MADELINE MILLER dissects the central hero of Homer’s Iliad in her novel The Song of Achilles. The Iliad, one of the oldest works of Greek literature, recounts the end of the Trojan War and the quarrels between King Agamemnon and the demi-god Achilles. While the classic is centered on themes of war, pride, and fate, Miller’s retelling delves deeper into the character's mind. However, not all readers were captivated when it was first released. As the novel has only recently gained traction on Tiktok, the novel became a New York Times Bestseller earlier this year—nearly ten years after publication. The book’s newfound audience find themselves entranced by Miller’s ability to anchor the story within our world and give new light to an old tale.

Public reception of the novel 

   While the Iliad is an epic poem centered on the war, The Song of Achilles takes a more modern approach to the classic tale by focusing on Achilles and Patroclus’s childhood. Even though the original story reduces Patroclus to a few lines, Miller’s reinterpretation brings him to life. Patroclus, an inept prince, is exiled as a child to the court of King Peleus in the Kingdom of Phitia. There, he meets young Achilles, son of King Peleus and the nymph Thetis. Throughout the novel, we see their friendship transform into romance as they face various hardships due to Achilles prophesied doom. Years down the line, Achilles is called to fight in the Trojan War and Patroclus follows. Part of what makes the novel so gripping is its tragic ending—as they each loose what they held dearest.  

   By exploring a new facet of the tale, Miller gave readers a more accessible gateway to the realm of Greek mythology. Greek mythologies are intimidating reads—its dense style, lyrical vocabulary, and countless pages are enough to turn a casual reader away. Classics have fostered an elitist reputation; however, adaptations such as The Song of Achilles have made Greek literature more appealing to a wider audience. One of the book’s unique appeals is that it does not require its audience to have prior knowledge of the myth, as it introduces Greek mythological figures independently from the narrative.

   The Song of Achilles's current success is surprising. Despite gaining some recognition after its publication, such as receiving the Orange prize for fiction in 2012, the book was cast aside by renowned book critics. The New York Times critic Daniel Mendelsohn claimed "the real Achilles heel of this book is tone—one made disastrously worse by the author's decision to metamorphose an ancient story of heroes into a modern tale of hormones[1]." Thus, the book was quickly buried under the myriad of Greek retellings that sprouted in the early 2010s. 

   While critics in the past had reproached Miller's portrayal of Achilles and Patroclus's same-sex relationship, today's generation praises it. The Song of Achilles captures audiences internationality, as it ranked in the top 3% of all books sales of Sinsaegae Mall[2]. With over 39 million copies sold within the beginning of 2021[3], The Song of Achilles has gathered a passionate fanbase. “The world of the gods is generally one of power, packed with cruel and violent hero stories. Yet, Madeline Miller's interpretation shows the voice of the weakest and most neglected,” commented Jang Eun-seo, the owner of a popular Bookstagram[4], in an interview with The Yonsei Annals. Jang sees The Song of Achilles’s compassion and humanity as the beacon that draws in readers who would otherwise be uninterested in the often gruesome world of the Greek Gods.

Familiar characters in a new light

   Miller’s focus on characters differentiates The Song of Achilles from other popular retellings of the Iliad. Firstly, Patroclus—overlooked in the Iliad—narrates the story. Under godlike Achilles's shadow, Patroclus is unremarkably human. Aware of this divide, Patroclus often sees himself as frail, unskilled, and estranged from Achilles's world. Yet, such vulnerability becomes uniquely refreshing when the readers are constantly surrounded by powerful demi-gods and kings. “He is really an ordinary person, [and shows] how ordinary people, even though they feel have no power in this larger world, can still make really important choices to try and make the world a better place[5],” said Miller while discussing about Patroclus in an interview. Since Patroclus takes a greater role within the story, the reader can take a new perspective on this seemingly "ordinary” character. As Achilles refuses to fight due to his pride, it is Patroclus’s bravery to replace him in battle that saves the Greek’s lives. Patroclus’s sacrifice, while great, was not of divine power but arose from human courage. On her website, Miller writes, “Most of us aren’t Achilles—but we can still be Patroclus.”

   In addition to this refreshing replacement of the Iliad’s main narrator, Miller redresses the relationship between the main characters. The unfiltered romantic relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is the main detail that deviates The Song of Achilles from other modern adaptations of the Greek classic. As Miller states, "their relationship is primary to the Iliad[5],” yet the nature of Achilles and Patroclus's bond has been the center of controversy. While the original text describes them as “close friends and confidants,” Plato and other Greeks go as far as depicting them as lovers. However, modern adaptations often discard the indications of their romantic relationship. For example, the 2004 film adaptation Troy depicted Achilles and Patroclus as cousins, using familial bonds to cast away any suspicions of romance.

   The erasure of Patroclus and Achilles’s love originates from modern discomfort with homosexuality. As Miller explained, the nature of their relationship is common knowledge between scholars. In fact, male homosexuality in ancient Greece was not as taboo as it is today, what mattered more was whether a person was more “submissive” or “dominant” in their relationship[6]. Only when men were found to fulfill the “submissive” sexual role did they face any negative social stigma[6]. Miller does not question Achilles and Patroclus’s romantic bond, instead, she goes along with Greek philosophers’s debates and tries to keep the character’s true to their initial bond[5]. 

   In an interview with Los Angeles Times, Miller claims she found proof of their relationship in Achilles’s grief. After Patroclus’s death, Achilles keeps Patroclus's cold body near him, unable to let him go, despite the horrified reactions of soldiers around him. Miller explains, "That sense of physical devastation spoke deeply to me of true and total intimacy between the two men." By placing homosexuality in the foreground, Miller broke the heteronormative preconceptions of the Iliad and brought a more genuine narrative to a larger audience.

Queer literature in modern society 

   Considering that South Korea has yet to legally recognize same-sex relationships, The Song of Achilles's massive domestic popularity is unexpected. Korean readers welcomed the retelling: "I did not find anything uncomfortable," said Jang, "I think queer literature has already established a significant presence in the Korean literary world and [that] Korean readers are relatively prepared to accept it." Considering LGBTQ+ rights are marginal, seeing queer literature flourish is a beacon of hope. In an interview with the Annals, Le Ming (Jr., UIC, Creative Technology Management), a member of the LGBTQ+ community, commented, "During my stay in Korea, I did feel uncomfortable being my authentic self.” Le sees the book’s popularity to be a good sign, “it can somehow allow people to be more open-minded and open to discuss issues without fearing being judged." Korea seems to be opening to the struggles of sexual minorities. Queer literature like the novel allows societal issues to be viewed beyond heteronormativity[7]. 

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   The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is unapologetic with taboo themes, all to hold true to the original Iliad. Even when faced with initial controversy and public backlash, the novel has withstood the test of time and has found its way back into the limelight. While Miller stays true to the original tale, she unwraps its subtext and gives readers a more intimate and relatable narrative. With the popularity of The Song of Achilles, queer literature seems to be expanding its reach to an increasingly accepting audience possibly marking a step forward into a new era of literature.

[1] The New York Times

[2] Sinsaegae Mall

[3] NPD BookScan

[4] Bookstagram: A book lover’s Instagram page, usually features pictures of their recent reads.

[5] Gay History with Tom Ranzweiler

[6] Acceptance through Restriction: Male Homosexuality in Ancient Athens

[7] Korean Literature Now