In the lliad, the characters of Hector and Achilles carry similar traits, although a deeper investigation into each character will show some stark contrasts between the two. Victory and defeat is not the most telling sign as to which is the greater hero of the two. There are flaws within each character and each one fights to overcome them throughout the story. By the end, it is clear which one emerges as the most appropriate symbol of a hero. The character of Achilles is greater than the character of Hector because he was able to overcome more of his character flaws to become a more realistic portrayal of what a heroic character should be.
Both characters of Achilles and Hector show that they have a significant amount love. Despite being great warriors, the capability of love is still within their capacity. However, both men have different ways of directing and showing that love. Hector shows his love in a more traditional sense in that he is devoted entirely to his family. He will not stray from his wife by being unfaithful and remains fully devoted to her. Achilles shows the same fidelity to his woman, Briseis. Nevertheless, Achilles refuses to marry her and it is love that keeps them from being wed.
His love is directed elsewhere. Achilles’ love is more evident in his affinity with battle and the glory that comes along with it. Achilles shows the quality of love but shows that he devotes to the pursuit of things other than his woman. That choice also makes him a stronger warrior, one that is not clinging to things off the battlefield. And that choice is also a conscious one that Achilles makes without regret. Each character possesses a significant amount of courage and displays that frequently by readily taking to the battlefield and thriving as heroes in the violent face of war.
However, bravery went through a bit of a transformation with both men. Bravery was fleeting in Hector. He was renowned as a great warrior and revered for his courage in battle. Yet, when he learned that Achilles was coming to avenge the death of Patroclus, Hector’s bravery escaped him. In an effort to evade that imminent confrontation, Hector only regains some semblance of courage through the Goddess Athena. That courage again wavers as Hector trembles during the actual confrontation with Achilles. But once again courage returns upon Hector’s demise, even when the Gods abandoned him.
And just as Hector’s bravery transformed, Achilles’ ubiquitous bravery developed into a rage following Patroclus’ death. Triumph in battle results when the enemy has been defeated, but Achilles takes that to another level by desecrating the corpse of Hector and refusing to give it a proper burial. Achilles even forewarns him of this by saying “So with you and me. No love between us. No truce till one or the other falls and gluts with blood” (22. 313-314). It is not courage that compels him to do such acts, but rather a burning rage. Having suffered such a loss, Achilles’ rage is completely understandable.
His transformation of courage was also one more indicative of a hero as opposed to Hector’s wavering courage. And it is rage that enables Achilles to inflict monumental losses on the Trojans. “Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses” (1. 1-8). It was evident that both Achilles and Hector were both prideful men. However, each one displayed their pride in different ways. Achilles did so to a fault when he first refused to fight for Agamemnon. Achilles’ pride got in the way over the fact that Breisis was taken away from him by Agamemnon.
Achilles knew the state would be better served if he joined the war, but pride initially kept him out of it. He then overcomes that pride to help lead his state into victory. Hector shows his pride in his country immediately even though he also has great pride in his family. Hector is aware of his duty to his country and does not let his pride get in the way of compromising his service. Instead, he fights as a representative of Troy and it is pride that permits him to make that choice. Hector explains this by saying “All this weighs on my mind too, dear woman.
But I would die of shame to face the men of Troy and the Trojan women trailing their long robes if I would shrink from battle now, a coward” (6. 523-525). Achilles may have some flaws, but his passion and thirst for glory epitomizes what a hero has come to be. There needs to be a hero in such a story and Achilles more appropriately fits that mold. He does indeed have some character flaws, yet his character is so strong that audiences are more prone to putting up with those flaws and watching his rise to glory. Hector was a strong character, but his overall effect was not nearly as monumental as Achilles was in The Iliad.
