Hector is the son of Priam, the leader of the Trojan army. Like Achilles, he is guided by military honor in all his actions, and at the same time, he realizes that he is responsible to his people, whose interests he must protect. Homer shows how two aspirations to fight in the hero’s soul: avoid defeat in the war and keep his reputation as a brave warrior and hero unblemished. Thus, the hero’s image is more complicated than the image of his primary opponent, Achilles. Hector’s behavior is often contradictory since the motives for his actions are either a thirst for glory, which is typical of an epic hero), or an understanding of the duty to the fatherland and the people, which he, as the son of the king and leader, has no right to sacrifice in pursuit of the reputation of an invincible warrior.
Rejecting the advice of the experienced military leader Polydamus, who, referring to a bad omen, dissuades Hector from attacking the Achaean camp, the hero declares: “The omen is the best – to fight bravely for the fatherland” (Bakker, 2017, p. 59). However, when Hector is persuaded to return to Troy, not to remain on the battlefield and evade a duel with Achilles, Hector does not act as a wise cautious leader, but as a warrior driven by ambition and passion. His pride does not allow him to seek protection behind the fortified walls of the city. Even anticipating his death, which, as he perfectly understands, will inevitably entail Troy’s fall and take, Hector neglects the interests of the country and enters into single combat with Achilles, which is fatal for him. And yet, before his death, G. admits that he acted rashly: “The last citizen can say in Ilion: Hector ruined the people, relying on his strength!” (Schironi, 2018, p. 34). The character of Hector is striking in his deep adherence to principles. For him, the most important thing is to fight for his homeland and his people.
For all his religiosity, which Homer emphasizes in him more than once, he prefers military exploits. He cannot stand the shame between Trojans and Trojans for their poor performance in the war. He is not afraid to admit his military mistakes and covers them with his heroism. Flaming with a passion for military exploits, he, contrary to his elders’ advice, put his troops against Achilles and did not take them to Troy, although his death and the death of many Trojans were apparent. Awareness of his duty, shame before compatriots in the event of his betrayal, the habit of fighting in the forefront – these thoughts come to him even when parting with the Andromache. Hector’s heart trembles at the sight of the superbly armed Ajax.
He does not even have the thought of evading the battle or fighting in any dishonest way without attacking openly and nobly. A wound in the neck and knees not only does not stop him but also provokes even more. However, Homer portrays Hector with all his psychological weaknesses, vacillations, and uncertainties for all his heroism and all his adherence to principles. Hector thinks that it is worthless to capture the golden shield of Nestor and the colorful shell of Diomedes, made by Hephaestus himself. But, of course, nothing comes of it. He is so confident in his victory over the Achaeans that he is ready to compare himself with Apollo and Pallas Athena, although he knows very well that it is not the Achaeans who must die, but Troy.
References
Schironi, F. (2018). The Best of the Grammarians: Aristarchus of Samothrace on the Iliad. University of Michigan Press.
Bakker, E. (2017). Hector (and) the race horse: The telescopic vision of the Iliad. The Winnowing Oar–New Perspectives in Homeric Studies, 57-74.