressed his fears as a father to Hector through his words to the latter.

           

“… And then my heart might shed

               its dreadful sorrow, for he’s taken from me

               many valiant sons. Some he’s butchered.

               Others he’s sold in islands far away.”
               (22.57-60.221)

This makes Achilles prove that he has a blood of a myrmidon running through his veins. It does not just end there, the victims of the former make the dogs eat the one he kills. He said, 

“…-the same dogs I raised

at home beside my table to guard the doors.

They’ll drink my blood, then lie there at the gates, 
(22.90-92.221)

 It is felt in the King’s dissuasions to Hector. He knows that the ruthless warrior will let the corpse of his victim be eaten by the ravenous dogs and let it in the gates.

            What a terrific ending of life! Achilles made more nerve-wracking deeds when he finally killed Hector. 

           

            “Achilles finished. Then on noble Hector’s corpse            

              he carried out a monstrous act. He cut through

              the tendons behind both feet, from heel to ankle,

              threaded them with ox-hide thongs and then tied these

              onto his chariot leaving the head drag behind.

              He climbed up in his chariot, brought on the splendid armour,

              then lashed his horses. They speed off eagerly,

              dragging Hector,”
               (22.512-519.231)

Not only because he is a myrmidon that is why he did that to Hector, but because of what Apollo did, he let Hector kill Patroclus who is a cousin to Achilles.

Thus, Achilles is truly a myrmidon that is ruthless and revengeful. His mindset is on the war and he has a heart of stone.

Reference:

            Ramirez, Veronica E. English Across Continents.

Makati City, Phils. :Diwa Learning System Inc. 2010 Print

INFERIOR WOMEN in the PAST, BETTER WOMEN NOW and in the FUTURE!

‘Women are never stronger than when they arm themselves with their weakness.  ~Marie de Vichy-Chamrond, Marquise du Deffand, Letters to Voltaire”

WOMEN contributed a lot to the society; we even had a FILIPINA president. The mothers in our homes make our day complete by showing their care and love for us. One name entered in my mind, Ms. Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez. She mirrors how the Filipinas take care of others and how they sacrifice to be a blessing to others. Like Melchora Aquino and other Filipinas, she imparted a lot to the society especially to the needy ones.

As I read the article from http://www.cdm.aim.edu, I was inspired that she was the one who lead to the projects concerning with saving the environment of our country like the “Pasig River rehabilitation” and “No to mining in Palawan”. She is received an award for International Public Relations Award of Excellence for the Environment and Outstanding Manilans because of one of her environmental projects, the Bantay Kalikasan. I see myself in her after how many years. I want to have many foundations to help like her. Based from http://www.synergos.org, she does not only focus on the environment but also with the schools and the education of the children. I was amazed when I read that she developed the science TV show, Sine’skwela, for alternative learning material for us. One of her most well-known foundation is the Bantay- Bata which really helped a lot of the abused children since then. Gina Lopez uses her profit not only for herself but also to help the society. She may become a role model to others that no matter how much money one will have, there is no excuse to help others and become a blessing. As the past sees WOMEN, they see them inferior but now, things are changed. It is not about the gender anyway; it is how one will prove the things he can do.