The Iliad

The Iliad The Iliad is an epic poem about the war between the Trojans and the Greeks. The poem admires the obligation that binds families together as noble, but it also respects the pursuit of glory. To fight in war is to prove one’s honor and integrity, but to not fight would display fear. The most powerful warriors were Hector and Achilles. Both men were given the title of heroes and displayed great power, skills and courage. But the values of Hector and Achilles proved to be different from one another as displayed in the people of today’s society. Dignity, pride, honor, glory, fame, and revenge are still evident, but the way in which one achieves them today is different. Hector is the prince of Troy and a mighty warrior. He is the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba. He is described as a devoted husband and father, who did not fight for his own glory, but for the honor of his men and those he loved. Achilles is considered as the most powerful warrior in the Iliad. He is the son of a military man Peleus and the sea-nymph Thetis. Achilles was a proud headstrong commander who rarely acted with nobility or integrity. He is described as a prideful, selfish, temperamental and impulsive fighter. As a child his mother Thetis held him by the heel and dipped him into the River Styx to force him to become immortal. During the war, Hector was faithful to the fight. But Achilles withdrew from the war due to an argument with King Agamemnon. The King took a beautiful hostage named Briseis away from Achilles. Out of anger Achilles left his men to war without their leader. In his absence the Trojans gained courage and began to cause a lot of suffering to the Greeks. When Achilles left the war, he gave his armor to a close friend named Patroclus so that the Trojans would believe it was him. While wearing the armor Patroclus is killed by Hector. The armor is kept and worn by Hector. He wears it to rally the Trojans. Once again out of anger Achilles reacts over his friend’s death. Hector is not expecting Achilles to return to battle, so he camps outside the city walls. Hector is led away by the gods and is confronted with Achilles. Achilles is wearing armor made by the god Hephaestus. Hector attempts to secure an agreement with Achilles that the winner will respect the corpse of the loser. During the dramatic duel Achilles uses the weak spot on the throat of the armor to plunge his sword through and kill Hector slowly. He then ties Hector’s body to a chariot and drags it across the battlefield for many days. The body is protected from damage by the gods. When the gods agree that Hector deserves a proper burial they send the god Hermes to escort the ruler of Troy, Hector’s father, to retrieve the body from Achilles. As the King tearfully pleads for his son’s body, Achilles takes pity on him. He allows the King to take Hector’s body for a proper burial, but not before accepting an endless ransom. Both sides agree to a temporary truce. The Iliad concludes with all of Troy gathering around Hector’s pyre and drowning flames with glinting wine. His brothers and friends wrapped his bones in a soft purple robe and placed them in a golden casket. After the tomb was complete the city gathered for a feast.

The author portrays the warriors in different ways. Hector is shown as a heroic leader with who continues to show his nobility. He is motivated by his duty and honor while defending his city. Hector fights for the love of his family and the glory of his men. Achilles is a renowned Greek fighter who had a god-like appearance. He is well known for his inability to control his pride and rage. Achilles abandons his comrades in battle because of his selfishness and caused them to be slaughtered. He is driven by the need for personal glory and will sacrifice everything so that his name is remembered. Both men represent the same values of today. Many in today’s society view the importance of dignity, pride, honor, glory, fame, and revenge. All of which can be reflected in many different ways. Dignity can be achieved by a person’s ability not to compromise their personal beliefs and to stand their ground. Pride can be displayed from a parent’s feelings toward their children or by doing your best by your family and employer. It can also be achieved through accomplishments in education and personal achievements. Honor and glory are expressed everyday by the military that defend our country to the fullest. They provide people each day with freedom and defend us through their nobility. There are times when glory and fame can become a negative for some. People can use their fame in negative ways. An example of this would be a poor reflection given to our children from someone famous. Fame can also change a person’s outlook towards others in a derogatory way. One of the worst traits among us is revenge. When someone uses revenge to accomplish their goal, it never turns out well. Revenge is a portrayal of a person’s anger. It is a way of getting back at people or situations. This trait is very destructive to all involved. In the Iliad, both Hector and Achilles have within themselves a great sense of pride and honor. The difference being that Hector displays dignity for himself, family and the men who fight for him. Achilles uses his fame to rule over his men. He is full of vengeance towards the Trojans. For over a decade the Trojan War has been considered as a glorious manner of settling disputes.