Patroclus


Character Source Material: Illiad, The (Epic Poem attributed to the Greek Poet, Homer)


Patroclus, Achilles' closest companion in the Iliad, remains a figure shrouded in the shadow of the great warrior. Though details of his upbringing are scarce, whispers suggest a shared childhood with Achilles, possibly raised by Achilles' father, Peleus, hinting at a deep and long-forged bond. The Iliad portrays him not as a mere sidekick, but as a loyal and level-headed friend, a stark contrast to Achilles' rage-fueled volatility. Patroclus possesses a quiet strength and a genuine concern for his fellow Achaeans, evident in his attempts to console a grieving Achilles and his own anguish at the mounting losses. However, a spark of recklessness flickers beneath his loyalty. When he dons Achilles' armor and charges into battle, it's a decision fueled by both a desire to defend the Greek camp and a yearning to prove himself, ultimately leading to his tragic demise. Patroclus remains a compelling figure – a loyal friend wrestling with his own desire for glory, forever bound to Achilles in life and tragically, in death.


5 Factor Personality Summary for Patroclus

Trait Percentile Trait Disposition
Neuroticism 68.86 Average
Agreeableness 87.1 High
Extraversion 1.85 Low
Conscientiousness 63.88 Average
Openness 4.44 Low
personality chart
Link to full personality profile report.



5 Factor Personality Items and Responses for Patroclus

This section displays the detail item responses that were used to generate the above personality summary. The methodology for selecting the item responses for this fictional character involved using research from a generative artificial intelligence tool to summarize a descriptive response to a question related to each item. The research was reviewed and a judgement was made on the most appropriate response on that item. You can view an example script for collecting these responses (see: Script for Automated Five Factor Assessment)

Trait Item Item Response Item Score AI-Generated Research*
Openness Do not have a good imagination. Moderately Accurate 2

Moderately accurate. Patroclus is often seen as more practical and level-headed character, especially compared to characters like Achilles. The focus of his character is more on his compassion, bravery, and loyalty, rather than his creative or imaginative prowess. That being said, the absence of direct evidence doesn't necessarily constitute lack of imagination, but based on available information, it might be moderately accurate to say that Patroclus does not have a 'good' imagination.

Openness Am not interested in abstract ideas. Moderately Accurate 2

Moderately inaccurate. Patroclus displays interest in abstract ideas through his actions and interactions. Although primarily known for his role as a warrior, Patroclus often ponders on themes of mortality, honor, and the destructive power of pride. This shows a engagement with abstract concepts. However, compared to other characters like Achilles or Odysseus, his character might be perceived as somewhat less philosophical or introspective, hence the rating of 'moderately inaccurate' rather than 'very inaccurate'.

Openness Have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. Moderately Inaccurate 4

Moderately inaccurate. Patroclus is a character who is portrayed as intelligent and capable of interpreting complex situations. While the epic poems typically revolve around the physical battles and political maneuverings of the Trojan War, Patroclus' insights and advice to his friend and companion, Achilles, often reflect a deeper understanding of the human condition and the abstract concepts related to honor, pride, and mortality. Certainly, the medium of ancient epic poetry can lack the nuance of modern characterization, and interpretations can vary depending on the reader. Nevertheless, it would seem moderately inaccurate to say that Patroclus has difficulty understanding abstract ideas.

Openness Have a vivid imagination. Moderately Inaccurate 2

Evaluation: Moderately Inaccurate. Explanation: Patroclus doesn't notably show a broad range of imaginative capabilities. While he is portrayed as emotionally intelligent, caring, and courageous, the texts focus much more on his practical involvement in the Trojan War than his imaginative or daydreaming side. He is loyal to his comrades, particularly Achilles, and is often involved in direct action, strengthening the observation that he tends to be more oriented towards the external world rather than inner imaginative processes. However, given the limitations on psychological investigation due to ancient texts, this should not rule out the possibility of some degree of imagination.

