Malouf's Ransom explores the brutality of war and how it can result in the loss of humanity for some, as the pain of loss overrides all other senses. The bloodlust and thirst for revenge evident in the thoughts and actions of Achilles and Hecuba highlight the ravages of war on the human condition, and particularly for the former, how the roles established by a deterministic universe can exacerbate it. However, the novel suggests that inhumanity is not necessarily perpetuated and that the capacity for new thoughts gives rise to the opportunity to transcend one's pain, as reflected in Priam's vision of "something new". Consequently, the king's new experiences with Somax highlight that one's humanity can be restored through the intervention of another. In turn, Priam's appeal to Achilles and their bond of mutual fatherhood despite being traditional wartime adversaries demonstrates the possibility that unprecedented compassion exists even in the most uncertain of times. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The reality of war lies in death and the resulting pain, which often tends to override the capacity for understanding and sympathy. In the "rough world of men" and war, the loss of his soulmate Patroclus sees Achilles' ability to experience human emotions be replaced by his desire for revenge. Achilles is therefore inclined to see Hector as the "implacable enemy", underlining his inability to see him as anything other than an object for his retaliation. His role as a warrior influences this as he is traditionally expected to see Hector as nothing more than his adversary. Instead of seeing him as a man like himself, Achilles dehumanizes Hector and, as a result, the latter's desecration of his body exceeds Greek standards, "[breaking] every rule they live by", and thus loses his own humanity. The cyclical nature of the mutilation and subsequent restoration of Hector's body highlights that Achilles is trapped in a futile quest for revenge due to his grief, and despite killing his enemy, this paradoxically results in his own spiritual death. Likewise, Hecuba's expression of pain through violent gestures reinforces the characters' tendency towards bloodlust in the face of profound pain. Like Achilles, he dehumanizes his enemy by calling him a "jackal", demonstrating his inability to regard Achilles as a man, let alone show any compassion. Although she states that she would "rip out his heart and eat it raw", this only supports her inability to grieve properly due to his violent inclinations. In this way, the harsh realities of war push some to express their grief in ways that ultimately lead them to lose their humanity. Malouf suggests that the new thoughts that arise despite traditional conventions during war are an opportunity for some to free themselves from the pain that has made them helpless. Priam, who feels limited by the default tendency to be Achilles' enemy because he is the leader of the opposing force, subjects himself to something "unprecedented." In the "struggle with dark thoughts", the king challenges his helplessness through the vision of a "blasphemous" idea that, despite being unheard of before, leaves his mind "clear", emphasizing that this idea has lifted a metaphorical burden from his shoulders. The king, embracing chance, has found a new way of thinking about his enemy: when he projects his desire for the "lighter bond of simply being a man" Priam realizes what Hecuba fails to see, that even Achilles must be inwait. the opportunity to act for himself to try something that might force events onto a different course'. Therefore, by projecting his own feelings onto Achilles, offering him the “chance to free himself from always being the hero,” Priam has taken the courageous step of connecting with his enemy as men, which highlights the need for compassion to be freed from traditional traditions.expectations. While Achilles also awaits a change, Malouf suggests that thoughts rebelling against the conventions of war strengthen the capacity to have pity for one another and also push us to understand that, like men, our enemies must also aspire to a similar liberation from the restrictions imposed on them by their destiny. In remembering his son's death, the Wagoner shows the ability to consider Bella's perspective (she was the agent of his death), reflecting that he "had no idea what he had done" before reacting to the situation. His initial inclination to '[punch] her where she stood' reflects the instinctive and violent response to loss that overwhelms the other characters in the text. However, the rhetorical question the carter asks is, “what would it have been for?” suggests that reflection and understanding can lead to a different reaction ("taking your head in my arms and sobbing"), and Malouf, juxtaposing this with the violent tendencies of Hecuba and Achilles, points out that toleration of another's actions has a more peaceful outcome, strengthened by Somax's retention of humanity compared to Achilles who, after desecrating Hector's body, is "like a dead man who feels nothing". Far from the world of war, Priam witnesses an "unprecedented" and new action in light of the usual and violent responses that occur in moments of pain. His emotional response ("his eyes watered") to the carter's placidity, in contrast to the "harsh world" to which he was subjected as king of a warring nation, emphasizes that Priam understood the importance of sympathy through the action of another. In this way, Malouf emphasizes that despite the brutality of war, one's insightful actions are capable of inspiring another's epiphany. Consequently, Priam's appeal to Achilles clashes with the traditional idea that the two must always consider each other adversaries. Approaching the warrior as a "father" rather than an antagonist, the king appeals to Achilles as "one poor mortal with another" in an attempt to connect with him outside of their enmity. In doing so, Priam challenges the traditional idea that they must view each other in terms of winning and losing, but rather should have "pity for each other's losses", stating that a mutual understanding can lead them to "free themselves from obligations". Priam's appeal through fatherhood "touches a sore spot" in Achilles, reviving his humanity and resulting in the opportunity for the protagonists to be compassionate towards each other despite their opposing roles. While this is a temporary connection, it emphasizes that while humanity may be lost, there is still the possibility that it will be restored with greater power than before, resting in its ability to defy the ravages of deep pain. Furthermore, the bond forged through sympathy pushes the protagonists to exercise free will in the face of a deterministic universe in an attempt to gain some control over their destiny. The resulting 11-day truce demonstrates that a fleeting power over their destinies allows the two protagonists to metaphorically "pause" the inevitable progression of fate, as the Greeks and Trojans mourn the dead before the ultimate destiny is fulfilled. Thus, to the inexorable destruction of Troy yes.