The Theme of Death in The Death of Patroclus

In the story ‘the death of Patroclus’, the central idea is the theme of death that is brought out throughout the story and supported by its setting which is a battlefield and the characters who are actively engaging in the war. The author of the story adequately uses similes as a tool to advance the theme of death. In the first paragraph, the author describes Hector, the leader of the Trojans, as a man who was shining in bronze like a star. The winner of a battle is often referred to as the star and this comparison of Hector serves as a forewarning that he will be the star in this battle. Eventually, he demonstrates his star-ness when he kills Patroclus thinking that it was Achilles.

The Greeks are likened to a pack of wolves who rushed from their huts in a bid to clash with their enemies on the edge of the plain. In a pack of wolves, all the key decisions are made by the alpha male and his female partner and the role of the junior wolves is to respect those decisions and do their part to ensure that the entire pack benefits. In a similar perspective, the author likens the Greeks to the pack of wolves because Achilles is representative of the alpha male who makes decisions together with Patroclus his dearest friend with whom they had traveled together from Greece. Achilles makes all the important decisions such as repentance of sin so as to amuse the gods, sending Patroclus to the battlefield and enquiring on the state of the army. In the end, his heroism as the lead warrior for the Greek army is seen when the Trojans think they have killed him and begin cheering only to find out that it was the young Patroclus who was dressed in a manner similar to Achilles.