Ransom

Part 3

Priam’s journey begins and the setting opens up to reveal the plains of Troy, a rough landscape that is relatively unfamiliar to Priam. The voice of Somax, the carter. is first introduced as he expertly navigates his way through the land, unaware of the significance of what he is undertaking. Naturally he is a hesitant observer, unsure of how he should behave but as the journey progresses, Somax settles naturally into the role of teacher and takes the dominant role in the partnership, observing that ‘it was clear no orders were to be expected from that direction… if they were to move forward it was up to him’ (Part 3). Conversation flows easily as Priam is educated about the lives of the common people and he reverts to being a child again, experiencing the wonders of common life once more – ‘ It was as if you [Priam] had found yourself [himself] peering through the crack in a door… and saw clearly for a moment into the fellow’s life, his world…’ (Part 3).

As the journey continues, the conversions naturally turn to fatherhood and Priam discovers that he has become a figurehead to his children, and they in turn ‘formal and symbolic’ (Part 3). This discovery only drives Priam further toward the encampment and they encounter the god Hermes, disguised as ‘Orchilus’ one of Achilles’ men. He guides the men safely to the camp and the chapter comes to a close.

Part 3 Quotes

He was a rough fellow, this companion he has chosen, with no notion, so far as he could see, of what was proper, but he did not know his way about, and there was so much simple modesty and goodwill in the man, and so much tact in the way he made his suggestions, that Priam found nothing objectionable in him. (Priam on Somax) Part 3

Of course these things were not new in themselves. The water, the fish, the flocks of snub-nosed swifts had always been here, engaged in their own lives… but till now he [Priam] had no occasion to take notice of them. They were not in his royal sphere. (Part 3)

It had never occurred to him that the food that came to his table so promptly, and in such abundance, might have ingredients… all that had been none of his concern. (Priam) Part 3

He knew too what it was to lose a son. He had lost so many in these last months and years, all of them dear to him – or so he had told himself. (Priam) Part 3

If he really was the celestial joker – messenger, thief, trickster, escort of souls to the underworld – where were they heading? (Priam on the god Hermes) Part 3

Part 4

The climax of the story occurs in the second to last part of the novel: the meeting of Achilles and Priam. Somax is shifted to the sidelines of the narrative and Achilles emerges, a perfectly crafted model of grief and rage. He has isolated himself from his men, his mind plagued with bitter memories of Patroclus’ death. Achilles experiences a vision, which he first mistakes for Patroclus and then of his father, Peleus, but it is the bedraggled Priam that has appeared before the warrior. Reflecting on the memories he has of his father, Achilles is moved by the visit even after he ascertains that it is Priam. Priam introduces himself and admits he has made the journey, ‘just as you see me, just as I am, to ask you, man to man, as a father, for the body of my son’ (Part 4), which unnerves Achilles but also opens up an opportunity for Achilles to recall his own son Neoptolemus.

During their exchange, Achilles experiences a vision of Priam’s death at the hands of Neoptolemus and he agrees to release Hector’s body, but only after the body has been washed and prepared. This catharsis is just what is needed for Achilles to be ‘freed’ (Part 4) and to begin to heal, and he experiences a ‘cleansing emotion’ (Part 4) even whilst the king of his enemies is near. They dine together quietly, neither knowing what to speak to the other, then finally Priam and Somax leave, the body of Hector strapped securely to their cart.

Part 4 Quotes

The man is clearly not his father but for half a hundred beats of his heart his father had been truly present to him, and he continues now to feel tenderly vulnerable to all those emotions in him that belong to that sacred bond. (Achilles initially thinks Priam is his father when he visits) Part 4

Achilles is intrigued by this by-play between the two old men, who belong to such different worlds – the humility of one, the awkward shyness of the other… (Achilles observing the comfortable connection between Priam and Somax) Part 4

‘Think what it would mean to you, Achilles, if it was his [Neoptolemus’] body lying out there, unconsecrated after eleven days and nights in the dust.’ (Priam to Achilles) Part 4

Part 5

On the journey home, Priam is no longer in awe of the beauty of the landscape but finally sees the country in its true light, the ‘charred stumps of an olive grove and a dozen smoke-blackened roofless huts’ (Part 5) devastated by war. Priam stops the cart and spends a moment grieving over the body of his son, this is the first time he has been allowed to see the body of his boy and express the raw emotion a father might feel having lost a son. Despite the ominous feeling in Priam’s gut that lets him know his death is near, he is a ‘man remade’ (Part 5) and feels, despite the outcome of the war, that he emerges ‘triumph[ant]’ (Part 5).

The narrative shifts forward in time, when Neoptolemus strikes Priam down in a frenzied attack. The shame Neoptolemus feels after slaying Priam mirrors the effect his father experiences after killing Hector, indicating the ongoing trauma caused by war and the cyclic ramifications of the human psyche.

In a bittersweet finale, the last remaining character is Somax. He is the keeper of this story, which will be doubted by all who hear it until it passes into legend.

Part 5 Quotes

After his moment of turmoil, Priam has settled. The air is fresh and clear. The cart rolls along at a good pace now, lighter than on the journey out. This is triumph. (Part 5)

He [Priam] has done this and is coming home, even in these last days of his life, as a man remade. (Part 5)

The bronze-haired avenger of his father’s death [Neoptolemus], already filled with the fierce light of the future, is at sea and sailing fast for Troy. A child of time, he knows already that the last days of this story belong to him. (Part 5)