Preview

Hector's Responsibility In The Iliad

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
181 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hector's Responsibility In The Iliad
Family and the profound obligation of friendship likewise participate in building the ethical perspective in a hero's character. This excites the readers significantly along side the many grisly ruthless slaughtering scenes all throughout the book. In the scene where
Priam takes a payment to request Hector's body back for a proper burial, the readers can witness another side in Achilles' conduct that never plays out: full of genuine consideration and sensitivity. Contrasted with the extreme brutality when Achilles unfeelingly drags
Hector's corpse around the walls of Troy, this move altogether astounds the readers.
Furthermore, in book 24 of The Illiad we see how Homer interjects the use of various verbs to supplement what he believes is the definition of a true hero. Homer uses

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    A complex character is a character that is believable . Homer made Achilles complex , in order to make him realistic . This results in multiple or conflicting motivations . This makes the character realistic because they often portrayed negative or positives reasons . This is the case in Homer’s Iliad When Achilles went from Disrespectful to respectful . For example in the poem hector begged achilles to give his body to be returned to his parents so they could cremate and bury it . Quoted from the poem it says “ I beg you by your soul and by your parents , do not let the dogs feed on me in your encampment by the ships . Accept the bronze and gold my…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Troy Versus Homers Illiad

    • 2242 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Finally Achilles feels bad about the actions that he has taken but still refuses to fight. He proposes a plan with Nestor that his…

    • 2242 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In Alan Bennett’s “tragi-comic” play ‘The History Boys’ our main comedic protagonist is introduced to us, the audience, as a rather large jovial character simply known as his nickname Hector (his real name is Douglas). In the beginning our jester hector expels exuberance and joy in his work and towards the boys in his class, but, towards the end due to various circumstances, brought on by Hector himself, his attitude within the fabric of the play completely changes to a depressed shell of what he used to be. When knowing this, for one to claim that hector can only be a comic character shows that one obviously does not have a full understanding of the text as a whole.…

    • 1619 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rhetorical strategy

    • 284 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “Perhaps most striking is the freely chosen death at an early age… where Achilles already knows his fate.”…

    • 284 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ransom questions the classical interpretation of the hero as a powerful warrior, and instead subverts this understanding by presenting those individuals as anti-heroes. Achilles, the hero of the Iliad and the quintessential embodiment of power and the “warrior spirit”, is presented by Malouf “hunker[ing] down… shoulders hunched” in the opening of the text. From the outset the reader is presented with a weak anti-hero so troubled he is searching for “the voice of his mother”. Hardly an impenetrable hero, he is “darkly divided”. Heracles, a figure from Priam’s early history, too is a hero. “The whole terrible machinery of the man” is just “rank meatiness” unable to understand Hesione, Priam’s sister, and her compassion in trying to rescue her brother destined for a life of slavery. Such love is beyond his realm of understanding, he “expected [Hesione] to choose some gaudy trinket”. Malouf portrays Heracles as “foolish” and a “brute”. Neoptolemus, Achilles’ son and avenger, is like his father a “youthful hero”. He goes to Troy’s palace to kill king Priam in the final section of novel where Malouf travels out of the immediate time frame. In what is supposed to be a triumphant and heroic deed turns awry when Neoptolemus botches the killing of Priam, he is left feeling “heartsickness, animal sadness, despondency”. Neoptolemus, who was supposed to triumphantly avenge his fathers death instead butchers…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 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

    Achilles shows various forms of commitment in the Iliad. This god does not appear as often as others do, but when he does he appears with a bang. He and Agamemnon have ongoing beef, and because of this he resides from the Achaen army. The Achaens need his help to defeat Troy but he is so committed to his hatred for Agamemnon that he refuses to help. “never again, he’ll never rob me blind with his twistsul words again. Once is enough for him. Die and be damned for all I care” (9, 455-457). The beef begins when Agamemnon steals Achilles’ wife from him, whom he cherished very dearly. In the text it is very clear that Achilles is committed to his love for this woman, which isn’t common for the gods to do. “…anguish gripped Achilles. The heart…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Literary heroes have been important to stories and poems throughout history. Each author develops his hero through a unique writing style, combining conscious use of detail, diction, tone and other narrative techniques to outline a hero's personality. Homer, in his epic poem The Iliad, develops two classic heroes who are distinctly different at first glance, but upon closer inspection are very similar in terms of their basic characteristics. Hector and Achilles both are courageous soldiers, relatively honorable men, and respected leaders, but they also both have human failings that eventually lead to tragedy. In Homer's lyrical verses and in his use of detail, diction, meter and imagery, he paints his own portrait of a classic hero through the brave deeds as well as the human flaws of Hector and Achilles that eventually lead to the downfall of proud and powerful Hector.…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Achilles Runner

