Western Civ. 1-10: Hector and the Poem

    The Illiad, like any book, is dominated both by its themes and characters. the people of the poem act as catalysts for the ideas portrayed within. They are the subject of the story insofar as they have been depicted in their role within the story. In order to understand the Illiad, we need to understand them. One of the most important characters is Hector, the hero of Troy.

    Hector represents the courageous nobility of the ideal warrior. He is both the hated enemy of Achillies and the object of praise to his people. He is described as a great leader of men in war, a warrior king of old. On the battlefield he is described as a bronze star, shining with glory and fame like a light in the darkness of war and death. Hector is a hero of the damned, He fights for the future of his dynasty, his children, and his people.

    But hector is more than a hero, he is a man. His men see him not only as a warrior but an honorable man; Not only is he their king, but also a great leader. His wife loves him and wishes he would not leave to fight, but he does leave her, to protect her like any good husband would. He is not only the ruler that his people are fighting for but also the thing that inspires their honor to persevere. He is not just the sire of his son, but a loving and caring father, a man who plays with his child and truly loves him. In everything he does Hector is a true king and a great man.

    Unlike his rival, Hector is an incredibly deep and moving character. He isn't motivated by greed, nor driven by rage. No, Hector is a noble king, the truest kind of hero we may encounter. He fights for His country, for his city, and for the people in it, they cling to him like his beautiful wife. He refuses to allow them to be destroyed, and neither will he forsake them. Hector fights to protect his family, and the ideals of his past drive him to defend the torch. He stands in the gap between his father Agnemenon and his son; he promises to pass the flames of honor to his descendants. He will not allow his honor to be extinguished; neither will he fail at his duties. 

    The true tragedy of the Illiad is the tragedy of Hector. The very paradigm of greek virtue, Hector is the subject of a terrible circumstance, but not a victim. He refuses to have his honor tarnished; and never will he forsake his people. Was it fate that he should perish? Or the consequence of his own virtue, freely chosen? Perhaps it is both. The story of Hector strikes us as the example of the greatest level of virtue. Not in fighting wars, but in refusing to surrender a battle; not in the title of a king, but in the deeds and actions of a leader. Therein lies the virtue of Hector, an exemplar of honor and courage. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yys5eBCbmpg