Before Achilles can go out to meet Hector in battle he must rouse the other Achaean troops. This preempts a meeting and reconciliation with Agamemnon. Achilles is in no mood for words. He briefly calls for an end to the feud and for a mobilization of the troops. Agamemnon, however, takes the opportunity to deliver a speech that would make a Washington politician proud. It is a long, vaguely related story about how gods can be deceiving. From this, he concludes that he was led astray by a god when initiating the fight with Achilles. Thereby, the selfish leader absolves himself of all guilt. Still with all the magnanimity he can muster, he offers gifts to Achilles as recompense. Achilles is unmoved. He only asks that they move to battle quickly.

The sincerity of Achilles juxtaposed with the pompous displays of Agamemnon is striking. As a reader, we have followed the arc of Achilles, from the incitement of his feud to his decision to move on. He has evolved into a better hero and decided to not allow his emotions to blind his judgment. Here is a man who is now prepared to die to avenge his friend. His political games are through. Agamemnon, meanwhile, is flat and dislikable. Still self seeking, he only cares how he appears to the rest of the Achaeans. There is no mistaking his performative, disingenuous apologies.

Achilles has changed, but the world he inhabits has not. Often, this is what a resolution is. It is not that the two interested parties each achieve a metamorphosis. Instead it is Achilles deciding that the games Agamemnon plays are not worth joining.