Neuroticism Seldom feel blue. Moderately Inaccurate 4

Moderately Inaccurate. Patroclus is portrayed as a compassionate, empathetic man who frequently shows deep feelings and concern for others. He feels tremendous sorrow for the destruction and death caused by the Trojan War. Further, Patroclus’s death is one of the most emotional and devastating moments in the 'Iliad', suggesting he was not immune to feeling 'blue' or sorrow. Given these emotional aspects and sensibilities, it is moderately inaccurate to state that Patroclus seldom feels blue— he was, as per the epic, prone to sadness and empathetic sorrows as a direct result of the war and his relationships.

Neuroticism Am relaxed most of the time. Moderately Inaccurate 4

Moderately inaccurate. Patroclus is portrayed as a brave and loyal character who was often found in the midst of war. Because of his close relationship with Achilles, and the constant tension and violence in his environment, he was frequently involved in stressful situations. Thus, it would not be accurate to state that he is relaxed most of the time.

Neuroticism Get upset easily. Moderately Inaccurate 2

Moderately inaccurate. Patroclus is portrayed as a composed character who does not get upset easily. He is Achilles' closest companion and is often portrayed as gentle and compassionate, calming Achilles when he becomes irate. While he does show deep emotion, especially when friends are hurt, he generally exhibits restraint and does not get easily upset. Patroclus' sudden rush into battle, which leads to his tragic end, is an exception and results from seeing his comrades in pain - not from a quick-tempered personality.

Neuroticism Have frequent mood swings. Moderately Inaccurate 2

Moderately inaccurate. Patroclus did not exhibit frequent mood swings. His character is often depicted as compassionate, gentle, and steady, making him a consistent source of support for his best friend, Achilles. Although the general melancholic setting of the epic may have occasionally affected his character's mood, he is not inherently characterized by mood instability or frequent mood swings.

Conscientiousness Make a mess of things. Moderately Inaccurate 4

Moderately inaccurate. Patroclus is not often depicted as someone who messes up things. He is shown to be a competent and brave companion to Achilles, one of the greatest warriors of the poem. Indeed, he is trusted by Achilles to wear his armor and lead his Myrmidons into battle, which is a testimony to his abilities.

However, he does disobey Achilles' explicit instructions for him to only push back the Trojans, not pursue them. When Patroclus disregards these instructions and gets carried away by success, he makes a fatal error and gets killed by Hector. Therefore, it might be argued that his disobedience creates a mess in this particular instance.

Nevertheless, this one act should not overshadow the entirety of his character and abilities. The death of Patroclus triggers a significant turning point in the Iliad, prompting Achilles to re-enter the battle and eventually leads to the fall of Troy. Therefore, even his 'mess' ends up contributing significantly to the overall war effort. Thus, while Patroclus does make a significant mistake, it would be moderately inaccurate to broadly categorize him as someone who often makes a mess of things.

Conscientiousness Often forget to put things back in their proper place. Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate 3

There isn't sufficient information available to make a determination about his organizational habits. Therefore, my assessment would be 'neither inaccurate nor accurate'. The epic poems mostly portray Patroclus as a loyal and brave warrior whose character is usually defined in relation to the battlefield and his relationships with other characters, like his best friend Achilles. The texts do not provide specific insights into his daily habits, such as the way he organizes his belongings.

Conscientiousness Like order. Moderately Accurate 4

Moderately accurate. Patroclus favored order. Patroclus is depicted as a calm and compassionate figure, more inclined towards saving lives than taking them in the chaos of war. His characteristics indicated discipline, making him possibly value orderliness. However, not much is explicitly stated about his liking for order in the texts, hence the 'moderately accurate' rating.

Conscientiousness Get chores done right away. Moderately Accurate 4

Moderately accurate. Patroclus is often seen as responsible and diligent, generally fulfilling his duties as a warrior without delay. However, the nature of those responsibilities are primarily related to warfare and companionship to Achilles, not necessarily chores in the modern understanding. It's extrapolated that if tasked with 'chores' or duties, he would approach them promptly thanks to his character traits of being dutiful, loyal, and reliable.

