The Characteristics Of Achilles: The Hero Of Iliad

Beginnings, Endings, and Anger As was Virgil’s intent, the structure of The Aeneid parallels that of Homer’s Iliad throughout the epic. This tendency is clearest at the outset and the finale of each work. However, despite their parallels, The Aeneid intentionally inverts key aspects of The Iliad, particularly regarding the hero of each epic, Aeneas and Achilles, respectively.

The Iliad is a riveting tale of violence and rage amongst heartbreak and tragedy, where a range of emotions are evoked through various events and decisions made by the characters throughout. Some of these characters act on impulse, while others think over with others and themselves to find the best course of action and do what they feel would be the best, be it for their families or their people, or for themselves alone. Through such feelings, certain events play out that either work out to the favor of the characters, or the exact opposite. Characters like Achilles and Agamemnon act on their anger, often going beyond what would be deemed reasonable and even affecting the events following. Achilles’ anger was triggered by Agamemnon’s arrogance

Agamemnon violated his honor and Achilles would not let him have his way. Instead of fighting and trying to get back his prize, he did what he thought would dishonor Agamemnon which was to withdraw from the battle. Later in the Iliad in book 18, Achilles learns that his

For example Oedipus says, “ For whoever he was who killed that man would as soon kill me with that same violent hand.” although he is the killer. Another example of irony is when Oedipus declares no one is allowed to speak to the person responsible for the curse of thebes, he says “ I decree no one shall receive him or speak to him nor make him partner in prayers to the gods or sacrifices.” although he is the one who brought the curse upon them.

Master of land and seaways, the gods of old, son of Laertes; all these names reflect the great and mighty hero, Odysseus. So, what makes Odysseus the perfect epitome of an epic Greek hero? His intelligence helps greatly, but with every great hero, there's a weakness, a flaw. Odysseus' flaw happens to be his intemperate pride, which takes him the long way home. Despite his inordinate pride, he has a caring heart for all his men, and the power of knowledge to get him home.

Furthermore, Hamlet wants Claudius to suffer the consequences of his actions. As he witnesses the king pray out of guilt, he professes, A villain kills my father, and for that I, his sole son, do this same villain

Homer is remembered by many due to his epic poems he wrote that include The Iliad, but the one most remembered by people today is The Odyssey. An epic poem about a great hero named Odysseus coming home after a deadly journey that claimed many lives, but is Odysseus really the critically acclaimed hero Homer depicts him to be? The actions of Odysseus in the poem can be seen as heroic or valiant, but this argument crumbles under scrutiny when the actions of Odysseus are examined under a fine eye. Flaws in that argument include Odysseus failing to trust his men, exposing his men to unnecessary risks, and prolonging the nightmarish adventure he put his men through. These points are painfully obvious throughout the Odyssey and they show what poor

Oedipus was a victim of fate. He never knew about the tragic life ahead of him. Being the perfect example of a tragic hero. His tragic flaw was pride which not only caused the problems in Thebes to begin, but it also is a reoccurring theme throughout the entire story of Oedipus. Though Oedipus’s fate was a significant factor in moving the story it was his pride that sealed his fate.

Mercutio’s death then lead to Romeo being filled with anger and killing Romeo. After killing Tybalt, realizing what he has done, Romeo says, “Oh I am fortune’s fool!” (Act 3, Scene 1). The importance of fate causing this event is because Romeo killing Tybalt is the turning point of the story. Tybalt’s death caused the beginning of a chain of bad events.

Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel and he declines the challenge and insists that he won’t fight Tybalt. Mercutio is angered by Romeo’s “cowardice” and takes on Tybalt himself. Romeo wants Mercutio to stop fighting Tybalt so he decides that it’d be a good idea to block his arm in mid combat and Tybalt stabs Mercutio from under Romeo’s arm and Mercutio falls dead after rambling about plagues and a pun or two. Romeo doesn’t realize that it is his own fault that Mercutio died after Mercutio even blamed his wound on him. Romeo lets his emotions decide his actions and becomes enraged and ignores that Tybalt is now his family and fails to see that he was the reason Mercutio was killed.

Beowulf and Achilles both have very different cultures that make them who they are. Beowulf was thought of as a selfless person, while Achilles was thought of as a selfish person. Achilles was a lot different from Beowulf because he fought for revenge, “Hector, had you thought that you could kill Patroclus and be save?” (Beowulf,80). When Hector killed his best friend, he killed him to get revenge of the death, that is something Beowulf didn’t

The absence of thought utilized as a part of demanding the vengeance prompted the passings of both Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes arranged with Claudius to slaughter Hamlet with the harmed tipped sword, yet they had not imagined that the sword may be utilized against them. With Laertes trusting the King 's allegations that Hamlet had killed his dad, he battles Hamlet and wounds him once with the harmed tipped sword. Village continues to twisted Laertes with the same sword, demanding his demise. Villa had numerous opportunities to slaughter his uncle, however his fury exceeded his better judgment; and he held up until the ruler could see no great in Claudius, and afterward strike him down into a universe of unceasing punishment. "

(Wickersham) That 's when he had to go complete the twelve labors of Hercules as a form of punishment the gods thought was appropriate for his crime. Also, another act of destruction Hercules caused was the murder of his half-brother Iphitus. "This crime was more than fratricide; it breached the laws of hospitality, for Iphitus was Hercules ' guest when Hercules hurled him down from the walls of Tiryns." (Bleiberg)

Achilles, on the other hand, killed for revenge. He states, “If Hector does not feel my battering spear/ tear the life out of him, making him pay/ in his own blood for the slaughter of Patroclus…(28-30).” As a Greek, he must take action against anyone who shows disrespect. He did not kill for glory, like Beowulf, but instead for selfish reasons.

The Iliad is filled with war legends and divine interventions that tug at one 's heart strings and mystifies the mind. In the times of ancient Greece, The Iliad was used like a modern day Bible. That being said, epic conventions are used to teach lessons and morals. While there are many epic conventions demonstrated throughout The Iliad, the two that are most prominent are the intervention of the gods and the long, formal speeches given by many characters.