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Were the Greek Heroes Truly Heroes?

Story VI

Hektor & The Trojan War
Part II

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Andromache Mourns Hektor

http://www.calliope.free-online.co.uk/book1/mourn.htm
 

Introduction & Commentary

    The Trojan War was basically, according to Homer, fought over the capturing of Helen. Helen was the wife of a Greek man, Menelaos, but was then captured in battle by a Trojan man, Paris. He took Helen back to Troy with him and Menelaos went after her with the Greek army behind him.

    The Greek's greatest hero, Achilles, refuses to fight and the Greek's army is hurt by his lack of involvement. However the Trojan's greatest hero and warrior, Hektor, is fighting and is leading their cause and nearly single handily taking apart the Greek forces. Hektor is engaged in almost every aspect of the battle for the Trojans: he is their leader, their greatest fighter and even their mediator. Hektor attempts on a few occasions to settle the battle and prevent further bloodshed by arranging duels. One of these duels is between his brother and the cause of the war, Paris, and the man who's wife he took, Menelaos. After that battle is interrupted by Aphrodite the war continues. Next Hektor goes back to Troy to convince the women to pray for the Trojan's cause and to convince his brother Paris to return to the battle. He is successful. After returning to the fight, another duel is arranged and this time Hektor himself fights. He battles a huge man and hero of the Greek army, Ajax. After the battle results in basically a stalemate, both sides agree to a temporary truce so that both sides can bury their dead.

    We now enter Story 6:
 
 

    After the brief truce, the war begins again. Hektor is everywhere, fighting bravely and cheering on his men. The Trojan army is successful in pushing back the Greek forces all the way back to their ships on the shore, and Hektor orders his men to camp outside of the Greek camp for the night, so they might not lose their position. The Greeks are completely demoralized and contemplate returning home. But instead the Greeks rally and send spies during the night to try and infiltrate the Trojan forces to try and learn some information. It proves to be a useful tactic and the Greeks learn some key information about the Trojan army.

    The next day of battle proves to be a fruitful day for the Greeks. The Greeks regain the ground they lost and push back the Trojan forces. During the battle, the Greek commanders meet in a tent to discuss various battle strategies. One of the Greeks' wisest men, old Nestor, has an idea that is embraced by all of the Greek leaders. He suggests that Patroklos (best friend of Achilles, and actually rumored to be his lover) try and convince Achilles to return to the battle. Several attempts at this had already been made but to no avail. Nestor went on to say that if Partoklos isn't successful, which no one believed he would be, that Patroklos would dress in Achilles' own armor and enter the battle. Of course, Achilles still refused to enter the battle, so Patroklos was forced to enter the battle dressed as Achilles. This was wise on the Greek's part for several reasons: it would make the Trojans believe that Achilles had returned and would strike fear into them, and it would raise the spirits of their own men.

    Before Patroklos enters the battle, he is warned by his dear friend Achilles: "Do not attempt to attack Troy, defend our ships, and then return home." Patroklos agrees. He fights very bravely and pushes the Trojans back away from the ships, until he decides that he will follow his army to attack Troy. He runs after Hektor and his men and even attempts to scale the walls of mighty Troy. Hektor eventually tracks him down and rams his spear through Patroklos' belly. As he stands over him, he strips Patroklos' (actually Achilles') armor.

    Word reaches the Greek camp that Patroklos has been slain. Achilles is wrought with grief and is in utter agony. He tears out his hair cries uncontrollably. Achilles vows revenge on the Trojans and namely Hektor. Achilles is informed that if he chooses to avenge Patroklos' death and kill Hektor he will seal his own fate and die. Achilles is too angry and decides that it is still worth it to him, to enter the battle and avenge his friend.

    Achilles dresses in new armor and rallies his troops and prepares to battle (how brave of him, it only took the death of his "friend" to get him off of his rear and decide to battle). Achilles storms into the battle, taking the lives of many Trojans and any man in his path. As he comes ever closer to Troy, Hektor stands and waits for him. Hektor knows that he is the symbol of the Trojan resistance and that all hope is upon his shoulders. He also knows that he is fated to die at the hands of Achilles and that no matter what he is cannot change fate. Knowing all this, Hektor stands bravely and unselfishly in front of the city gates, hoping that in some way that maybe the gods will side with him and possibly change his destiny.

    Achilles finally meets Hektor and the climax of 'The Iliad' is near. The two heroes pursue one another and actually Achilles chases Hektor around the walls of Troy three times. Finally Hektor stops running (the war goddess Athena, who loved Achilles, actually convinces him to stop and that she would aid him if he does). The two heroes circle one another and Achilles casts his spear at Hektor. Dodging it, Hektor falls to the ground. Athena grabs the spear and quickly returns it to Achilles. It was at this point that Hektor realizes that he was tricked, and that he has the gods against him, but still he stands tall and fights. Hektor casts his spear at Achilles, and strikes the center of his great shield, but does not pierce it because it was forged by the god of the hearth, Hephaistos. Achilles, with spear in hand, casts his spear again and as Athena guides it, it strikes Hektor and is driven through his throat. As Hektor lays there, Achilles stands over him and watches as he slowly dies. Hektor begs and pleas with Achilles that his body be buried properly and given to his family, and Achilles refuses. Before Hektor takes his final breath, he reminds Achilles of his fate and that his own death is near.

    Achilles then proceeds to drag the body of the Trojan hero to his chariot. He then straps the ankles of the body to it, and drags across the battlefield. This utterly disgusts and horrifies the Trojan army and all hope and morale they ever possessed is vanquished by this heinous act. Hektor's wife, Andromache, and father, King Priam, are beside themselves with grief at the death of Hektor and the treatment of his body.

    Priam decides to enter the Greek camp, against the will of his wife, to beg Achilles for his son's body back. He offers Achilles gifts and anything imaginable and Achilles still refuses. Finally Achilles realizes that the two men are sharing the same grief in that they both have recently lost someone near and dear to them, and gives Priam his son's body back.

    Priam returns to Troy with the body of Hektor, and for several days the war is put on hold so that the Trojan army and the entire city can mourn the death of their greatest hero and the greatest hero of Homer's 'Iliad', Prince Hektor.
 

    Hektor's story is a very sad one indeed. He dies and leaves his family and city behind, ultimately to burn to the ground. Despite his heroic actions Hektor wasn't enough to stop the Greek forces. But we do learn some things from Hektor and his story. I believe we see many qualities that define the Greek hero, and these qualities are even more apparent when viewing Achilles' behavior. Hektor shows us that unselfishness, courage, fortitude, and even love are characteristics of a true hero. He shows that even though he might not be the better man in battle, he was the better man the the main protagonist of 'The Iliad', Achilles. We see Achilles' greed, selfishness, failure to show compassion and neglect for others as what a hero is not. He might have been looked up to on the battlefield, but beyond that there is not really anything admirable about Achilles. The only reason he even fights in the war, is because his friend is killed and he feels responsible for it. For months and months, he was perfectly content not to fight, and to sit on his ship and pout while many of his fellow countrymen died around him. Hektor did anything and everything he could to protect his men and his family and shows truly that he indeed is a true hero.