Summary
Achilles and Patroclus quickly become friends, and Patroclus begins to develop an odd feeling about Achilles: a feeling that is like fear in its strength and like grief in its quickness, but buoyant. He no longer feels any shame at losing, for who could be ashamed to lose to such a beauty as Achilles’? The only place he does not follow Achilles is to see his mother, Thetis.
In his second spring on Phthia, at 12 years old, Patroclus is summoned by Thetis. She is threatening, reminding Patroclus that Achilles will be a god and Patroclus will soon die. Privately to Patroclus, Achilles admits that he doesn’t know if he wants to be a god, but he does want to be a hero. The boys, too young to dwell, race off to eat figs.
In the coming year, all of the boys grow, and they begin either raping or seducing the serving girls in Peleus’s palace. Achilles avoids women, who are sometimes pushed on him by his father, and they do not appeal to Patroclus at all. Patroclus begins to have sexual thoughts of Achilles, and on one of the finest days of summer, Patroclus kisses him; Achilles, face unreadable, runs away. Thetis finds Patroclus immediately and informs him that she saw—she sees everything—and that Achilles is leaving. The next morning, Achilles leaves to be trained by the centaur Chiron.
Patroclus decides to follow Achilles, leaving even his mother’s lyre behind. He follows Achilles to Mount Pelion, where he discovers Achilles is waiting for him to catch up. Chiron, though mildly annoyed at Achilles’ delay, accepts Patroclus as Achilles’ therapon and gives both of them a ride up the mountain on his back. Patroclus is interested in Chiron’s surgery tools, and Achilles asks about his musical instruments. Chiron promises to teach them what he knows. He informs them that Thetis has sent a message: If the son of Menoitius follows Achilles, Chiron is to bar him from Achilles’ presence. Chiron asks Achilles if he considers Patroclus a worthy companion, and Achilles is sure that he is; when Chiron asks Patroclus if he is worthy, Patroclus is unsure. Chiron allows Patroclus to stay on Mount Pelion.
Chiron teaches the boys everything that piques their curiosity: forestry, biology, hunting, botany, cooking, medicine, astronomy, history. At night, Achilles plays the lyre—Patroclus’s mother’s lyre; Patroclus is moved that he brought it with him. The days pass quickly. One morning, Thetis appears and confronts Patroclus, furious, but Chiron intervenes. Chiron informs Patroclus that Thetis will be visiting more often to check on Achilles, and while Patroclus tells himself he doesn’t begrudge her visits, he stays around Chiron when she is near.
Winter comes, and as the boys grow restless, Achilles asks to learn how to fight. After watching them at drills once, Chiron tells Achilles that he is the greatest warrior of his generation and all generations before. Chiron can teach him nothing, merely asking what Achilles will do when he is asked to fight in men’s wars. Achilles does not know the answer. Patroclus, on the other hand, will never gain fame from his fighting. When Chiron asks if he’d like to learn anyway, Patroclus declines, and that is their end of lessons in soldiery.
Achilles’ birthday comes and goes with luxurious presents from his father. Seasons change; two years pass. Now 15, Achilles admires the changes in Patroclus’s body, telling him he would “not be displeased” with how he looks. Patroclus is flustered.
At almost 16, Patroclus continues to have no feelings about women. He is captivated instead by Achilles, and he begins to sneak away in the mornings to masturbate, which brings him shame—both the act and the thoughts about Achilles that come with it. The boys continue to grapple and roughhouse nevertheless, enjoying summer and freedom. On Achilles’ 16th birthday, Patroclus picks him fresh figs and carves a wooden sculpture of Achilles playing the lyre. When he returns from his meeting with Thetis, Achilles reveals that Thetis cannot see him on Mount Pelion. Achilles kisses Patroclus, and they have a sexual encounter, and then again the next morning. Lovemaking becomes part of their regular routine. Patroclus worries about Chiron, Peleus, or Thetis being angry. Achilles, unbothered, declares that he will be the first hero to be famous and happy, asking Patroclus to swear to it—because Patroclus is the reason.
Interrupting their bliss, a messenger from Peleus asks Achilles to return to his father’s court—there is a messenger from Mycenae with news. Achilles and Patroclus reluctantly leave, expecting to return in a few days. Chiron is less sure, asking Achilles again what he will do when men ask him to fight. Patroclus and Achilles return to Phthia.
Analysis
This series of chapters develops the romance between Patroclus and Achilles over the span of over four years, emphasizing the importance of privacy for love to flourish. Mount Pelion provides a comfortable place for the boys to explore their feelings without Thetis watching. As they eat figs, swim together, and become young men, the mutual admiration between them develops into a loving sexual relationship.
On Mount Pelion, Achilles and Patroclus are educated, but not in fighting. Chiron instructs them in many things that bring them joy, but when it comes to combat, he can’t teach Achilles anything, and Patroclus has no interest in learning. What will happen in war is already decided, and perhaps was decided by prophecy before they were even born; what happens around war is shown to be important here, as Patroclus enjoys his idyllic years in the sun.
Chiron is less carefree about this period, encouraging Achilles to consider what he will do when men come to him, asking him to fight for them. While Achilles doesn’t have an answer on Mount Pelion, the reader knows what his answer must be—the book includes the Trojan war. The dramatic tension unites the reader with Chiron, who seems to know what’s coming for Patroclus and Achilles.
Chiron introduces the allegory of Heracles and his wife Megara, who Hercules kills in a fit of madness. This is one of many recurring references to stories of men who have things taken from them—the other most notable being the story of proud Meleager—that foreshadow Achilles’ position when Agamemnon takes Briseis, as well as the difficulty he will have dealing with that insult to his honor. Patroclus killed Clysonymus when he tried to take his dice, and he is a man essentially without pride, so for Achilles it will be much harder.
Patroclus swears a second oath in this section, promising Achilles that he will be the first hero to be famous and happy. This oath, unlike his oath to go to war to protect Helen’s union, doesn’t come true. While human oaths are important, they can’t change fate (though Patroclus and Achilles do a good job of putting it off).
