Nearly 3,000 years since their horrific stories were told in “The Iliad,” the Greek hero Achilles and Hector are still getting incredible literary makeovers. They demarcate a war that has never been experienced in Greek since memorial. In their character, they represent two powerful houses of Troy and Greece. Scholars on literature analysis, for several years, have worked around the clock to discover the origin, participants and the truth about these stories. With their documentary records, they have provided an elaborate synopsis showing the real story with its various characters.
Synopsis
The character traits of the two players can only be uncovered nine years after the start of the Trojan War. During this war, The Greek “Achaean” army invaded a town called Chrysie Allied with Troy. As the battle was progressing, the Achaeans captured two beautiful called Briseis and Chrysies. The Achaean greatest warrior took Briseis as his prize while the leader of the Achaean army took Chrysies. Chrysies dad who is a priest decides to join her daughter in a prayer for their release. All their plea turns into a deaf year of the great warriors. Among them are fine Warriors such as Protroclus, and Achilles for Achaeans and Hector for the Trojan people. He fights hard and helps the Achaeans to push the Trojans completely away from the city walls and ships. Unfortunately, Apollo (the God of the Priest) knocks the Protroclus armor to the ground, and Hector slays him to death with his sword. When Achilles realized that Hector has taken the Apollo`s opportunity and killed Protroclus, he is filled with rage and grief. He agrees to join the army, battle, and ravage against Hector. In a dramatic duel, Achilles confronts Hector and kills him outside the walls of Troy. He then takes Hector`s body at the back of his chariot and ferry it to the Achaean battlefield camp. Upon his arrival with the body, he finds a triumphant Achaeans celebrating the death of Protroclus in a long series of athletic games. Achilles takes nine days dragging the body of hector around the Protroclus cemetery. At last, the Achilles agrees to allow the body of Hector to have an honorary burial. He finally relents and returns the body of Hector to the Trojans where it receives a decent burial.
Similarities
As depicted from the above synopsis, the Hector and Achilles both represent great Warriors of their societies, fighting in the Trojan War. They represented the great powers from the Troy and Greece as Hector and Achilles respectively. Achilles is the son of a military man called Paleus. He is the most powerful Warrior among the Achaeans and commands a great Army. On the other side of the Trojan Army, Hector is the son of a king and represents the mightiest warrior of his Trojan Army. Both the heroes suffer from great Arrogance and pride. Hector through his constant fight of defense takes the opportunity to kill Protrocus. On the other hand, Achilles takes a ravage and kills Hector in a confrontation. He literary takes the pride and misuse the Hector dead body in a triumph to show his victory. The two characters are also opportunistic. Hector takes the opportunity of Protrocus vulnerability in the war and slain him to death. On the other hand Achilles takes the opportunity of Protrocus death as an excuse to revenge against Hector. Achilles further takes the opportunity of the triumph at the Protrocus burial to show off by driving the body of Hector around the Protrocus funeral to show off his pride and victory.
Differences
The two important players in the play Iliad have significant differences. Documentary records reveal that Hector was born in a royal family while Achilles was born from an ordinary Hector, as a warrior mainly fights for his people to gain peace. He mainly fights to keep the land of Greece in peace. However, Achilles fought for a death. He was a warrior who ended the war by killing Hector and the Trojans. Another difference, Hector killed Achilles`s most important friend and a colleague called the Protrocus. This death resulted in a revenge war and killing of Hector by Achilles. As illustrated by several historical records, Hector though of creating peace by killing one of the most powerful army members called the Protrocus. However, to his mesmerized, the incident only resulted on his death. The story does not provide any incident of celebration on the killing of Protrocus despite Hector`s efforts. Contrary, Achilles celebrates the death of Hector with his people and illustrates his victory.
In conclusion, though the Iliad story was written in the early centuries, it still has a greater impact on today world of literature. It is clear for any literature analyst and scholar to understand the reason for Homer using the two characters in the story. They have managed to develop not only the plot but also the relevance of the story throughout the centuries.
