Steven manipulates Paris with flattery

Paris’s sword is central to the duel with Steven, serving as both a weapon and a symbol of his martial authority. Initially drawn to confront Steven, it is later sheathed as Paris abandons the fight, distracted by flattery. The sword’s presence underscores the shift from physical combat to psychological manipulation, as Steven’s words disarm Paris more effectively than any blade could. Its retrieval by Paris marks the transition from battle to his self-satisfied escort of Steven toward Troy, signaling his prioritization of personal validation over martial duty.

The plain outside Troy serves as a contested battleground where the Trojan War’s brutal realities are on full display. Here, Paris seeks Achilles to prove his worth, and Steven stages his deception to infiltrate the city. The open, dusty expanse amplifies the tension between martial conflict and psychological maneuvering, as the clash of swords gives way to the clash of words. The plain is a liminal space—neither fully Troy nor the Greek camp—where identities and loyalties are fluid, making it the perfect stage for Steven’s ruse. Its vastness and exposure heighten the stakes, as any misstep could mean death or capture.

The Greek Forces are indirectly represented through Steven’s false identity as Diomede and his references to Odysseus and Achilles. Their influence looms over the interaction, as Paris’s decisions are shaped by his perceptions of Greek strategy and hierarchy. Steven’s deception taps into the Greeks’ reputation for cunning, using it to manipulate Paris into abandoning his pursuit of Achilles. The Greeks’ broader goal of infiltrating Troy is advanced through Steven’s actions, as his capture by Paris serves as a Trojan horse of sorts—an opportunity to gain access to the city from within.