Hektor has dedicated his life to the service of others; he is an example of a "model" Homeric man. In contrast, Achilles seems superhuman because of his extremes and excesses. However, both are great warriors and the leading soldiers on their respective sides. In addition to Hektor's social responsibilities and his heroic qualities, he is also a thoughtful commander. He focuses his energy; and although he fears Telamonian Aias Ajax , he bravely battles with him until nightfall.
Virtuous and faithful to the gods in all respects, he refuses the wine that his mother, Hekuba, offers him because he is tired and unclean and he fears that wine may cause him to forget his duty to his troops. An example of Hektor's concern for virtue is evident when he rebukes Paris for kidnapping Helen, the act that perpetrated the war. He refers to Paris' act as shameful. Paris' behavior places Hektor in a dilemma: It is socially necessary to protect Paris, but it is also morally and socially correct to rebuke him.
Thus, the heroic code binds Hektor into an uncomfortable, untenable position. Helen also places Hektor in an untenable position, and her being a woman complicates the problem. Helen is a guest at the Trojan court, and she is also the wife of Paris.
Paris also pirated some of Menelaos' material treasures, but the fact remains that Helen is still a wife without a dowry, a matter that runs counter to Troy's social codes. Hektor does not blame Helen; but being improperly married, she is a symbol of disorder and a threat to the social systems of both the Trojans and the Achaians. Unlike Helen, Hektor's wife Andromache is associated with social order and the continuation of the family.
Hektor's obvious love for Andromache symbolizes his belief in proper domesticity, and his image of her being taken captive and working the loom for another man represents his deep fear of disorder. Hektor also expresses concern that Andromache might be taken captive by the Greeks, suggesting that he sees, through Helen, the wrong that Paris committed. Hektor's relationship and attitude toward women and children is deeply embedded in Homeric culture.
In the code of that era, the son fights like his father, but the son is also raised by his mother, and she teaches him that he must be a hero, fighting for her and for other women who will also raise heroes. In this culture, there was a great concern for women, because they were dependent and, like young children, they were vulnerable to enslavement. As a hero, then, Hektor is not only an extension of his father, he is also an extension of his mother, and when she begs him to come into the city of Troy, she assumes the position of a suppliant, appealing for mercy on the battlefield.
Hektor's choice to remain on the battlefield and fight Achilles in a duel ignores her plea; therefore, in accordance with the idea that the hero is an extension of the mother, Hektor will be guilty of her death if anything happens to her.
Priam's plea to his son is similar to Hekuba's, but his plea is for family continuity and for Troy. An important idea in the Iliad is how "the plan, or will of Zeus" affects Hektor. The god's promise to Thetis to give victory to the Trojans traps Hektor into a key role. Zeus has promised him divine help with victory that will last until the Trojans have reached the beaches and the Achaian ships. Hektor assumes that final victory is his. Of course, though, it isn't. Page Number and Citation : Book 21 Quotes.
Related Characters: Achilles speaker , Hector , Patroclus. Related Themes: The Gods. Book 22 Quotes. Related Characters: Achilles , Hector. Book 24 Quotes. Related Themes: Mortality. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Book 2.
Hector breaks up their meeting of chiefs, and a similar catalogue of the Trojans and their Book 3. Paris, seeing Menelaus, retreats back into the Trojan lines. The winner Book 5. Ares drives the Trojans forward, lending them his fighting spirit.
The Trojan ally Sarpedon taunts Hector , and Hector drives his men into battle with new force. Aeneas reappears on the battlefield, Hector pushes past the injured Sarpedon, looking to drive the Achaeans back to their ships, and Book 6.
Helenus, a seer and a son of Priam, tells Aeneas and Hector to stand fast and to rally the troops. He also tells Hector to return to Hector comes across Paris in his chambers, polishing his armor. Hector and Helen berate Paris for Hector speeds to his own house, but his wife Andromache is not there.
A servant tells Hector reaches down to cradle his son, but Astyanax is frightened, not recognizing his father in Hector puts his helmet back on and heads back into battle.
The women of Troy begin Book 7. Hector and Paris sweep back into battle, and each kills an Achaean. Athena notices the Trojan Ajax prays to Zeus and prepares himself for battle. Hector and Ajax agree to end their duel. They exchange gifts of friendship: Hector gives up Book 8. In battle, Hector bears down on the elderly Nestor. Nestor is barely saved by Diomedes, who takes him Teucer kills several Trojans. Teucer aims for Hector , but is only able to kill the men around him.
Hector , seeing the threat, injures With Hector in command, the Trojans drive the Achaeans back into their fortifications. Hera and Athena take He says that Hector will not quit the fight until Achilles returns from his absence.
Night comes and the battle ceases until the next day. Hector , encouraged by the Trojan success, decides to make his camp on the battlefield, so as Book In the Trojan camp, Hector also plans a night mission to gain information, promising treasure to a volunteer.
A soldier The Trojans prepare for battle as well, driven forward by Hector. The armies clash with Strife hovering over them, and many men are killed in combat. Zeus sends his messenger Iris to Hector , telling the soldier to hold back and command his men until Agamemnon is wounded.
He mounts his chariot and drives back to the Achaean camp. He begins to drive the They turn and hold their ground, killing several Trojans.
Hector charges them, and Diomedes throws his spear. Hector continues his onslaught, pushing the Achaeans back. The healer Machaon is wounded by Paris, causing Indeed, he recovers his courage only after receiving the insults of his comrades—first Glaucus and then Aeneas.
He can often become emotionally carried away as well, treating Patroclus and his other victims with rash cruelty. But although Hector may prove overly impulsive and insufficiently prudent, he does not come across as arrogant or overbearing, as Agamemnon does. Moreover, the fact that Hector fights in his homeland, unlike any of the Achaean commanders, allows Homer to develop him as a tender, family-oriented man. Hector shows deep, sincere love for his wife and children. Hector never turns violent with him, merely aiming frustrated words at his cowardly brother.
Moreover, although Hector loves his family, he never loses sight of his responsibility to Troy. Admittedly, he runs from Achilles at first and briefly entertains the delusional hope of negotiating his way out of a duel.
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