This act shows Achilles as an angry young man. However, when he comes to his senses and realizes that a family has been hurt, he demonstrates a greater maturity in his actions. The transition from a raging boy to a mourning man represents spiritual growth on the part of Achilles. Disrespecting the body of Hektor also had another affect. Achilles may have felt that the death of Patroklos took away some of his power. By disrespecting the body of Hektor, he may have had an underlying motivation of attempting to regain his sense of power that was lost by diminishing the power of the opposition. Disrespecting the body of Hektor was also disrespectful to Hektor's family, who happened to be the king of Troy. It may have been a way of saying, "Look what I can do to you, and you can't stop me."

Achilles actions demonstrate an underlying hurt that is largely the result of his personal loss. However, there may have been more at stake,...

Achilles' actions were an outward expression of grief, but they were also a public demonstration of his political power. They sent a message to anyone else who may wish to oppose him that this could be their fate as well.
The action demonstrated to everyone watching that Achilles was capable of horrible acts against anyone crossed him. Achilles' actions were political, as much as they were an expression of rage over the loss of Patroklos. However, when Priam fails to approach Achilles in like kinds, it makes the acts of Achilles appear even more brutal. Juxtaposed against the diplomacy of Priam, it is questionable whether Achilles gained any of the political power that he wished.

Bibliography

Lawall, Sarah., et. al. (eds.), the Illiad. Norton Anthology of World Literature, 2nd ed., Vols. a-C. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. 2002.