Manipulation of Desires in The Iliad

In Book IX of The Iliad by Homer, Agamemnon gives gifts to Achilles to get help. Therefore, Agamemnon tries to bribe Achilles into following his agenda. By giving specific gifts to fulfill personal desires, apparent weaknesses are opened up in an attempt to manipulate them. The first desire, sex, targets instinct and is represented by the gifts of women; the second desire, pride/honor, targets ego and is represented by political power and control over cities; the third desire, wealth, targets motivation and is represented by gold and money. All these desires can be manipulated in order to attempt to gain a certain goal.…