Achilles as the Anti-Hero in Homer's "Iliad." Is Achilles' behavior justified, and does he change by the end of the story?

From beginning to end of Homer's The Iliad, Achilles is portrayed as a man stagnant in his ways. He is arrogant, impatient, unforgiving, vengeful, and extremely stubborn, and these awful attributes never cease. Achilles' lack of compassion perplexes the present situation involving the Achaens and the Trojans by making it difficult to figure out which side is truly good and evil--both sides have good reason to fight. Even though Achilles is set in his ignorant …showed first 75 words of 1115 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1115 total…Hector's father, Priam, is an act that is spawned only by the threats and commands of the gods. If Achilles had made the decision by his own free will to do an act of decency, perhaps then some sympathy for him would be in order. The Iliad offers insight into the mentality of men who are driven by greed, lust, anger, and revenge--themes that will run throughout the course of history until this very day.