Hector Vs. Hector: A Tragic Hero

Improved Essays
Both the heroes have had epic battles over their lives. They are both great warriors risking something for the greater good. The hero that stands out in the story is hector. The hero that stands out in the story is Hector. Even though he dies tragically by Achilles and doesn’t protect his people as best as he could. He shows the lives of the people are more important than his.

The first characteristic that he shows is that he risks his life. He did this when he fought his last battle against Achilles. Hector said “I led the Trojans. Their defeat is my fault.’ He said that as he went up too fight Achilles, Hector was having second thoughts about fighting Achilles or not but then remembered he would let his soldiers down. He was the leader

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Archetypes In The Odyssey

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hector loves his wife and children endlessly. He even shows love and forgiveness towards his brother Paris. He shows utter loyalty towards the things that matter to him the most. He is selfless on his efforts to save his city and his family. Hector is the ultimate protector of not only his family, but the entire city of Troy.…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achilles abuses Hector’s body, dragging it around his dead companion’s tomb. The differences between heroes are not existed in their end only. Their personalities were quite different. Even Hector is the best general of the Troy, he is just a person, not a demigod like…

    • 1204 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hector strives to be courageous, in opposition to Achilles, who strives to have glory. As Hector leaves his wife knowing he will not return, he shows great courage saying, “but I could not show my face before the men or the women of Troy if I skulk like a coward out of the way” as he marches to his death (82). Homer sings that Achilles does not hunger for food, but instead hungers for glory, for when Patroclos fights in Achilles’ armor, Achilles’ tells Patroclos, “you may win honour and glory for me” (189). Even the courage in Hector, “Zeus increases in men or diminishes, according to his will, for he is lord of all”(240). Regardless of what strive the heroes, Hector and Achilles’ temper controls their actions and hardens their hearts.…

    • 1372 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    So the Trojan begins to run not only from Achilles but the brutal death that he feels coming upon him. Hector, running all through the terrain slashing and juking his way through the clutches of Achilles thinks for a moment that he has Achilles beat but the great Achilles is too swift and quick to be fooled by…

    • 1409 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Arete In The Iliad

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages

    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…

    • 397 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achilles A Hero Essay

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Although Achilles made the right decision, it was for the wrong reasons. Instead of acting mature when Agamemnon insulted him and helping the Greeks defeat the Trojans without excessive bloodshed, he selfishly elected to stay in his tent, just to spite Agamemnon. Thus causing scores of his fellow countrymen, who have done Achilles no injustice, to be decimated by Hector’s sword. He had the ability to save countless lives on both sides of the war, but rather than use his prowess on the field of combat, he used it to fuel his ego. He was so obsessed with his honor he let men from the army he was supposed to be leading.…

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achilles succeeded in his quest to be a great hero. Hector may also be a great and brave warrior but has not shown his characteristics as Achilles. In conclusion, Achilles seems to have to a better example of a warrior in the Trojan War who is glorified by the Greeks, has superior or superhuman combat skills, and is a responsible leader. Achilles lives to fight in battle and can make a great difference when he in the…

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    On the other hand, Achilles who fights for fame and glory. Another trait of the heroic code is leadership, courage and physical strength. These three traits are closely linked to reputation and honour. The two characters, Achilles and Hector, both have these three traits and perform in battle with responsibility and courage: …I grow impatient now to lend a hand to Trojans in the field…

    • 1570 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hector felt that if he hung back from battle, he would look like a coward to the rest of the Trojans. At the same time, Hector believed he was defending his father 's honor if he went to battle, as well as his own. However, before Hector left to fight the battle, he prayed to Zeus and other gods for his son to "become, as I am, foremost among Trojans, brave and strong”(Homer.501-3). Ultimately, this illustrates that the Trojans did care about their families, but still preferred their glory just like the…

    • 1014 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    However, Achilles brings down Hector to where he is seen pleading to Achilles not to “let the dogs devour [him] by the Argive ships” (Fagles 552). As shown, Hector starts out as a glorified hunter feared by the Achaeans to pleading to Achilles at the end of his death. Understanding the message that even the strongest falls has definitely changed my life. This message has help me in life to be very cautious of becoming too trusting or dependent on someone else because they are prone to fall, just like everyone else, no matter how strong one is physically or intellectually. I can use this value to promote independence.…

    • 1348 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achilles Tragic Hero

    • 1115 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hector supports and defends Paris for taking Helen, even though that causes this terrible conflict to start. Also Hector 's act of duty gives Hector the courage to fight Achilles. Hector knew that Achilles was the better fighter, but Hector fought anyway because that is what an honorable Trojan is supposed to do.…

    • 1115 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After a decisive defeat in battle Hector still manages to inspire the Trojans to not give up and hide behind the walls of Troy; instead he manages to inspire the Trojans to stay outside and prepare for the coming fight (XVIII. 331-360). Hector’s ability to inspire his troops while the situation looks bleak is greater than any of the other leaders. All of the other leaders are not able to inspire their men to the extent Hector can with only their words. Hector is by far the most inspiring of all of the leaders, Greek or…

    • 1242 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    "I might go up to him and he takes no pity upon me nor respect my position but kill me...better to bring on the fight with him as soon as it maybe " Iliad, 22. 23. Hector demonstrates that he knows that he might not make it back from the fight, but is willing to make that sacrifice and go and fight Achilles. He knows that the fight is going to be painful because he knows that Achilles will have pity on him. Hector demonstrates that he is made for fighting. He does not stay in Troy to watch those he loves beeing traded as slaves (Iliad, 6.…

    • 1025 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hector voices his sole purpose to protect his people at all costs when speaking with Andromache and explaining that “[his] shame before the Trojans and their wives, /With their long robes trailing, would be too terrible/ If I hung back from the battle like a coward” (VI, 464-466). He cannot stand the view of his people in chains, which is why he fights so arduously against the Greeks. He perseveres throughout the war, although he knows his people are doomed.…

    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In fact, Hector is the most heroic character in the poem, because he has all the traits of a Homeric hero. He is also very loyal to his country, and the readers can tell that by these lines: “Honour, for in my heart and soul I know / a day will come when ancient Ilium will perish” (J 6, L161-162). He demonstrates an aspect of heroism when his wife, Andromache, tells him not to go out of the walls of Troy to fight Achilles,…

    • 1025 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays