Character Relationship Analysis - Patroclus, the Traveler and the dog analogy
Story Fifty Hollow Ships Masterlist [here] Analysis Masterlist [here]
Important: In this essay, I will refer to the reader as the Traveler, as other characters do.
Note: This analysis focuses on Patroclus’ feelings toward the Traveler. While I may make brief comments on the Traveler’s relationships with other characters, this essay is not centered on those.
In the newest chapter of Fifty Hollow Ships: Swift-footed Achilles, the scene of the Traveler playing with the dogs reveals a great deal—not only about Achilles’ recent discovery and his torn feelings toward both the reader and his destiny, but also about the relationship between the Traveler and Patroclus. It shows how Patroclus perceives them, which in turn is extremely telling of his own character.
In Chapter 3: Swift-footed Achilles, when Achilles begins to feel troubled by his growing feelings toward the Traveler and the care he feels for them, he asks Patroclus what appeal he sees in her, to which Patroclus replies:
“The very nature of the Traveler pleases me. […] Furthermore, the Traveler is far more pleased by me, than by you” (Poly, ch.3)
Here, I want you to remember two main things he comments on: The nature of the Traveler and how she feels toward both him and Achilles.
Targeting the second point: the Traveler’s feelings toward Achilles and Patroclus. From this chapter, we learn that, from Achilles’ perspective, Patroclus takes on the role of the Traveler’s “protector.”
“He can sense Patroclus move to speak, always your protector, before he stops him with a hand. [...] Patroclus gazes upon him with a troubled expression. For once, Achilles wonders if this is the moment he and his long-term companion will fight for the first time in their entire lives. Patroclus shakes his head, turning his expression away. He leaves the tent in silence.” (Poly, ch.3)
We can also mention that Achilles is fully aware that the Traveler is afraid of him and prefers both Patroclus and the woman—especially Briseis—over him. However, since this is a Patroclus–Traveler analysis, I will refrain from overanalyzing Achilles and the Traveler’s relationship.
But it’s not only that Achilles is aware that Patroclus acts as the Traveler’s protector because they fear him—it’s also that Patroclus genuinely believes the Traveler is afraid of Achilles. In fact, it’s logical to conclude that Patroclus takes on this protective role because he truly thinks Achilles might hurt the Traveler. This is evident in the mistaken “first escape attempt.”
“Achille’s rage soars like a bird when you are brought to him, clinging to her like burrs from a burdock plant. You are unhurt, but your gaze refuses to meet his. You are led to him like a naughty child, too guilty to face his wrath. […] He places himself between Achilles and the women, blocking his view of you. The red fades from his vision, as his friend and companion settles a hand on his shoulder. “My Lord, […] The traveler had gone to the river to fetch forgotten tunics. I highly doubt the girl planned to use the cover of Nyx to flee.” […] “Please show leniency on the poor soul’s being." The thought had not crossed the mind of Achilles. He was troubled you had been stolen away from him by men of the night. He was troubled it had been your Mother-God, Queen of all mortals who will be buried under the Earth. She had taken you back to the underworld, and he would never see your being. ” (Poly, ch.3)
While Achilles’ initial thought was that the Traveler’s Mother-Goddess had taken her away, Patroclus immediately interpreted it as her fleeing— away from Achilles. In fact, it’s likely that Achilles’ anger wasn’t directed at the Traveler at all, but at everyone and everything else. Yet, even Patroclus—his closest companion, his other half—fails to recognize the true source of his rage as he rushes to protect the Traveler and explain the situation.
I also believe it’s important to re-evaluate the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, as the presence of the Traveler seems to have changed Achilles’ character—something that might also impact their relationship. However, this will be analyzed another day.
Targeting the first thing I had commented on; the Traveler's "nature” part. When asked again by Achilles the reason behind his affinity for the animal (re: Patroclus dogs) he says:
“Dogs are far simpler than man. [...] They do not request much care. You merely feed them and bathe them, and you are within their hearts until the last breath they inhale. [...] The only language the dog has is touch.” (Poly, ch.3)
While this can easily be overlooked as Patroclus trying to make Achilles understand the liking he has for the dogs, it can be used as an analogy with the Traveler.
The Traveler does not speak the language nor do they fully understand what is going on and they mostly can communicate with touch and body language to show how they feel.
