How Does Hector Change Throughout The Iliad

In book 22, Hector becomes an instrument of fate and is shown no mercy by Achilles. Hector was consistently tricked by Apollo into fighting the battle even though there was no hope of winning. At the end of the book, as Achilles is bounding towards the city of Troy with Hector standing out front. Despite all of the encouragement to come back inside the city walls, Hector remains outfront and faces his death. Ultimately his pride gets the best of him and he would rather stay out and accept his fate of death, then to come inside and receive shame for leading his people into a losing battle in the first place. Hector chooses to leave his city to fend for itself without its greatest warrior to save himself from shame. The parallel between Hector and Achilles leads to a greater understanding of the theme of freedom vs. fate. Hector gives into his pride and accepts the “fate that awaits us all” and Achilles is motivated by freedom and seeks the revenge of his friend ultimately escaping death. Homer makes an excellent statement of this connection between the two men when he writes: “They ran by these springs, pursuer and pursued, a great man out front, a far greater behind” (book

Homer concentrates on Hector throughout the chapter and makes comments about how brave and courageous he was. He also mentions that he is a great commander and leader of the Trojan army. In addition, Hector knew the reason behind the invasion which was Paris stealing Menelaus’ wife, Helen. This gives Agamemnon an excuse to attack Troy. Both Hector and his wife know that he is soon to meet his death, it’s inescapable. However, even though it is not his fight, he still feels compelled to go to war with his country and search for some vague glory. Hector seems to be very heroic. Moreover, Homer describes Hector as an immense warrior almost god-like. But in

This extract from Book 6 of Homer’s The Iliad comes at a point where the Trojans are heavily losing to the Achaeans. Hélenus, son of Priam has instructed Hector to return to the city to gather the elders to tell them to offer prayers to the gods so that goddess Athena may pity Troy. It is interesting that Homer should choose Hector to deliver this message rather than an unimportant character; Homer uses it as a devise to develop Hector and make him a more (if not the most) sympathetic character. He shows his contrasting sides; his family oriented side as opposed to the cruel warrior. The interaction with his child, Astyanax, brings a moment of tenderness and humanises Hector.Hector’s contrasting aspects to his character can be explored through

Even as his wife Andromache pleads “Pity me, please! Take your stand on the rampart here before you orphan your son and make your wife a widow” (Iliad VI. 511-512) to persuade him to stay at home, he chooses kleos over his family. Hector is described by Helen far differently than she speaks of her own husband.  “But come in, rest on this seat with me, dear brother, you are the one hit hardest by the fighting, Hector, you more than all – and all for me, slut that I am, and this blind mad Paris” (Iliad VI. 421-423).  Helen embraces Hector for his bravery and honor, and asks even that he rest from battle.  Her polar opinion between the two brothers serves as an important facet for dissecting the importance of kleos even within a family. Homer shows Helen’s shame and contempt for her husband as he does nothing to defend her or his home against her love for Hector as he fights so gloriously for Troy.

Honor is defined as a high respect given to an individual that brings credit. To receive honor is paralleled to being crowned with jewels and being regarded as a role model to all. The society that the Iliad portrays is “centered on the battlefield of achievement and its rewards” (Homer, xxi). The figures in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad, partake in events that will allow them to “receive more honor and more material rewards” even if it means that they must indulge themselves in heightened risks that could end in death (xxiii). Hector, one of the most pivotal characters in the poem, illustrates the lust for glory and ignorance of everything else that holds just as much importance. As his character is strengthened, it can be seen that every

Change in people is like the Sun going up, it will always happen. Using indirect and direct characterization which is evidence in the text is useful to spotting change in characters. Achilles in “The Iliad” changes from an aggressive, brave man to a selfish, sulking man, to a great soldier.

The family is one of the most treasured gifts we all hold and cherish dearly; being robbed from this would transform the world into ashes, thus leaving a hole in our hearts for what can seem an eternity. Homer portrays this event in the Iliad when Andromache is torn away from her family. He demonstrates the aftermath of the events to the reader not only on the exterior but the interior as well. The battle of Troy and Achilles’ rage in this epic not only result in Andromache’s husband Hector to die in misery, but leave her and her kindred continue the journey of life single-handed. Like Andromache’s role in society, the city of Troy will too be transformed, leaving the family and the city in ruins, thus changing the epic drastically.

