Surprising Similarities

An Essay on "The Iliad"

One’s fatal flaw, greatest strength, and main objective in life are often the same. If one always strives for loyalty, for example, his strength will be his steadfastness, and his flaw an inability to cut his losses. The two main heroes of the Iliad - Hektor, chief soldier of the besieged town of Troy, and Achilles, godlike warrior in the attacking force - illustrate this well. All of their actions align with their overarching goals: for Achilles, the acquisition of honor; for Hektor, acting bravely above all else. As these goals play out, important parts of both characters are illustrated – the similarity of prowess in battle; fighting for loved ones as a sort of shared goal; and their flaws being simply their strengths taken too far. Amazingly, Hektor and Achilles have more in common than they have different.

The one thing that honor and bravery both lead to in Ancient Greece is prowess on the field of battle. Fighting well is glorious, and as Achilles is blessed with godlike stature, he easily wins honor there. He throws himself into every battle so fiercely that the rest of his army considers him the only hope they have of winning the war – in the words of one comrade: “by a blade’s turn, our good ships / are saved or lost, unless you arm your valor” (Book 9, lines 280-281). If Achilles fights, the Achaeans are saved; if he refuses, they will face their doom. Hektor is similarly regarded by his fellow Trojans, due to a combination of his natural abilities and his willingness to plunge into almost any fight. Undauntable courage works in his favor, and “even Achilles / shivered” (Book 7, lines 129-130) to meet him in combat – which is the greatest imaginable testament to his strength. Bravery and the pursuit of honor are fitting goals for a Greek battlefield.

But of course, as the story continues, each man shows his weakness. Every modus operandi has a downfall, and that usually is shown when the strength is taken too far. The stumbling-block in Achilles’ pursuit of honor is the fact that he has some and therefore deserves respect. Achilles is acutely conscious of what he deserves; as a result, a minor slight in the distribution of prizes offends his pride enough that he refuses to fight until paid the proper respect. His absence results in much death, the rout of the army, and his closest comrade, Patroklos, killed in his stead – all for the sake of personal honor. Of course, Hektor has his fault as well: his constant bravery can turn rash, such as his refusal to retreat into the city for the night. As he has just cornered his enemies against the seashore, pressing his advantage seems wise; but Achilles will rejoin the battle in the morning, and against him Hektor’s forces cannot stand. Yet Hektor says: “Here I’ll stand, though [Achilles] should win; I might / just win, myself” (Book 18, lines 358-359). So he leaves his army in the open, where the next day they are routed. It could be brave to stand one’s ground, as it could be reasonable to require respect. But it is bravery taken too far, and it becomes foolishness, just as honor taken too far becomes pride.

In addition to having a downfall, every modus operandi has a strength. These heroes show their strengths when they act for their friends. When Achilles learns that his refusal to fight has caused Patroklos’ demise, this great warrior finally pursues honor for the sake of another. Mad with grief, he pledges to honor Patroklos with the slaughter of Trojans, and he fights for Patroklos’ honor just as fiercely as he fought for his own, promising to “carry back the gear and head / of him who killed [Patroklos]” (Book 18, lines 391-395) – and he does it, too. Achilles is not always self-centered, though his selflessness comes rather late, and he chooses a gory way to honor a friend. The good of Hektor’s bravery is shown in the memorable scene when Hektor meets his wife and child in Troy. His wife begs Hektor to stay in the safety of the city, not to reenter the dreadful battle and die. But Hektor tells her that she is the very reason he must go back to the battlefield: “let me be hidden dark down in my grave before I hear you cry or know you captive!” (Book 6, lines 539-540) Unlike Achilles, Hektor’s bravery is for the sake of his family and his city all along.

Hektor and Achilles, then, mightiest of the heroes of old, and generally seen as nothing alike, share these three traits. Each man’s goal in life leads to his greatest strength and his most devastating weakness – in addition to a common skill with sword and spear. Honor becomes a barrier for Achilles when it becomes pride; but shows his better side when he seeks honor for another. Bravery slips into rashness for Hektor, but his brave deeds are clearly, consistently, for the good of those he loves. Homer does not sway the reader’s opinion on which hero outshines the other – each may decide for himself whether consistency, or repentance, makes the better hero.