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Analysis of the iliad by homer
Analysis of the iliad by homer
Achilles and hector comparison
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When Achilles heard this, he cast away the chains of honor and pride that he had constantly blamed for his inaction and armed himself with wrath. And when he joined the battle-mass, he was not a lion, but a demon. When he slew Hector, he cut Hector’s ankles and dragged him behind his chariot, dishonoring both himself and the corpse of Troy’s greatest general. Achilles was never a hero.
Patroclus goes in his stead, wearing the armor of Achilles, and is killed after routing the Trojan force. The armor he wore is taken by the trojans as a war prize. When Achilles hears the news of his friend’s death, he is stricken with grief and laments his folly. Thetis hears his outcry and promptly rushes to
Patroclus tries to persuade Achilles by telling him to “at least send him out, let him lead a troop of Myrmidons” so that he can “light the way for their army” (Homer 16.43-44). Patroclus expresses that he loves the Greeks too much to just sit around at the camp. He feels very emotional for his friend, so he wants to take his place and fight this war for him. Patroclus still has a mindset that “If the Trojans think” he is Achilles then “they’ll back off and give the Greeks some breathing space” (Homer 16.44-46). Patroclus believes his cleverness can outdo the Trojans in battle.
Throughout Book 22, Achilles tries again and again to chase down and kill Hector, and is finally able to do so. Before he actually kills Hector, he tells him “I wish my stomach would let me cut off you flesh in strips and eat it raw for what you’ve done to me” (Iliad, Book 22, 384-86). Shortly after Achilles allows the Greeks to stand around and continually stab the corpse of Hector. However, not even this brutality satisfied Achilles. Eventually, he ended up completely disgracing Hector’s dead body in front of all of Troy, tying him up to a chariot and dragging him around, being “defiled in his own native land” (Iliad, Book 22, 449).
Throughout the novel Achilles is assisted by the Gods Zeus, Athena and Hephaestus, his shield created by Hephaestus is his talisman. The hero faces many obstacles. For example, his closest ally is killed in battle by Troy's greatest warrior Hector. Enraged he kills Hector in combat and avenges his best friend Patroclus.
Homer’s The Iliad proves that Hector and Achilles have vast differences but, their few similarities are some of what we see a lot throughout the epic poem. Both Achilles and Hector have their certain strengths and weaknesses, which are noticeable countless times throughout the conflicts that come up in the Iliad. These two characters have distinct differences in their approaches to fitting the noble form to which they both attempt to achieve. Nevertheless, regardless of their differences and the fact that their armies are rivals and are brought to each other with execration in battle, they also have numerous identical traits which reasonably show the comparison between the two men, Hector and Achilles.
The danger in this situation is that while Patroklos does in fact wear Achilles’ great armor, he has nowhere near the strength Achilles possesses. Patroklos may fight skillfully and courageously, but he cannot possibly live up to the standard placed upon him by those who assume he is Achilles. In addition, Hector is a great warrior and the Trojan military is pressing upon
In Homer’s The Iliad, epic hero Achilles serves as an example of how rage, when unchecked, leads to disastrous repercussions. Achilles, though nearly superhuman in his physical abilities, struggles repeatedly to contain his anger. Throughout The Iliad, as Achilles’ fury compounds, the consequences of his actions become catastrophic, eventually leading to the death of his best friend, Patroclus. Although Achilles ultimately chooses to avenge Patroclus’ death and achieve his own kleos, or honor, his rage-driven actions lead to the death of many Achaean soldiers, and change the course of his fate.
It is his torment and suffering which makes Achilles a compassionate figure. The Iliad is a chronicle of Achilles' grief and rage. After the death of Patroclus, Achilles kills Hector. Before his death, Hector begged Achilles to return his body to his
But when it comes down to the Prince of Troy and the great Greek warrior who better deserves to survive the war? Hector because he is the better, more admirable of the two fated to die young in battle. While it is true that both Achilles and Hector share many traits that make them both admirable there are also major differences. The treatment of the opposition’s dead bodies is one of them. When Hector kills Patroclos the two sides fight over his body, but eventually Patroclos was reclaimed and buried by the Greeks.
Achilles and Hector are both great warriors for their respective sides. Although they have some similarities, their differences in cultural values are greater. In the poet Homer’s epic, the Iliad, he depicts two heroes who have contrasting traits. This essay will explain Hector’s and Achilles’ heroic qualities which are valued in Troy and Greece.
Hayleigh Gann Mrs. DeSilva English 12 23 September 2015 Comparison Essay “Beowulf” was written around the 750 B.C. The Author of the epic poem is unknown. “Beowulf” is about a warrior who lives among the Geats. The great hero goes to help out the Danes with their common enemy, Grendel.
Patroclus was killed by Hector while he was under the impression Patroclus was Achilles, “But I’ll tell you something else— bear this in mind—you’ll not live long yourself. Your death is already standing close at hand, a fatal power. For you’ll be destroyed at brave Achilles’ hands, descendant of Aeacus” (Homer, Iliad 16. 989-993), this foresight shared by dying Patroclus shows Achilles will kill Hector in search of retribution. Since Hector killed Achilles best friend Achilles doesn't care about pride anymore, just revenge.
In grief Achilles wants to fight Hector for what he did. Hector has two choices, either to fight Achilles or hide behind the walls of Troy. Hector exclainms doubtedly “What shall I do? If I retreat behind these walls, … And now that I have ruined them all by my rashness, I am ashamed to face the men and women of Troy, or some base fellows may say-Hector thought too much of his own strength, and ruined us all!”
Iliad is recognized as one of the most famous ancient monuments of literature. The full understanding of this epic poem is hardly possible without thorough analysis of its main characters. Among all the episodes of the Trojan War, Homer chooses the moment of Achilles’ wrath and thus creates a poem in which he becomes the central figure. From the Ancient Greeks’ point of view, Achilles represents the ideal of manliness and pure heroism, for he is brave and fights for heroics, not profits. Today, one can agree with this interpretation, yet Achilles is probably the most controversial character because he combines various personality traits and acts in accordance with his ambiguous nature.