We can actually see in this chapter how receptive and important for Achilles is to touch and body language, as he can not fully understand the Traveler's “barbaric” language. He feels jealousy when Brises kisses the Traveler's cheek and he turns away–not wanting to see more–, how he clings to the Traveler in their sleep or how the Traveler eyes become “like moons” when she looks at him. So to an extent we can say that the reader language is touch
The last part Patroclus mentions—“The dog-only language is touch”—reminds me of an earlier scene in Chapter 2: Ocean Rising.
The wounded Patroclus scene.
While The Traveler reflects on the coincidence of them dyeing their hair and arriving in ancient Greece, Patroclus appears with a wound, saying:
“Σκέφτεσαι πάρα πολύ. Μιλήστε πολύ λίγο.” (Poly, ch.2)
Translation: “You think too much. Talk too little.”
After he is bandaged and attempts to explain to the reader that they are about to travel by ship, we see a struggle with language, to what the end he says:
“Μακάρι να ήξερα τι έλεγες. [...] Νομίζω ότι θα πλήρωνα όλο το χρυσό του κόσμου για να μάθω τα λόγια σου. [...] Κρίμα που δεν μπορούν να αγοραστούν τα πάντα με κέρματα.” (Poly, ch.2)
Translation: “I wish I knew what you were saying. [...] I think I would pay all the gold in the world to know your words. [...] Too bad you can't buy everything with coins.”
He can’t communicate with the reader through words; he has to resort to miming to explain something as simple as traveling by ship—just as a dog can only communicate through touch.
Finally, we also know from this [ask], the Poly answer a couple of months back that Patroclus might feel a bit of envy and resentment toward Achilles as both are often compared, and only one of them is a demi-god.
“I would love to explore him [Patroclus] and Achilles relationship cuz i don’t think love was the only thing that existed. Yes patroclus loves his bestie, his comrade, his— buuuut I can’t help but feel there would be a tiny bit of resentment constantly being compared to the man who is basically a Demigod. I am so so eager to explore that envy within Patroclus, especially when it comes to how they interact with their new bride prize (aka you LMAO)” (Poly, 50HS ask)
So, the fact that the MC rather spends more time with Patroclus than with Achilles makes Patroclus feel better about himself, for once he has beaten Godlike Achilles.
With all of this in mind, we might safely assume that Patroclus does, in fact, see the MC as a dog (affectionately, I’d like to think). After all, he doesn’t have to do much to earn their affection—he simply needs to be nicer (not kinder) than Achilles, which, to be honest, isn’t a very difficult feat, as “[dogs] do not request much care.”
However—and this might sound outlandish—he brought his dogs with him to feel the simplicity, because he would be “swept into a different culture and language.” Do you know who else was swept into a different culture and language? The Traveler. And do you know who else is away from home? Patroclus.
I know that the Traveler works as a self-insert, and a big part of the appeal of this type of stories is that you feel special—as the characters care for you for no specific reason.
Especially in stories with this type of character [re: yanderes] they become obsessed just because or with little to no plot reasoning– as it was always meant to be that way. Adding to this idea that they are obsessed with you because there is something special about you.
In this case however, the well-founded character's interest in you comes from their belief that you are the favorite child of the Dread Goddess Persephone. There is also the fact that Poly's writing them makes them feel like real people– with real struggles and emotions, whose actions make sense.
So, keeping the realistic nature of the characters in mind, why would Patroclus keep fixating on the fact that the Traveler likes him more than Achilles? Sure, I mentioned the desire to finally surpass the godlike Achilles, but why the Traveler? Why not anyone else? Why not Briseis?
Before The Traveler came into the picture, Briseis occupied the role that The Traveler now fills. So why not Briseis? Did he know that she would fall for this act? Or does he genuinely like the Traveler?
This leads to the supposition that, knowingly or unknowingly, Patroclus is also a “dog” for The Traveler. He longs for simplicity while being “swept into a different culture and language,” and he too, can only communicate with the Traveler through touch. It could even be argued that he is more of a dog than the Traveler, since the Traveler relies on Patroclus more than he relies on her.
“They do not request much care. You merely feed them and bathe them, and you are within their hearts until the last breath they inhale.” (Poly, ch.3)
He, too, does not request much care from the Traveler—just the baseline that she likes him more than Achilles. And that, consciously or not, creates his desire not only to be “within their hearts until the last breath they inhale,” but also for the Traveler to remain within his heart until his last breath.
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