Agreeableness Am not interested in other people's problems. Very Inaccurate 5

I would say this is 'very inaccurate'. Patroclus is depicted as a nurturing figure in Greek Epic Poems. He consistently shows concern and compassion for others, even making the ultimate sacrifice out of consideration for another person's problem - in this case, to protect and aide his friend, Achilles, in the Trojan War. This clearly shows that he's deeply invested in other people's problems.

Agreeableness Am not really interested in others. Very Inaccurate 5

Very inaccurate. Patroclus is consistently characterized by his empathy, compassion, and care for others, particularly his close companion, Achilles. He is shown to be interested in the welfare of the Greek soldiers during the Trojan War and often acts out of a need to help others. His decision to wear Achilles's armor and battle the Trojans, for instance, stems from his desire to save the Greek army from disaster, emphasizing his engagement and interest in others.

Agreeableness Feel others' emotions. Moderately Accurate 4

Moderately accurate. Patroclus is often described as compassionate and empathetic towards others' feelings. He is a devoted friend to Achilles and is deeply moved by the suffering of his Greek comrades. His decision to enter the battle in Achilles’ place demonstrates his deep concern for others, and he shows empathy for the warriors who are being killed. However, the text does not provide a detailed analysis of his internal emotions in response to others', mainly focusing on his actions and words. Therefore, while we can conclude that he is generally attuned to others' emotions, it would be 'moderately accurate' rather than 'very accurate' due to these limitations in the source material.

Agreeableness Sympathize with others' feelings. Very Accurate 5

Very accurate. As a close companion of Achilles, Patroclus is consistently presented as a compassionate and sensitive individual who empathizes deeply with the suffering of others. This is especially evident in the way he pleads with Achilles to allow him to go into battle on his behalf to relieve the suffering of the Greeks. Similarly, he shows sympathy towards the wounded Greek soldiers, providing them with medical care and comfort. These character attributes indicate that Patroclus has a high level of empathy - he not only recognizes and understands others' feelings, but actively seeks to alleviate their pain and suffering.

Extraversion Keep in the background. Moderately Accurate 2

Moderately accurate. While Patroclus is seen more as a supportive character, especially in relation to Achilles with whom he shares a deep friendship, it is not entirely accurate to say he prefers to keep in the background. Patroclus does engage in battle, offers advice to Achilles, and even wears Achilles' armor at a point, showing bravery and initiative. However, he does not seek the limelight or leadership as much as other characters, such as Achilles or Agamemnon, thus making the statement moderately accurate.

Extraversion Don't talk a lot. Moderately Accurate 2

Moderately Accurate. He does not have as much dialogue or as many soliloquies as other central characters such as Achilles or Hector. He's not entirely silent, but his speech and thoughts are less numerous and less detailed. However, when he does speak, his dialogues are deeply meaningful and important to the narrative, especially his interactions with Achilles. It is also important to note that the characterizations of figures in epic poems can depend greatly on translation and interpretation.

Extraversion Talk to a lot of different people at parties. Moderately Inaccurate 2

Moderately inaccurate. Patroclus is not specifically described as someone who talks to lots of different people at parties. Patroclus is depicted as gentle, kind, caring, and an important companion to Achilles. The text does not provide explicit information about him being social or outgoing at parties. However, he is shown to have interacted with others on a number of occasions generally in the context of the Trojan War, but these circumstances are not representative of a social party setting. Thus, saying that Patroclus talks to lots of different people at parties would be moderately inaccurate based on the limited information.

Extraversion Am the life of the party. Very Inaccurate 1

Patroclus is presented in the literature as a loyal and compassionate character who prefers the companionship of his close friend Achilles, instead of large social gatherings. He is known for his kind heart and caretaker role, more than being the center of attention or entertaining a crowd. His character is deeply empathetic and more serious, which don't typically align with the characteristics of someone who is described as the 'life of the party.'

* AI-Generated Responses are text output captured from entering an item-related question for this character into a generative AI model such as Chat-GPT, Google Gemini, or Anthropic's Claude. For example, a question for the item "Like order" would be "Does <Character Name> like order?".