These heroes follow the heroic code, a code which consists of having qualities of a leader, fighting for arete, and having the ability to accept his fate. We see these characters grow and develop as they make difficult choices and face conflicts throughout the poem. Homer uses Achilles, the best Greek warrior and
Granted, he possessed a strong will, a thing very necessary for good leadership. He had no problem exercising authoritativeness, yet Achilles beat him in every other aspect, and all but matches his stubbornness and strong will. Overall, Achilles comes out the true leader, regardless of Agamemnon’s superior rank. Achilles turns the tide of battle where Agamemnon cannot and commands respect when his commander makes a fool of himself. The young Dardan understood the importance of connecting with an audience; an army.
This culmination of exaggerated emotions makes Achilles a unique hero as he is not entirely perfect, he too has weaknesses and flaws. However he is still more godly than anything, it would be hard to relate to such a hero given his near
In The Iliad 2.246-324, Homer discloses quite a bit about the society his characters live in and displays important aspects of the martial code. This sequence begins with Thersites, a common soldier, berating king Agamemnon. He his speaking out of anger, since he and his comrades had been at war for nine years, and also attempting to entertain his fellow troops. Thersites is exceptionally ugly. The author says the following: Here was the ugliest man who ever came to Troy.
Hector is a man of family who loves his child and wife and he trusted that Confidence, communication is essential to fabricate a decent association with deference and love to keep the family. Additionally, he can forget war when a little child cries or his kin endure by the war. A While Achilles is ruled by his uncontrollable interests as found in his wrath and proud hardheaded courses and to Achilles is obvious that military glory is more essential than family life. He risks his life keeping in mind the end goal to increase military glory (Homer, Iliad 6.444). Concurring, The Iliad is a poem that indicated Achilles has an incredible love to his mother and his dear fellowship with Patroclus and Briseis.
Written by Homer, The Iliad, portrays the life of Achilles, and how the Greek Hero allowed anger to overwhelm his decision making. Complications arise when anger leads to hate, pride, or suffering, and Achilles life illustrates the results of anger. Throughout the book anger slowly consumes Achilles and significantly changes results of the Trojan War. Causing him to act foolishly, Achilles’ anger brought harm upon many Greek people. Also, The Iliad teaches that anger caused a downfall to Achilles’ life.
A clear example can be seen when Athena appears in Nausicaa’s dream, so that she is aware that Odysseus will make an appearance soon. This demonstrates an archetype hero’s quality, as they always receive supernatural help. In fact, Odysseus states that Athena’s “inspiration spurred [him]”, and the word spurred has a strong positive connotation Moreover, having special weapons is also a characteristic, and in The Odyssey, Odysseus’ bow and arrow are presented as symbols and are described using a Homeric simile. The bow and arrow symbolise Odysseus’ power, a quality that a hero must possess, and right as a ruler of Ithaca. In addition, Odysseus’ bow and arrow are presented as being special weapons as the epic simile compares it to a musician’s harp.
Odysseus displays perseverance and fortitude, two specific characteristics that all heroes should display. Perseverance is a quality all heroes should have because even if they encounter disappointment or defeat on their way, they are determined to fight through it and withhold fighting until they reach success. They personally prohibit giving up easily rather they are prepared to endure the consequences they may face in their journey. Odysseus did not relinquish even after he was told to proceed in exercising judgement and undergoing between two paths that both had unquestionable high death factors; he persevered and fought through, and kept fighting to return back to Ithaca even after having multitudinous odds against his favor. (150-151) Fortitude is a trait that all heroic figures should have because it allows them to encounter danger or pain with bravery.
Achilles, in the epic Illiad, shows the trait of being unforgiving. Achilles shows unforgivingness when the death of Patroclus, his good friend, causes Achilles to only become more enraged except this time points his anger toward Hector, his enemy. Despite the differences in the two heroes of the epic poems, they do have some similarities in the traits they display. For example both characters show the trait bravery and cunning in battle. When Beowulf proceeds to fight Grendel he portrays bravery by sacrificing his own men before fighting Beowulf himself.
Achilles, the Achaean forces’ prized fighter, demonstrates this attribute throughout the Iliad, particularly in his renewed participation after the death of Patroklus. The simile in “[he] swept everywhere with his spear like something more than a mortal” (line 493) describes Achilles’ godlike strength as he slays the Trojans. The reader sees how rage can cause Achilles to apply his strength in a ruthless manner. His clouded logic disconnects him from his own super-human endowment in the battlefield. Similarly, Beowulf, a revered warrior among the Geats, also displays his strength in combat.