The elderly and frail King of Troy, Priam is initially described as regal and respected. However, he is ruling over a kingdom that he knows is doomed to destruction. In response to the murder of his son, Hector, he decides to strip himself of all that distinguishes him from the average peasant, and travel to Greece to ransom the body of his son. Priam undergoes a massive character transformation from a father who only associates with his children through tradition and ceremony, to a man with a deep compassion and concern for others. He goes from a King who is accustomed to having others speak for him, to a man who can express his own raw emotions in order to recieve his son's body for proper burial. As the novel's protagonist, Priam's transformation is vital to the overall message of Ransom.
