Compare and Contrast: Achilles Vs. Hector

Compare and Contrast: Achilles vs. Hector

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Compare and Contrast:

Achilles vs. Hector

The story of The Iliad, Book 22: The Death of Hector brings a climactic end to the rivalry between Achilles and Hector. Their rivalry created when Hector kills Patroclus, Achilles dear friend, strips it of its armor and drags it behind his chariot. Achilles swears to seeks revenge for the mutilation of the body. Greek customs believed that the body had to go through certain cleansing rituals in order for the spirit to rest. Even though these two characters are seen from different points of view, Achilles the Hero and Hector the Villain, they are somewhat the same person.

Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis, is the best of the Greek warriors. After watching his best friend be murdered and his body left to the dogs, he swore we would get revenge in Patroclus’ honor. He is the best warrior in Greece, holds the highest honors when it comes to war and will seek revenge in order to gain or reclaim any honor that was lost. The Great Warrior of Greece was very well known because of his fighting skills and for winning many of his battles. Achilles was a man of honor and respect, he avenged who he knew had been disregarded of stripped of their honor in an unfortunate way. He held no remorse when it came to killing Hector, as he had none for Patroclus, finally seeking the revenge he had been holding in since the death of his friend.

Hector, son of Priam and Hecuba, is the best warrior of the Trojan army. He kills Patroclus in battle, knowing who he was and what killing him could bring to him. He knowingly mutilates the body of Patroclus and hides when he realizes what Achilles is going to do with him. Hector is, in some ways, the same as Achilles. The only difference between them is that Achilles is a demigod, while Hector is the son of a King and Queen. We see Hector only as the villain and a coward, never acknowledging that he too held the highest honor in his army.

These two characters held the highest honors in their respective armies, were the leaders when it came to battles, but they were always given the same labels, Hero and Villain. Achilles and Hector die, one in revenge the other in battle, this shows that both good and bad people die no matter how hard they try to go against their fate. Both of these characters share many traits as they contrast in others. As seen in Book 22, we know that they have no remorse for the person they kill, one kills because of who the person is, while the other does it for revenge. The two characters represent the different types of people we come across in our lives.

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