How do Malouf and Frears represent ‘the ordinary’ in their texts?

I think the ordinary is portrayed through ageing. Throughout the novel, we are made very aware of the age of both Priam and Achilles. Achilles being young and in his prime is juxtaposed against Priam's being old and in the later years of his life. But instead of age being a bad thing, aging is seen as a privilege, and being old is a mark of wisdom. The tragedy surrounding Achilles is partially his knowledge that unlike Priam and Somax, he will never get to grow old as he should have. For Priam, the authority that comes with age is a large part of what enables him to conduct the ransom exchange and get back Hector's body.