In the beginning of Homer's The Iliad, Achilles is arguing with Agamemnon over a girl. Since Achilles does not get what he wants, he decides to leave the battle that they are in. However, this is no small battle, this is the Trojan War. Achilles' action shapes the outcome of the battle, for the next fifteen or so books, with the Greeks losing. One can conclude, after reading The Iliad that Achilles is so self-centered …showed first 75 words of 653 total…

…showed last 75 words of 653 total…warrior but many people do not believe that he was a good person. Russell Baker believes that Achilles was the "yuppie" of his time. Homer also portrays a dislike for Achilles in his telling of the epic. Achilles can be seen as many different things: a child, a yuppie, a monster, a killing machine, etc. However, Achilles' input in the Trojan War, according to Homer, was indeed instrumental in the defeat of Hector and Troy.