A review by aradeia
Heracles' Bow by Madeline Miller
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It almost feels silly to review this, because it's pretty much the length of a oneshot on AO3, but woah was it good.
I don't spend much time thinking about Heracles. I spend less time thinking about Philoctetes. I've never thought to consider their relationship, or Philoctetes' story. To me, it was just one of those add-ons to the Iliad I sort of rolled my eyes at.
But Madeline Miller made me very interested. Their relationship is fraught. I can feel Philoctetes' anger and frustration at being a more famous man's companion (and not even the most famous companion at that), mixed in with his abiding love for this man he found so incredible, and his grief, and his guilt.
Philoctetes was the only one brave enough to put Heracles out of his misery when he was dying from poison in his blood. Or maybe Philoctetes was the only one who loved Heracles enough, Heracles the man, to help him die. What a thing to live with. It's no wonder Heracles' voice haunts him throughout the story.
And then the ending was excellent. Where Philoctetes helped Heracles end his suffering, no one bothered to help him when he was poisoned himself. He's left to suffer to death on an island. The afterthought of a concluded myth, waiting for the story to need him again.
I don't spend much time thinking about Heracles. I spend less time thinking about Philoctetes. I've never thought to consider their relationship, or Philoctetes' story. To me, it was just one of those add-ons to the Iliad I sort of rolled my eyes at.
But Madeline Miller made me very interested. Their relationship is fraught. I can feel Philoctetes' anger and frustration at being a more famous man's companion (and not even the most famous companion at that), mixed in with his abiding love for this man he found so incredible, and his grief, and his guilt.
Philoctetes was the only one brave enough to put Heracles out of his misery when he was dying from poison in his blood. Or maybe Philoctetes was the only one who loved Heracles enough, Heracles the man, to help him die. What a thing to live with. It's no wonder Heracles' voice haunts him throughout the story.
And then the ending was excellent. Where Philoctetes helped Heracles end his suffering, no one bothered to help him when he was poisoned himself. He's left to suffer to death on an island. The afterthought of a concluded myth, waiting for the story to need him again.