Antisocial personality disorder: a new heel for Achilles?

Classical literature can provide a unique insight into health, disease, andthe practice of the healing arts in another time and place. Recent reportshave discussed medical and psychiatric disorders in celebrated writings,including a discussion of cardiovascular disease in The Adventures ofSherlockHolmes1 and aproposal of a personality disorder in the biblical figureSamson.2 Theanalysis of instances in which literature and medicine converge is of interestboth in itself and because it allows our current understanding of diseaseprocesses to be placed into historical context. On the premise that artimitates life, in this essay, I focus on a literary figure who meets all seven(numbered below) diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder: theGreek warrior Achilles. The Iliad ofHomer,3 based on theAchaean (Greek) siege of Troy in the 12th century BCE, is essentially thestory of the anger of Achilles and its repercussions. His irritability andaggressiveness (criterion 1) and reckless disregard for safety (criterion 2)during battle are notable features of his character that enabled the earlysuccess of the Greek forces. Indeed, Achilles “hastes to murder, with asavage joy,/Invades around, and breathes but todestroy.”3(24.54-55)However, Achilles becomes enraged and displays impulsivity and failure to planahead (criterion 3) when he threatens to attack the Grecian commanderAgamemnon during a trivial quarrel over a captive maiden: “His heartswell'd high, and labored in his breast;/Distracting thoughts... prompt hishand to draw his deadly sword,/Force through the Greeks, and pierce theirhaughtylord.”3(1.252-256)His hand is stayed by the goddess Athena, but Achilles impulsively vows“... thy blood, when next thou darest invade,/Shall stream in vengeanceon my reekingblade.”3(1.398-399)Indulging his wrath, Achilles then withdraws himself and his potent Myrmidonwarriors from battle. This demonstrates irresponsibility and a failure tohonor his obligations (criterion 4), giving to “passion what to Greeceheowes.”3(11.899)He is deceitful (criterion 5) and appeals to his mother (the sea nymph Thetis)to conjure a monsterto3(1.530-537) drive the Grecian train, To hurl them headlong to their fleet and main, To heap the shores with copious death, and bring The Greeks to know the curse of such a king: Let Agamemnon lift his haughty head O'er all his wide dominion of the dead, And mourn in blood that e'er he durst disgrace The boldest warrior of the Grecian race. In Achilles' absence, the Trojan forcesrally3(5.981-984): Once from the walls your timorous foes engaged While fierce in war divine Achilles raged. Now issuing fearless they possess the plain, Now win the shores, and scarce the seas remain. Achilles clearly lacks remorse for his actions (criterion 6), as“calm he looks on, and every deathenjoys,”3(11.813) With what disdainful eye Achilles sees his country's forces fly; Blind, impious man! Whose anger is his guide, Who glories in unutterablepride.3(14.159-162) Achilles is offered generous gifts to “check [his] anger and be trulybrave”3(9.339)and return to battle. However, the “sons of Greece [... cannot] excitecompassion in Achilles'mind,”3(11.800-801)and he spurns honorable reconciliation. Valuing his pride above the plight ofhis countrymen, the selfish Achilles continues to sulk: “my wrongs, mywrongs, my constant thoughtsengage.”3(16.72)Achilles' behavior is starkly contrasted by that of Hector, the champion ofTroy, who shows great empathy and courtesy toward his opposition: “Butlet us on this memorable day exchange some gift that Greece and Troy maysay,/Not hate, but glory, made these chiefs contend;/And each brave foe was inhis soul afriend.”3(7.362-365) Later, Achilles allows his friend Patroclus to lead the Myrmidons back intobattle in his stead. Patroclus drives the Trojans back but is struck down byHector. Achilles mourns the death of his friend and returns to war forretribution. He routs the Trojans and, after chasing him three times aroundthe city walls, deals Hector a fatal blow. With his dying breath, Hectorentreats Achilles: “Ah, leave me not for Grecian dogs to tear... thecommon rites of sepulturebestow.”3(22.344-345)Achilles refuses, then “his fell soul a thought of vengeance bred,(unworthy of himself and of thedead).”3(22.495-496)Showing an abject failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawfulbehavior (criterion 7), Achilles drags Hector's corpse behind his chariot inview of the mourningTrojans3(24.83-86): Lo, how his rage dishonest drags along Hector's dead earth, insensible of wrong! Brave though he be, yet by no reason awed, He violates the laws of man and god. Interestingly, Achilles also easily meets criteria for narcissisticpersonality disorder. His arrogance, lack of empathy, and sense of entitlementare clear from the discussion above. In addition, he states that “Jovehonors me and favors mydesigns”3(9.717)and believes he is owed “honor and fame atleast.”3(1.464)Achilles also shows strong traits of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder(fixation on honor and revenge as well as excessive mourning of Patroclus) andschizotypal personality disorder (a curious tendency to speak in iambicpentameter.) It is instructive to surmise psychiatric disease in history and rewardingto study the confluence of medicine and the humanities. This particular caseof psychopathologic disorder, the root of a tragic hero's fatal flaw, may havehad a profound effect on both historical tradition and literature. Althoughthe Greek forces eventually prevailed, the war was lengthened, and its tollwas greatly magnified by Achilles' behavior. Of course, a speedy victory wouldlikely have obviated the invention of the Trojan horse and may, indeed, haveeliminated the subject matter for Homer's subsequent Odyssey.