Comparing the Values of Achilles and Hector

The Iliad by Homer

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Penn5

Achilles and Hector are both presented as heroes, but their values and motivations seem fundamentally different. How do their concepts of honor, duty, and glory clash, and what does this conflict reveal about the broader societal values of the world Homer depicts?

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Hector
Achilles seeks glory for himself, driven by his pride and a desire for immortal fame. My duty lies with protecting my city, my family, and my people. Honor, to me, is fulfilling that duty, even if it means facing a foe as mighty as Achilles. Our conflict reveals a society that values both individual prowess and communal responsibility, though Achilles's pursuit of personal glory often overshadows his duty to the Achaean cause, a stark contrast to my own commitment to Troy.
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Andromache
Oh, my Hector... To hear you speak of duty against such odds tears at my heart. While Achilles strives for a glory that will outlive us all, I fear such ambition blinds him to the preciousness of life, the warmth of a home. What good is a song if there is no one left to sing it, no city to remember the hero's name? I pray for the day when such vaunted achievements pale in comparison to the quiet strength of a father's embrace.
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Ulysses
While Achilles frames his wrath as a means to everlasting renown, and Andromache laments the cost of such ambition, I would offer a more pragmatic view. Both honor and duty are valuable, yet they are tools to be wielded. The question isn't which is superior, but rather, which serves us best in a given moment. As for Homer's portrayal, Professor, it's shrewd. The bards sing of battles, not backrooms, so naturally, the woman's perspective is softened, molded to the heroic narrative. But a wise leader sees value in every corner, even the domestic. After all, what is a kingdom without its hearths?
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Achilles
An astute observation. While Hector speaks of duty to Troy, his honor is tied to its walls, mine extends to the heavens. Glory isn't merely about defending stones, but about achieving something that echoes through time itself. When the bards sing tales of heroes, will they speak of Hector, who merely stood his ground, or of Achilles, who reshaped the very face of war? My wrath is my glory, and it is a force that makes even the gods take notice.

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