The Death of a Great Hero: Hector
The Death of a Great “Hero” Hector
"My doom has come upon me; let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter." This is a quote from Hector from the Iliad. This quote shows how brave and thoughtful Hector was; however, we need to question ourselves, was he really a great hero? If so did he die heroically? Many say he is the true hero of the Iliad and that he did die heroically with his dignity intact. On the other hand, some say his death was ironic and that he did not die heroically at all, but somewhat humiliating. After reading the Iliad I somewhat concede with the latter: Hector was, in fact, not the greatest hero of Iliad and that he died in a humiliating manner. Firstly, we need to understand the background information that led to Hector’s death. We first observe Achilles’ rage in Book XXI. Hector has already killed Achilles’ beloved friend Patroklos. Achilles, whom is filled with rage, returns back into the battle field and fights the Trojan soldiers alone at the river Xanthus. As the death of Patroklos drove all kindness of his heart, he brutally kills the Trojan soldiers. Therefore Priam is forced to open the gate of Ilium in return of his soldiers. Bravely, Agenor holds off Achilles. Apollo intervenes and takes Agenor away in a mist, leading Achilles back towards the river, Xanthus, which allows the Trojans to return safely within the walls of Ilium. By this time, Hector still remains outside Ilium by the Scaean gates. Priam pleads his son Hector to return; as waiting for Achilles only means death. Priam’s last appeal was that Hector should take pity of the city and its people of Troy and preserve himself from death. Hector refuses to return and confronts Achilles. When Hector finally confronts Achilles, he cannot face his adversary, he starts to run. After a while, Hector is finally slayed by Achilles and dragged out of Troy.
Indeed it
"My doom has come upon me; let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter." This is a quote from Hector from the Iliad. This quote shows how brave and thoughtful Hector was; however, we need to question ourselves, was he really a great hero? If so did he die heroically? Many say he is the true hero of the Iliad and that he did die heroically with his dignity intact. On the other hand, some say his death was ironic and that he did not die heroically at all, but somewhat humiliating. After reading the Iliad I somewhat concede with the latter: Hector was, in fact, not the greatest hero of Iliad and that he died in a humiliating manner. Firstly, we need to understand the background information that led to Hector’s death. We first observe Achilles’ rage in Book XXI. Hector has already killed Achilles’ beloved friend Patroklos. Achilles, whom is filled with rage, returns back into the battle field and fights the Trojan soldiers alone at the river Xanthus. As the death of Patroklos drove all kindness of his heart, he brutally kills the Trojan soldiers. Therefore Priam is forced to open the gate of Ilium in return of his soldiers. Bravely, Agenor holds off Achilles. Apollo intervenes and takes Agenor away in a mist, leading Achilles back towards the river, Xanthus, which allows the Trojans to return safely within the walls of Ilium. By this time, Hector still remains outside Ilium by the Scaean gates. Priam pleads his son Hector to return; as waiting for Achilles only means death. Priam’s last appeal was that Hector should take pity of the city and its people of Troy and preserve himself from death. Hector refuses to return and confronts Achilles. When Hector finally confronts Achilles, he cannot face his adversary, he starts to run. After a while, Hector is finally slayed by Achilles and dragged out of Troy.
Indeed it