Arete In The Iliad

In the Iliad, arete is fulfilled through actions, specifically through battle. Hector had to make a choice when his wife, Andromache, asked him to stay and not go to battle. Andromache begs him to stay because she knows he will die and leave her a widow and his son an orphan. Hector replied, “…I’ve learned it all to well. To stand up bravely, always to fight in the front ranks of soldiers, winning my father great glory, glory for myself” (p. 210, 527-529). You can see Hector’s courage and bravery in this passage because he chooses to leave to battle over his wife and son. This was very self-sacrificing of him and proves his loyalty to his country and duty. Men in the Iliad were expected to be heroic and loyal and if they did not fulfill this then they were seen as cowards like Hector told his wife (III. 521). Hector love his family dearly, but he knows he has to go to battle in order for his wife and son to be know as the wife and son of the bravest …show more content…
The battle of Troy started specifically because of the abduction of Helen. The fact that there was a battle over a woman shows how important it was for Menelaus to have Helen with him. Paris Taking Helen was a huge problem for Menelaus because Paris taking her meant he was taking Menelaus’s honor as well. We also see in the Iliad to what extent Menelaus and Paris will go to for the possession of Helen when Paris challenges Menelaus to a duel, “we’ll fight it out for Helen and all her wealth. And the one who proves a better man and wins, he’ll take the treasures fairly, lead the woman home” (III. 86-88). Helen is such a valuable possession and these men were willing to battle for her. Helen was the most beautiful woman in the Iliad and her beauty was one reason why it was so important for Menelaus and Paris to have her. Her possession gave them honor and gave them something to be proud of owning which is where arete is