How Is Hector Honorable

Achilles, Patroclus, Hector; many accomplished warriors that fought merciless and long within the Iliad. They risked their lives for their sides, and though each faced their hardships, never surrendered as true warriors do. Hector, though, has some controversy on the whole bravery aspect. In Book 22, Hector runs from Achilles outside the gate as he approached him. The argument here is whether or not that is seen as an honorable tactic or just pure cowardliness. Though many may side with cowardliness, calling this an honorable tactic may be better suited for the Hector of this story. As will be explained, Hector may of ran, but he ran away with a strategy. As Hector may of originally envisioned, his plan is to negotiate with Achilles over Patroclus's death (much to his fault). …show more content…
Running away was another option he quickly took up. As explained, "As Hector sees, unusual terrors rise, Struck by some god, he fears, recedes, and flies. He leaves the gates, he leaves the wall behind" (Homer 647). Immediately as Hector sees Achilles coming up from the distance does his courage go away as does he. Naturally, his survival instincts kick in, but that does not mean he still does not have a plan. Hector quickly thinks up a new plan to instead run around the wall and try to get closer to it so Achilles can be shot by the archers set out above. This itself is a sign of a honorable warrior, always prepared with a backup plan when events turn around. Though this might be seen as pure suicide for Hector to risk so much, he does say "Propitious once, and kind! Then welcome fate! 'Tis true I perish, yet I perish great: Yet in a mighty deed I shall expire, Let future ages hear it, and admire" (Homer 654)! He accepts death in the moment and says how what he did was a mighty deed instead of a cowardly act. This is true, for even confronting Achilles in the first place can be seen