Preview

Hector and Achilles

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
872 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hector and Achilles
Hector and Achilles: protagonist and antagonist

“The lights of stars that were extinguished ages ago still reach us. So it is with great men who died centuries ago, but still reach us with the radiations of their personalities.” -Kahlil Gibran
Greek literature and mythology present two epic warriors in the Iliad: Hector and Achilles. The modern Greeks favored both heroes during their ancient time period. In Greek, Héktōr literally means “to hold” or “to have,” which symbolizes his character as he who holds everything together. On the other hand, the name Achilles represents a combination of “grief” and “a nation, people, tribe,” and this can be decoded as the sorrow of a nation. Achilles fights for the Greeks, while Hector defends the Trojans. Though the names Achilles and Hector have different meanings, the actual characters may be similar. When the adventures of Hector and Achilles collide, there is little distinction between their outward appearances; however, they have different identities.
The model of the chivalrous warrior is Homer’s Hector, prince of the Trojans. He is faithful to Troy during war when he exclaims, “I would die of shame to face the men of Troy and the Trojan women trailing their long robes if I would shrink from battle now, a coward. Nor does the spirit urge me on that way. I've learned it all too well. To stand up bravely, always to fight in the front ranks of Trojan soldiers, winning my father great glory” (Iliad 210). This proves his loyalty to fellow Trojans. One day it is recorded that no Greek can stand against him in battle. The valor of Hector sparks momentum in his warriors. Also, Hector demonstrates no fear as he battles Ajax, a massive Greek giant, and trades him blow for blow. Yet, as fierce and stout as Hector can be, he is also humane. He respects his elderly parents, shows compassion and remains an equal with his wife Andromache, and he is a kind-hearted father. A great example is depicted in the Iliad where Hector

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Achilles and Gilgamesh

    • 718 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Achilles was a warrior in the epic poem The Iliad written by Homer and Gilgamesh was a king in “The Epic of Gilgamesh” both characters are part man and part god. Achilles is the son of Peleus- the king of Thessay and Thetis- Goddess of the sea. Gilgamesh is called the son of Lugalbanda, king of Uruk, and the goddess Ninsun, Both of the main heroes share many similar characteristics, including a dynamic outlook on life and death, centered on the death of their closest friends. For Achilles he loses his cousin and closest friend Patroclus in a battle with Hector and Gilgamesh loses Endiku. They both chase fame and both go into battle against their perceived enemy.…

    • 718 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    A second characteristic that defines a hero in The Iliad is that they are generally honorable men and very respected by the people that surround them. Hector and Achilles are both strong and fearless soldiers, and…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iliad and Achilles

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hector and Achilles; the proud leaders of the Greeks and the Trojans dominate the battle field throughout The Iliad. Hector wins people's hearts, he is brave, strong, he cares for his family, he protects his people, and he leads his soldiers into battle! Achilles, on the other hand, is a cry baby, he stays in a corner when Agamemnon steals his slave girl and causes countless deaths on the Greek side. How can one argue that Achilles is a better leader when he acts so childish? To provide a base to my argument I will bring in some examples: Caesar: he conquered much of Gaul and Alexander the Great: he defeated the mighty Persian Empire. What do each of these leaders have in common? They won. A good leader will win, because at the end, winning is all that matters.…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Homer’s book The Iliad, Homer tells the story of the Trojan War with Achilles, the best Greek warrior. However, Achilles does not like Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae, because he took Briseis (Briseis was a woman that Achilles had received as a war prize). This is the reason why Achilles was raged at Agamemnon. In a rage, Achilles wants to kill all of the Trojans, especially Hector, the best Trojan warrior. Patroclus, Achilles’ best friend goes out to the battle field as Achilles (wearing his armor), trying to kill Hector but instead Hector kills Patroclus thinking he has killed Achilles. When Achilles finds out about this, he is very mad and goes out to kill Hector himself. When he kills Hector, he is very arrogant about it. Only after this happens does Achilles get Briseis back from Agamemnon.…

    • 680 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Both characters of Achilles and Hector show that they have a significant amount love. Despite being great warriors, the capability of love is still within their capacity. However, both men have different ways of directing and showing that love. Hector shows his love in a more traditional sense in that he is devoted entirely…

    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Greek mythology there is an innumerable amount of gods, most of which have a specialized function in both the realm of gods and humans. Yet, no god is more striking, more memorable, or more powerful than Zeus, the father of the gods of Olympus. His authority is far-ranging and definite; there is no revoking his command once it has been ordained. In the same fashion, there are hundreds of Greek heroes, yet there are none braver, stronger, or more wrathful than the swift runner Achilles who commands respect from all the Greeks and yields to no man. However, despite all their strength and authority, neither Zeus nor Achilles appears capable of eschewing or defying the omnipresent power that holds more sway than them: fate. Sans doubt, once a human is dealt his hand, there is nothing that he can humanly do in order to prevent his fate. As for the gods, with all their power and independence, they are still undeniably bound by the hands of fate. Fate is a peculiar phenomenon in that it has no limitations, yet it is a fixed occurrence that does not change over time or through the progression of different events that may influence it. Powerful men and gods such as Achilles and Zeus may do as their hearts and minds desire, because there is no one who can stop or defy them. Thus, the role of fate becomes clear, since fate is without desire or mind; its existence is to curb the ridiculous and emotional wishes of powerful beings who cannot be stopped otherwise.…

    • 1205 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Aeneid and Hector

    • 2672 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Hector, from the Iliad, and Aeneas, from the Aeneid, stand out as great warriors that show many traits of an epic hero. They obey the gods. They put others before themselves. Their motivation is their country and family, rather than personal glory. Hector and Aeneas remain faithful to the gods, acts out of unselfishness, and are strong in tough situations.…

    • 2672 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Achilles: God or Beast?

