So while I was writing Somewhere West of Eden, I started thinking more about this comparison I have with Enzo and Cesare being like Achilles and Patroclus (specifically the dynamic in the book Song of Achilles).
For those who have not read that book or the Iliad—don’t worry I haven’t actually read the Iliad either because my TBR list is way too long already and it’s a little buried under other titles—I’ll give a briefing on the dynamic.
Patroclus, son of King Menoetius, seen as stupid, weak, and an overall failure of a son, is exiled from Opus as a boy after he accidentally kills another young boy (noble) in self defense. He first sees Achilles before this, however, at—what I believe was—the Olympic Games. His father watches with envy as king Peleus celebrates Achilles victory in a race, saying that that is a real son.
After the exile though, guess where he’s sent— NONE OTHER THAN PHTHIA, HOME OF KING PELEUS AND ACHILLES! The king takes him in along with other boys to train for his army.
Child labor on some real shit, yes, I know.
He’s initially resentful of Achilles perfect nature, how everyone flocks to be near him, hear him speak, to speak to him. He’s resentful of his grace and beauty and constant talent in everything he does. But somehow, someway, Achilles finds him pleasant and requests his father to make him his squire after finding Patroclus hiding away instead of training, much to literally everyone’s disbelief.
They grow close, and Patroclus begins to find he doesn’t hate Achilles for his incredible attributes anymore. Rather he’s falling quickly in love with them, in awe rather than in envy.
I find these bits to remind me increasingly of Cesare and Enzo, the more I think about them. Cesare came to his uncle’s home when he was just a boy, just as Pat came to Peleus’.
Cesare begins to be intimidated by Enzo’s talent, piety, beauty, and easy charisma, especially when his uncle favors him so obviously, just as Patroclus feels bitter about Achilles’ divine presence and how Patroclus’ father favors Achilles and yearns for a son like him instead of ‘good for nothing’ Pat.
But as Enzo continues to enjoy and seek out Cesare’s company, claiming him as a dear friend in spite of everyone knowing he’s so much better than Cesare, he quickly comes to love everything about Enzo as he spends time with him, just like what I mentioned about Patroclus and Achilles.
And if Cesare were to die when he and Enzo are together, I’m positive that Enzo, perfect, beautiful, serene, god-graced Enzo would grieve so violently and hysterically for ‘good for nothing’ Cesare that he loved so dearly and that loved him just as much. Just as Achilles did for Patroclus.
In the books, Achilles cuts his hair in mourning after having grown it out for so long. I’m not sure if I’ve made a post about this—think I have but I’m not sure—but I like to think Enzo grew his hair out once he was free as a symbol of his freedom and all good things that come with it, so it only makes sense that, heart shattered and splintering painfully in his chest, he would sloppily crop his hair.
And just as Achilles did, he would act recklessly and rely on his own untouchability in dangerous situations to make it out alive, not caring if he lives or dies. But those same things Cesare grew to love so deeply about him just keep Enzo alive as they always had. Until…maybe something happens. And he knows it’s coming and feels it and hears it and fucking smells it like rot in the air, but he closes his eyes and lets it come and bares his throat like a lamb laid out for slaughter, a fox done fighting the snare, a leveret who refuses to run from the hound another minute.
And that would be that, just as it was centuries before.
So yeah Iammm kind of ecxited for the newe dlcxcccc…..
