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Achilles Vs. Hector

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Achilles and Hector are both great warriors for their respective sides. Although they have some similarities, their differences in cultural values are greater. In the poet Homer’s epic, the Iliad, he depicts two heroes who have contrasting traits. This essay will explain Hector’s and Achilles’ heroic qualities which are valued in Troy and Greece. In the Iliad, both warriors have good and heroic traits which correspond with their cultures. First of all, Hector is depicted as being more sympathetic than Achilles. Hector has a wife and child whom he cares for as shown in this quote from the Iliad, Book 6: “Hector’s son, the darling of his eyes and as radiant as a star.” This shows the reader the relationship that Hector has with his family, specifically his son. The only family Achilles has is his mother and his friend Patroclus. Next, Achilles is considered heroic mainly because of his strength, and “almost invincibility”; these traits come from his divine relationship to the gods. Without his divinity, Achilles doesn’t have much else going for him. Athena continually interfere and helps Achilles, …show more content…

For example, Hector shows honor in the Iliad Book 22 when he states, “I will never mutilate you—merciless as you are/ I will give your body back to your loyal comrades. Swear you’ll do the same.” After that, Achilles tells Hector that he would not give his body back to the Trojans because there was “no love” between them. Even though Hector was fighting against the odd during his fight with Achilles, he still showed honor. This makes Hector seem more heroic than Achilles, even though Hector was beaten in combat by him. Both of these heroes of Greece and Troy wanted to be the heroes for their homelands. However, as depicted in the Iliad, they had many contrasting traits. All in all, Achilles and Hector were both great warriors for their respective

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