Hector the Hero in the Iliad

Hector: A Paradigmatic Hero in Homer’s The Iliad

In The Iliad, Homer presents a variety of characters that resemble heroes, but upon further examination, these same individuals appear more endowed with flaws, than they do with heroic features. One of the exceptions to this unfortunate trend: Hector. Through analyzing the conversation between Hector and his wife, Andromache, (The Iliad 6. 463-90) it will become evident that this passage is one of the most poignant moments in The Iliad. By contrasting the life a warrior must live while at war, against his life at home, Homer portrays Hector as one of the mightiest heroes – like a bull among a cluster of cattle. Furthermore, the notion of heroism, as related to Hector, can be defined as one who sits in a seat of honor, fighting with bravery among the first ranks; hunting kleos unseasonably, with his family and country in the forefront of his mind. In other words, a hero is spelt: H-E-C-T-O-R.

The first component to Hector that makes him such a great hero is his honor. Coincidentally, the first sentence in the passage is spoken by Hector and it reflects this heroic characteristic. He explicitly states that his shame would be too dreadful if he avoids returning to battle. More importantly, however, is the implicit devices that Homer uses in this statement to further the significance and palpability of Hector’s honor. Firstly, the sentence is inverted as Hector speaks about his shame before describing what exactly causes it. This brings added attention to his opening remark. Secondly, it appears that Homer uses “too terrible” as a form of cacophony to demonstrate Hector’s pride and his stance against dishonor. Another tactic that the author employs to truly solidify the characteristic of honor is inherent in Hector’s statement that he must defend his father’s honour, as well as his own. The wording “father’s honor” appears to be a form of assonance and it dually functions to emphasize Hector’s timē. This statement...