Queer Mythmaking in Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles: When Heroes Fall in Love (and Fall Apart)

By Noa de Kievit
In classical Greek epics, heroism is traditionally defined through martial glory, public recognition, and the pursuit of immortal fame. In The Song of Achilles (2011), however, Madeline Miller reimagines this tradition by shifting the focus of the Trojan-war myth from battlefield triumph to emotional intimacy and queer desire.

Book of the Month: ‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller

Many are already familiar with Achilles, either from hearsay or from reading Greek mythology. The Song of Achilles is a retelling of the Iliad, but written from the point of view of Patroclus. Patroclus, for those who do not know him, was Achilles’ lover.