Understanding Hektor and Achilleus as tragic characters
The Iliad of homer is a poem that is “15,693 lines written in dactylic hexameter.”(Intro, 14) and takes place during the tenth year of the Trojan War. The Iliad concentrates mostly, on the lives and tribulations of Hektor and Achilleus. In this paper I am going to write how Achilleus and Hektor can be understood as tragic figures and why do I think that Hektor is the most tragic character of them both. Achilleus is one of the most respected and feared warriors on the Greek side. In addition, Achilleus has excellent leadership skills, and cares deeply for the well being of the Greeks. Achilles has a high sense of honor and lives and dies for the “heroic code.” However, Achilleus often feels under appreciated by Agamemnon and the Greeks. Consequently, Achaians ungratefulness, the dishonor caused to him by Agamemnon and the death of Patroklos makes Achilleus a very tragic character in the Iliad. Achilleus felt deeply under appreciated by the Greeks .in addition, Achilleus is frustrated by his position in the Achaians’ social hierarchy. He feels that Agamemnon is exploiting him. For example, Achilleus says to Agamemnon "always the greater part of the painful fighting is the work of my hands; but when the time come to distribute . . .
the booty yours far greater the reward. The Achaians are slowly But surely being slaughter by the great Hektor (book 11). Paris cause so much sorrow to hektor that some ime he wished that”the eathopen beneath him because he has cause great sorrow to the trojans(6,280)the reason for hektor resentement toward paris , is that the whole trojan war is his fault, yet he is the least interested in fighting it. So, a useful outlet for Achilleus pain was to use words to abuse and undermine Agamemnon authority. The trojan listened to hektor even when they knew he was wrong. Thus, bringing even more tragedy to Achilleus life Agamemnon’s decision to take bruises away from Achilleus, deeply humiliated Achilleus and caused great sorrow to him. As a case in point , as hektor and the trojans were in battle , paris stayed in his castle with helen. as a case in point, achilleus stopped fighting just to teasch agamenon a lesson while hektor fought the war all the way to the end. Achilleus anger eventually turned to revenge. For example in book took during the battle scene , when paris saw menlaios he droped his weapons and hid behind some trojans soldiers thus, hektor feels that he shouldn’t be fighting his brother battles but because of honor he must fight. Agamemnon felt that such comments were out of protocol, and he felt that he had to put Achilleus in his place. Upon disocevry by hektor paris said that he didn’t fight because “I wish to give my self over to sorrow”(6,336) When paris decide to go to battle he would often hide. "(1,165) What frustrates and sorrow Achilles the most about this situation is that he feels he can not do anything about it, . In the end achilleus had the pleasure of seeing the great hektor running and pleading for his life.
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