# Patroclus — Discourses character guide

> Patroclus in Discourses by Epictetus.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0004-i-of-the-things-which-are-in-our-power-and-not-in-our-power

## Who they are

Achilles' companion, used to discuss friendship and loss.

## In the story

### [XI: Of Natural Affection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xi-of-natural-affection)

Mentioned as the companion whose death prompted Achilles' lamentation, illustrating that the cause lies in opinion, not the event.

### [X: What Things We Ought to Despise, and What Things We Ought to Value](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/x-what-things-we-ought-to-despise-and-what-things-we-ought-to-value)

Mentioned as a friend whose death Achilles mourned, illustrating attachment to externals.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/patroclus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters