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Menelaus is a prince of Mycenae and Agamemnon’s brother. Paris steals his wife, Helen, from his kingdom, an incident that instigates the Trojan War. He seems to genuinely care about Helen—he eventually fights Paris for her return—but their marriage was clearly flawed, as he boarded her up in a palace that was more like a “fortress.” Menelaus is the softer version of his brother, diplomatic where Agamemnon is brash; he alone wants to start the war by sending an embassy to the palace, rather than with raids. Menelaus is also a skilled politician, constantly playing both sides in the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon. It’s implied that Odysseus and Diomedes want Menelaus to take over the army and are maneuvering to make it happen. Menelaus may or may not have a part in this coup, which never comes to fruition.
Menelaus Quotes in The Song of Achilles
The The Song of Achilles quotes below are all either spoken by Menelaus or refer to Menelaus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 20
Quotes
I listened to every word, imagining it was a story only. As if it were dark figures on an urn he spoke of instead of men […] I learned to sleep through the day so that I would not be tired when he returned; he always needed to talk then, to tell me down to the last detail about the faces and the wounds and the movements of men. And I wanted to be able to listen, to digest the bloody images, to paint them flat and unremarkable onto the vase of posterity. To release him from it and make him Achilles again.
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Chapter 22
Quotes
“She must have been willing, though. Menelaus' palace is like a fortress. If she had struggled or cried out, someone would have heard. She knew he must come after her, for his honor if nothing else. And that Agamemnon would seize this opportunity and invoke the oath.”
“So you think she did it on purpose? To cause the war?” This shocked me.
“Maybe. She used to be known as the most beautiful woman in our kingdoms. Now they say she's the most beautiful woman in the world." He put on his best singer's falsetto. "A thousand ships have sailed for her.”
[…]
“Maybe she really fell in love with Paris.”
“Maybe she was bored. After ten years shut up in Sparta, I'd want to leave too.”
“Maybe Aphrodite made her.”
“Maybe they'll bring her back with them.”
We considered this.
“I think Agamemnon would attack anyway.”
“I think so too. They never even mention her anymore.”
“Except in speeches to the men.”
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Menelaus Quotes in The Song of Achilles
The The Song of Achilles quotes below are all either spoken by Menelaus or refer to Menelaus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 20
Quotes
I listened to every word, imagining it was a story only. As if it were dark figures on an urn he spoke of instead of men […] I learned to sleep through the day so that I would not be tired when he returned; he always needed to talk then, to tell me down to the last detail about the faces and the wounds and the movements of men. And I wanted to be able to listen, to digest the bloody images, to paint them flat and unremarkable onto the vase of posterity. To release him from it and make him Achilles again.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 22
Quotes
“She must have been willing, though. Menelaus' palace is like a fortress. If she had struggled or cried out, someone would have heard. She knew he must come after her, for his honor if nothing else. And that Agamemnon would seize this opportunity and invoke the oath.”
“So you think she did it on purpose? To cause the war?” This shocked me.
“Maybe. She used to be known as the most beautiful woman in our kingdoms. Now they say she's the most beautiful woman in the world." He put on his best singer's falsetto. "A thousand ships have sailed for her.”
[…]
“Maybe she really fell in love with Paris.”
“Maybe she was bored. After ten years shut up in Sparta, I'd want to leave too.”
“Maybe Aphrodite made her.”
“Maybe they'll bring her back with them.”
We considered this.
“I think Agamemnon would attack anyway.”
“I think so too. They never even mention her anymore.”
“Except in speeches to the men.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
