Chapter Sixteen

Summary

• The chapter begins with Achilles and the narrator arriving in Phthia, where a huge crowd of people await them at the shore, cheering for Achilles upon their arrival.
• Achilles is greeted with joy and enthusiasm by his people, and he is viewed as a legend and hero.
• Peleus, Achilles's father, welcomes his son and introduces him as the future leader who will guide them to victory in Troy.
• The narrator has a sense of dread and foreboding, knowing that Achilles will not return home alive from the war.
• Within the palace, their presence ignites excitement and anticipation among the attendants and servants. The narrator feels alienated as Achilles is constantly needed for advice and leadership.
• Achilles, despite the overwhelming responsibilities and attention, tries to involve the narrator and reassures him of his importance.
• The narrator often escapes to solitude, tormented with thoughts of Achilles' inevitable death.
• Achilles confesses to the narrator that he asked his mother to protect the narrator after his foreseeable death, but she declined.
• A significant amount of time is spent preparing for the war, purchasing top-notch armor and equipment, and recruiting able-bodied men.
• Peleus passes on a special spear to Achilles, a gift from Chiron, their centaur mentor. This spear is a symbol of the love and thoughtfulness of Chiron, and a reminder of Achilles' destiny.
• Finally, the day of departure arrives. Achilles, the narrator, and the soldiers embark on their journey to Troy, leaving behind Achilles's father, Peleus. They have a heavy heart knowing the sacrifice that awaits Achilles.