Book 22. Page 553- Lines 418-424
Comments(4) At the point of death, Hector, his helmet flashing, said, “I know you well-I see my fate before me. Never a chance that I could win you over… Iron inside your chest, that heart of yours. But now beware, or my curse will draw the god’s wrath upon your head, that day when Paris and lord Apollo- for all your fighting heart-destroy you at the Scaen Gates!”
I picked these lines because not only because they were Hector’s last words but also because I liked what he said. At this point Hectors knows he’s dying and in the hands of Achilles. Hector acknowledges that Achilles has “iron” inside his chest and that his mind is made up. Hector tried persuading Achilles to pass his body to his people, something I believe took a lot of courage to ask his enemy. For a soldier as great as Hector to swallow his pride and ask this is a lot. Hector knew how Achilles is and when Achilles turned down Hector, he realized that the iron in Achilles’ chest is hard. But before he died Hector gave a warning message to Achilles that he has to becareful because god will take his wrath out on him. Whether or not Achilles took this warning seriously or not, Achilles knew that his death was unescapable now and was soon to be expected. There is no question that Achilles is a great soldier, Hector knew this but wanted to die bravely and have his body properly buried and Achilles didn’t let him have it, making Hector’s death even more painful knowing he wouldn’t get it.
-Matias Hernandez
This was a tough part for me to read as well. It takes so much courage to ask your enemy something so private and personal. And the fact that he just totally shut him down was really upsetting and uncalled for. War really seems to blind these warriors.
I think this shows some of the different between Hector and Achilles.If Achilles was the one who lost the duel, he wouldn’t request the same thing because he had so much pride to himself.I personally like Hector more than Achilles.
I liked that you said “Achilles’s mind is made up”. He is so set on trying to kill as many Trojans as possible and even take down the entire city himself if possible; with all of these intentions in mind, his heart (as Hector said) is filled with iron. I also agree that Achilles paid no mind to the warning of Hector because he knew his fate was sealed with dying there in battle.
Great! Again we see the belief about fate. It seems to me that Hector knows that Achilles will soon die after he dies when he says “My curse will draw the gods wraith upon your head”. Although Achilles is an Immortal he still has a weak point and can die like a mere mortal.