    • 1158 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Achilles is the main character, and, without doubt, the most complex character in Homer’s famous poem, The Iliad. Son of the goddess nymph Thetis and the king of the Myrmidons, Peleus, Achilles is a semi-god, known throughout and beyond Greece for his strength and fighting abilities. Stories on the epic hero Achilles are numerous, like the legend of Prometheus’, the fore thinker, prophecy regarding the birth of Thetis’ son, or the legend of Achilles bathing in the Styx River. However, Achilles name was made immortal with the tale of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad. In fact, the major theme in Homer’s poem is the uncontrollable rage and wrath of Achilles. In the following character analysis, I will examine Achilles’ personal traits and behavior, and express whether the character has gone through changes at the end of the poem.…

    • 1158 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Achilles in the Iliad

    • 2507 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The myth of Achilles, the great Greek warrior of the Trojan War, is focused on his awesome power and destructive capabilities. The opening line of The Iliad begs, “Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son Achilles and its devastation” as if his exploits needed an introduction (Homer 1.1-2). However, there lies a deeper story within the epic poem, which I found to be more impactful than any account of Achilles’ talent. Evidently, many artists and poets share my opinion, having responded to this aspect of the myth both in ancient and modern works. Of course the topic in question is the relationship between the hero Achilles and his dear companion Patroclus. Nothing brings out the tender, sensitive side of the hero but his love for Patroclus. This softer side of Achilles is noted not only by Homer in The Iliad, but also in ancient works of art, modern paintings, and more recent poetry. If it weren’t for the intensity of Achilles’ devotion to Patroclus he hardly would have become the myth he did, for he would not have fought at all in the Trojan War. Therefore, due to the vast quantity of artistic response, I think it fair to conclude that the story of Patroclus and Achilles’ relationship is more impressive and provocative than the epic as a whole.…

    • 2507 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Iliad: Achilles Hero

    • 1613 Words
    • 7 Pages

    To have the utmost strength and courage in times of adversity and despair is to possess the Greek ideal of arête. This is a notion of excellence ultimately connected with the fulfillment of purpose. In Homers epic, The Iliad, Achilles embodies the arête trait very well. Achilles is referred to as strong, swift and god like, he is the great runner and most powerful warrior of the Achaeans. Homer introduces his subject with the first word, in the first sentence, “Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles, 
murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,
great fighters’ souls, but made their bodies carrion,
feasts for the dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end. Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed, Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles.” (Bk 1, lns, 1-8) He references this subject of rage towards Achilles and you can predict from this quote that Achilles has done something drastic. Achilles, a great symbol of arête, challenges the Greeks ideal meaning of this heroic trait causing much controversy but is still intended to be a hero.…

    • 1613 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Achilles and Agamemnon

    • 519 Words
    • 3 Pages

    If I were to side with Achilles or Agamemnon in their quarrel, I would choose to side with Achilles. Based on the story from the book, it seems as though Achilles is much more worthiness than Agamemnon. Achilles is not as dishonorable as Agamemnon, nor is he as greedy, and he is also more useful for the Greeks rather than Agamemnon is.…

    • 519 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Honor: honesty, fairness, or integrity in one 's beliefs and actions; this is the definition by which these two characters, Hector and Achilles, ought to be judged. By taking this definition to heart, Achilles is far from honorable. Throughout the Iliad, Achilles acts on rage and revenge. “Rage-Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaens countless losses, hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls, great fighters’ souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for the dogs and birds…” (1, 1-5) From the beginning of the epic the reader learns of Achilles rage and wants for blood. Achilles fights only for himself and his own glory. Hector, on the other hand is fighting for the lives and liberty of his countrymen. He thinks of himself very little and seeks to please his family and country in every possible way. He believes in his country and is responsible for his actions. Therefore, by this definition, Hector is the more honorable character in the Iliad.…

    • 1238 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Iliad American Hero

    • 1466 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Achilles cares about nothing other than himself and making sure that his name lives on forever, while Hector cares about winning the battle for his family and country. In one battle, Hector kills Patroclus thinking it was Achilles, which really sets Achilles off and is the reason that Achilles rejoins the war. When the two warriors finally meet near the end of the Epic, Hector is confronted with the fact that he is indeed going to die. Hector tries to think of ways to get out of the battle with Achilles, like bribery. This shows that Hector is not the perfect hero like many people may have thought when they first read about him. One cannot forget that Hector is only human, and that he does have the same characteristics as us humans do now. Everyone has to face a fear that they do not necessarily want to from time to time, and courage is the trait that brings the true heroes to the forefront. After being chased by Achilles for a while, Hector finally realizes that he has to fight Achilles. The fact that Hector stands up for himself and his country proves that he is courageous and that he is indeed a…

    • 1466 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    When I hear the word “hero” the first thing that comes to my mind is a person who is courageous, has ability, and is admired for his or her brave actions and noble individuality. A hero is also someone who is afraid to die but who still does what is right because the lives of people he cares about hangs in the balance. In Homer’s The Iliad, Hector and Achilles are both great warriors and great men but differ in many ways. They are heroes of their time, but fight for completely several reasons. Achilles, who fights for the Greeks, and Hector, who fights for the Trojans. But who is more considered as the Homeric hero?…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    and the Trojans she did not want her son to fight because she knew that he…

    • 1394 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays