Why are achilles and hector a perfect example of an archetype?
What is an archetypal hero? Archetypal heroes appear in many epics from many centuries ago. They express personal ideals of a heroic human being. Most archetypal heroes share very similar characteristics, they are smart, usually attractive, strong, and in almost every way, perfect. These types of heroes exemplify the most cliche heroic characteristics, found in even todays stories.
In ancient greek mythology, these heroes were direct descendants from the gods. An example of this is Achilles. The son of a sea-goddess Thetis and king Pelius. As a child, his mother dipped him in the river Styx, making him almost unconquerable. While she submerged him, she held him by his left heel which did not get dipped in the river and this became his weakness. These types of characteristics make achilles a stereotypical hero in Greek mythology.
In “Book 22 of The Iliad The Death of Hector” it is not deliberately said that Achilles …show more content…
All greek heroes hope for a proper burial, and when hector kills Achilles’ friend without proper burial, he knows that when he kills Hector, he will do one of the most dishonorable things that a warrior can do. “Let the birds pick his bones dry.”
Hector could also be considered an archetypal hero. Although his role is brief in book 22 of “The Iliad”, in the rest of the books he wins many battles, and is also a prince. One could argue that his death was more heroic because he was killed by another hero, but the part that makes his death the most heroic, the fact that achilles could not kill him without the help of a god. Athena’s intervention adds to Hector’s heroics, making him seem as though he is more mighty than Achilles because Achilles could not kill him by himself. Another thing that makes Hector heroic is when at the beginning of book 22, “Hector stands alone outside the gates of Troy, ready to take on Achilles and his men.”(Homer book 22 line
What is an archetypal hero? Archetypal heroes appear in many epics from many centuries ago. They express personal ideals of a heroic human being. Most archetypal heroes share very similar characteristics, they are smart, usually attractive, strong, and in almost every way, perfect. These types of heroes exemplify the most cliche heroic characteristics, found in even todays stories.
In ancient greek mythology, these heroes were direct descendants from the gods. An example of this is Achilles. The son of a sea-goddess Thetis and king Pelius. As a child, his mother dipped him in the river Styx, making him almost unconquerable. While she submerged him, she held him by his left heel which did not get dipped in the river and this became his weakness. These types of characteristics make achilles a stereotypical hero in Greek mythology.
In “Book 22 of The Iliad The Death of Hector” it is not deliberately said that Achilles …show more content…
All greek heroes hope for a proper burial, and when hector kills Achilles’ friend without proper burial, he knows that when he kills Hector, he will do one of the most dishonorable things that a warrior can do. “Let the birds pick his bones dry.”
Hector could also be considered an archetypal hero. Although his role is brief in book 22 of “The Iliad”, in the rest of the books he wins many battles, and is also a prince. One could argue that his death was more heroic because he was killed by another hero, but the part that makes his death the most heroic, the fact that achilles could not kill him without the help of a god. Athena’s intervention adds to Hector’s heroics, making him seem as though he is more mighty than Achilles because Achilles could not kill him by himself. Another thing that makes Hector heroic is when at the beginning of book 22, “Hector stands alone outside the gates of Troy, ready to take on Achilles and his men.”(Homer book 22 line