But you see, Crumb, it is hard to give up what you have worked at since you were a boy. There were some Italian visitors once, they were cheering us on, Brandon and myself, and they thought that Achilles and Hector had come back to life. So they said.'But which is which? One dragged through the dust by the other ...The king says, 'You turn your boy out beautifully. No nobleman could do more.''I don't want him to be Achilles,' he says, 'I only want him not to be flattened.
The quote reflects the struggle of letting go of something that one has dedicated their life to, highlighting the deep connection between the individual and their work. The mention of Italian visitors cheering emphasizes the honor and excitement surrounding their achievements, drawing a parallel to mythological heroes. The dialogue captures the tension between aspiration and the desire for stability, where being celebrated is overshadowed by the fear of failure.
The royal figure expresses a wish for his son to avoid the pitfalls of greatness, as symbolized by the characters Achilles and Hector. Instead of wanting his son to be a legendary hero, he hopes he will simply be able to stand on his own, avoiding the harsh judgment of others. This sentiment resonates with the fear of loss that accompanies success and the protective instincts of a parent. It reveals a nuanced understanding of ambition and the weight it carries.