Narratives need to have well-developed characters. As authors and translators do revisions and translations, they often change things in a piece, most often how the plot runs and how the characters act. Greek mythology has a strong idea of what makes a hero as well as certain ideals of honor and war. This essay will be looking at the character changes of Paris of Troy -- his cowardice, unmanliness, and lack of spirit -- through the novel The Iliad, by Homer, and the movie Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

In The Iliad, Homer offers incredible insights into the themes of human interactions. While the epic narrative moves forward, these dynamics are kept intertwined with the devastating battlefield. One of the prominent themes is the father-son relationship and this Iliadic father-son dynamic is focused mostly between Priam and Hector. Looking at scenes featuring both characters, their interactions feature mutual feelings of love, concern, and, most importantly, interdependency. Priam cares for Hector, imparts values tied to the heroic code, and carries expectations for his son. On the other hand, Hector aims to meet Priam’s expectations and repay his father for all that he has done for him. In the background of this relationship, Homer

The sample from the Iliad illustrates opens up with the mood heavily clouded with depression. It quickly illustrates the fact that the man named to be Hector, is willing to set off to war in order to prove his bravery. However, his wife, Andromache is not willing to believe that he will survive the war. Nevertheless, Hector makes it clear that if he does participate, he would be a coward to his people, but his wife is willing to go through the shame to have her husband by her side. She, Andromache, has on one in her life, all have been sent down to Hades House. Leaving Hector to be her father, mother, brother, and her entire life. Hector makes a point to pray that his son turn a lot better than his legacy, to win many wars and to make his mother proud. Giving the audience the assumption that he will lose his life in the battle. Finally, in Hectors last accept to calm his wife, he reminds her that Fate takes a person at their time. If he was to die, then it was his time to go

The death of Priam’s son Hector, provide a sense of loss and grief on a higher level. The connection between Father and son is an unbreakable bond and upon Hector’s death Priam’s “heart-breaks”. This can be seen through the close-up of Priam fainting in the movie Troy. The Iliad gives a sense of this relationship through not only Hector and Priam, but also between Achilles and Priam. When Priam “puts his lips to the hands who killed his son” in the lliad and Troy, Achilles and Priam create a father-son connection. Through the depiction of Achilles “serving the meat” it creates an implication of Achilles taking over the father role as he has more power over Priam in that moment.

Hector’s family, his wife and his son, are his other primary motivation in fighting. It is evident that he loves them both very much by the dialogue he shares with his wife, Andromache, before he leaves Troy for the last time. Although she asks him not to leave her widowed and her son orphaned, his pride overshadows her pleas:

The women in the city of Troy cannot ignore that lives without their husbands is a possibility. Helen, who some would say is the cause of the great battle, understands that she has a fault in the tragedies the men and woman will suffer: “You are the one hit the hardest by this fighting, Hector/ you more than all – and all for me, slut that I am, /and this blind mad Paris. Oh the two of us!” (VI: 287-289). Hector is valiant, a man of honor, which is the detriment to his fate, an element Andromache cannot help but worry about: “Clung to his hand, urged him, called him: ‘reckless one, / My Hector – your own fiery courage will destroy you!’” Life without a father for their son causes her most worry: “Have you no pity for him, our helpless son? Or me? /and that destiny that weighs me down, your widow, /now so soon. Yes, soon they will kill you off,” (VI: 350-352). Andromache understands that Hector is too proud of a warrior to walk away, but fears his death will cause most harm to their child, and many of her days she worries tremendously. Hector himself is conflicted:

    Homer's Iliad enthralls readers with its’ valiant heroes who fight for the glory of Greece. The Iliad, however, is not just a story of war; it is also a story of individuals. Through the characters' words and actions, Homer paints portraits of petulant Achilles and vain Agamemnon, doomed Paris and Helen, loyal Patroclus, tragic Priam, versatile Odysseus, and the whole cast of Gods. Ironically, the most complete character in the epic is Hector, enemy hero, and Prince of Troy. Hector is in many ways the ideal Homeric man: he is a man of compassion and piety, a man of integrity and bravery, a man who loves his family, and above all, a man who understands and fulfills his social

     In today's society, a man's mind is his most important tool. In the past, however, a man's courage and strength is all that he had to keep him alive. In Homer's Iliad, courage is valued over honesty and even faithfulness to one's wife. If a hero is the most courageous man in the bunch, then Hector is more heroic than Achilles and King of the Myrmidons. Hector is the true hero of Homer's Iliad.