The Iliad: The Glory of War vs. Family Life

             A person's character is dictated by their actions. In The Iliad, Homer forces the characters to choose between being with their family and achieving glory from fighting in the war. The heroes in the epic poem demonstrate a strong desire for fame. They disregard their families' wishes and risk their lives in order to achieve greatness and gain praise from others. Achilles exemplifies this trait with his decision to stay in the Trojan War instead of going home to his father. Hector shows this characteristic by not listening to his wife, Andromache, and his parents, Priam and Hecuba. By leaving Achilles and going into battle, Patroclus demonstrates this trait. The non-heroic characters choose family life over military glory and are viciously criticized for it. For example, Paris demonstrates this trait by being with Helen while the war is being fought. Through the decisions and actions of Hector, Achilles, Patroclus, and Paris, it is evident that military glory is more important than family life.
             Hector chooses to enter battle instead of staying with his wife and son. He risks his life in order to gain military glory. Andromache pleads to Hector, "Pity me, please. Take your stand on the rampart here, before you orphan your son and make your wife a widow" (Fagles 210). Andromache realizes the danger that Hector is headed towards, and she wants him to stay so he can remain her husband and father to his son. Leaving his family devastates Hector, but he "would die of shame" (210) if he did not fight for Troy. Before he leaves his son to enter the battle, he says a prayer, " 'Zeus, all you immortals! Grant this boy, my son, may be like me, first in glory among the Trojans, strong and brave like me, and rule all Troy in power and one day let them say, 'He is a better man than his father''" (211). In this prayer, Hector emphasizes his hope that his son will b...

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The Iliad: The Glory of War vs. Family Life. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 09:41, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/11026.html