Final answer:
Achilles was hidden by his mother to prevent him from fighting in the Trojan War, but was exposed when he reached for weapons Odysseus presented. His life, shrouded in myth, was marked by elements of fate and personal destiny that ultimately led him to his role as a legendary warrior in the Trojan War.
Step-by-step explanation:
To avoid fighting in the Trojan War, Achilles was hidden by his mother who dressed him in women's clothing and placed him among the daughters of King Lycomedes. Despite his mother's efforts, Achilles was discovered when the wily Greek hero Odysseus, disguised as a peddler, managed to lure Achilles out of hiding with a display of weapons. The sight of the weapons revealed Achilles’ true nature and enthusiasm for warfare. His passionate grab for the arms made it clear that he could not escape his destiny as a warrior.
Achilles' life was shrouded in myth from the beginning. His mother, to grant him invincibility, dipped him in the River Styx. However, his heel, by which he was held, was not submerged and became his only vulnerable spot. This same Achilles' heel would later lead to his death during the Trojan War. Achilles' prowess as a warrior was such that he had special armor made by the god Hephaestus, and after his death, this armor became the subject of a great dispute between Greek heroes.
The tale of Achilles exemplifies the interplay of fate and human action. Achilles' fateful grab for the weapons at a moment of revelation illustrates how, despite our attempts to alter destiny, our true nature eventually prevails, leading us inexorably towards our destined path.