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages

    He is willing to sacrifice everything else so that his name will be remembered. During his fight against Hector, Achilles refuses any aide from his comrades; afraid he would be second best. "And brilliant Achilles shook his head at the armies, never letting them hurl their sharp spears at Hector-someone might snatch the glory, Achilles come in second,"(2.245-217). Another case of Achilles infamy "Hector-surely you thought when you stripped Patroclus' armor that you, you would be safe! Never fear of me-far from fighting as I was-you fool! Left behind there, down by the beaked ships his great avenger waited, a greater man by far-that man was I, and I smashed your strength!"(2.390-345). Achilles' deep-seated character flaws constantly impede his ability to act with nobility and integrity. This trait is accountable for his sordid response to Hector's distorted plea of honoring his body when he's dead. "You unforgivable, you…don't talk to me of pacts. There are no binding oaths between men and lions-wolves and lambs can enjoy no meeting of the minds-they are all bent on hating each other to the death. So with you and me, no love between us, no truce till one or the other falls or gluts with blood,"(2.309-314). The respect for a fallen enemy vanishes as bloodlust, vengeance, and rage run through Achilles' veins. Achilles ruthlessly impends and torments Hector as he breathes his last breathe. "Would to god my rage, my fury would drive me…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Authority In The Iliad

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Reflects the authority of Hector, with his armour on as ‘God Like’ because the wearer takes on a more intimidating, authoritative persona in wearing armour and a helmet which shines…

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory 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
  • Powerful Essays

    Iliad and Honor

    • 2162 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Honor and glory are central to the Greek character. Since heroes are the essence of the society from which they come, Greek heroes live their lives according to honor and glory, in all their varied forms. Honor and glory trigger an epic war that takes the lives of numerous men, and shape its development at every stage. The fall of Troy is "a thing… whose glory shall perish never (Homer, Iliad 2.324)". The goal of the Greeks is the fame that resounds even after death, and they let nothing bar their way. The honor of the individual, family, and community guide every action and response. Honor and glory define the hero, and therefore are the foundations for everything that comes to pass in Homer's Iliad.…

    • 2162 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thematic Essay

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages

    – Agamemnon feels dishonored by having to give up Chryseis, and he takes Briseis from Achilles to restore his honor. Achilles, in turn, feels his honor has been compromised by the loss of Briseis. – Hector ignores Andromache’s pleas to stop fighting because he believes he must defend the honor of Troy and thereby defend his honor as a warrior.…

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ransom

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages

    are given an insight into the characters and their thoughts. Achilles is renowned as a warrior and a strong man and even his raw emotions and thoughts are revealed by Malouf. This allows the reader to establish that Achilles mind, “even in its passive state, the most active part of him.” The closeness of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is drawn upon by Achilles own reflections on his soulmate. Achilles describes Patroclus as the, “other before he could fully become himself,” and his recollection that, “he had been mated with Achilles,” solidifies the tight bond that exists between the two. The subsequent grief from Patroclus’ death, plagues Achilles mind and Achilles, “(weeps) without restraint,” and lets the resulting, “self-consuming rage waste his spirit in despair.” Despite Achilles’,” never (betraying) to others what he felt,” these descriptions of Achilles feelings allows the reader to enter his mind and understand his grief and how much he is, “waiting for a break.” .Similar to Achilles, Priam too experiences, “grief that racks him… for his son Hector.” Beyond this, Priam also is worried by the responsibility that he has to save his kingdom, “ravaged and threatened with extinction.” Like Achilles, Priam has long hidden his past as Pordaces and this past leads him to believe himself as a, “pretender, substitute,” and a,” great one of this Earth, only be default.” These thoughts are unfamiliar to that of a king and Malouf brings out these thoughts to show Priam is indeed, “the price paid. “The actions of Priam to seek change only solidify his difference to other kings. Priam insists that the,” old filth stinks,” and this asserts the influence that the past has had on Priam and how it continues to persist in his thoughts. Although the role of women is downplayed in Ransom as the focus is on the men and war, Hecuba’s animated reaction to Priam’s dream brings out how she as a women still has somewhat of a say. Hecuba describes Achilles as,”…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ancient Epic Hero (Iliad)

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements, a human being with characteristics a society admires and often wishes to emulate. A hero that fights for a noble cause. In this paper the focus will be on the Trojan War worrier, Achilles and Hector. A war that lasted for ten years, fought over a woman, Helen. Who fled to Troy with Paris, son of the Trojan king Priam. Both Achilles and Hector were epic worries, in that the culture resulting from such a society that relied heavily on the warrior class. Which rules due to the extreme instability of the times, the culture viewed warriors as the only class fit to lead. A leader had to continually demonstrate his ability as a warrior,…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays