Why Achilles is the True Hero of Homer's Iliad
...s sinks to the depths of cruelty in his appemted desercration of Hector's corpse. Because Achillies has the courage to right the wrong he has done to Hector and defers to King Priam, his reversal in character from nearly insane with anger to humanity makes him the true tragic hero of Homer's epic. Hector is obviously a person of high-standing, he is often called “Glorious Hector.” Hector is not only respected by his own people of Troy, but is also greatly respected by the Greeks. He is respected enough that Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks says, “Greeks, enough! Men, stop shooting! Hector of the flashing helmet looks as if he has something to say.” Hector's high status does not change even at the end of the epic; “then Hector's brothers and comrades-in-arms collected his white bones, lamenting and with many a tear running down their cheeks. They took the bones, wrapped them in a soft purple clothing and put them in the golden coffin.” Even Hector's slayer Achilles has the utmost respect for the prince; “Achilles then called out some waiting-women and told them to wash and anoint the body (the body of Hector).” Hector also displays chararteristics of a hero by displaying qualities of a man like ourselves in elemental feelings and emotions. Hector also has feelings and emotions just like us. He is afraid that the Greek army will take away his wife and make her a slave; “yet what distresses me is not only the thought of what the Trojans will suffer… but much more the thought of you, when you are dragged off in tears by some bronze-armoured Greek, your freedom gone.” He loves his son dearly, “Zeus and you other gods, grant that this boy of mine becomes, like me, pre-eminent amoung the Trojan's; as strong and brave as I; a mighty ruler of Ilium.” Now all of these are examples of how Hector follows the path of a hero, however, he stops his journey short. Hector has no tragic flaw. He does not change at all during the course of the epic because he is flawless. Even though Hector maybe considered a hero by his own people, brave and courageous, he is not truly a hero in the sense that he wages no personal battle against himself. Because of this he does not undergo any change. In The Iliad, the classic Greek drama, Homer demonstrates the concept of the tragic flaw through the character of Achilles. Agememnon shows how Acillies is in high standing with his people; “a great warrior, godlike Achilles.” He is like his fellow Greeks in that he loves and devotes himself to his country and religion. Achilles dedication reaches to his people and to the gods. He does not want to leave to fight in a foreign country. This is obvious when he says “it was no quarrel with Trojan warriors that brought me here to fight. They have never done me any harm. They have never lifted oxen or horses of mine, nor ravaged my crops back home in fertile Phthia.” It is important to note here though that Achilles changes. In the very end of the epic, Achilles changes from his violent...