What kind of person is hector in the iliad

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. Therefore, Hektor can be seen as an instrument of Zeus. But although he is an instrument of Zeus, he is not a victim of Zeus. Hektor has sufficient flaws and errors to cause him to deserve his death.

With this in mind, one must ask, "What is Hektor's error? An "error" is a misdeed consciously committed, and as such, a character must live with the shame of having committed the deed. Error sometimes occurs when the hero seeks only honor. If a warrior is reliable, he is admired, and if others admire the warrior, then he admires himself. According to the heroic code, the warrior should gain his honor by combat; consequently, he often over-reaches himself in his attempt to win honor.

In the case of Hektor, it is sometimes difficult to determine what Hektor does in full knowledge, which constitutes an error, and what he does when he is acting as an instrument of the gods. Hektor's first error is his promise to his fellow Trojans of a Trojan victory after the Achaians have been driven back to their ships. In his speech, he announces his plan for the Trojan troops to remain on the plain, ready for an early attack.

The Trojan victory, however, is a result of his misunderstanding Zeus' plan which is simply to give the Trojans success until they reach the Greek ships so that the Achaians, specifically Agamemnon, will be punished for the mistreatment of Achilles. Hektor's success in battle, then, leads to a presumptuous wish for immortality and, consequently, to the beginning of Hektor's deterioration.

Hektor's second error is his refusal to withdraw his troops back to the city, as Poulydamas advises. Hektor is fired with victory and with Zeus' promise of aid. His refusal to flee even in the face of vastly superior forces makes him the most tragic figure in the poem. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Iliad! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. What started the Trojan War? Why does Achilles refuse to fight for the bulk of the poem? Why does Zeus support the Trojans?

Why does Hera defend the Achaeans? Why does Achilles finally rejoin the battle? During the funeral games, contest for armour of Achilles , was awarded to Odysseus as the hero who did the greatest services to the Greek causes in the war.

Hector is the mightiest warrior in the Trojan army. Although he meets his match in Achilles, he wreaks havoc on the Achaean army during Achilles' period of absence. He leads the assault that finally penetrates the Achaean ramparts, he is the first and only Trojan to set fire to an Achaean ship, and he kills Patroclus.

Hector , in Greek legend, the eldest son of the Trojan king Priam and his queen Hecuba. He was the husband of Andromache and the chief warrior of the Trojan army. In Homer's Iliad he is represented as an ideal warrior and the mainstay of Troy. In a telling metaphor, Hector betrays his weakness and his strength by removing his helmet to comfort his son. This is Hector's weakness because it is this same compassion and willingness to lay down his armor that ends up betraying him and getting him killed.

What kind of person is Hector? Category: books and literature fiction. Hector, in Greek legend, the eldest son of the Trojan king Priam and his queen Hecuba. In Homer 's Iliad he is represented as an ideal warrior and the mainstay of Troy.

Who is the real hero in Iliad? Who is the hero of Iliad? Why is Hector the true hero of the Iliad? How is Hector an epic hero? Why is Hector a good leader?

Why is Hector a tragic hero? What does the name Hector mean?