The plots of the famous works “Iliad” and “Odyssey” are taken from a general collection of epic tales about the Trojan War. And each of these two poems is a small sketch from a larger cycle. The main element in which the characters of the work of the Iliad act is a war, depicted not as a clash of the masses, but as the actions of individual characters.
Achilles
The main character of the Iliad is Achilles - a young hero, the son of Peleus and the goddess of the sea Thetis. The word "Achilles" is translated as "swift, like a god." Achilles is the central character of the work. He has a whole and noble character, which embodies real valor, as the Greeks understood it then. For Achilles, there is nothing higher than duty and honor. He is ready to avenge the death of his friend by sacrificing his own life. At the same time, duplicity and cunning are alien to Achilles. Despite his honesty and sincerity, he appears as an impatient and very quick-tempered hero. He is sensitive in matters of honor - despite serious consequences for the army, he refuses to continue the battle because of the insult inflicted on him. In the life of Achilles, the command of heaven and the passion of his own being coincides. The hero dreams of glory, and for this, he is also ready to sacrifice his own life.
Confrontation in the soul of the protagonist
Achilles, the protagonist of the Iliad, used to command and control, as he is aware of his strength. He is ready to destroy Agamemnon on the spot, who dared to insult him. And the anger of Achilles manifests itself in a variety of forms. When he takes revenge on his enemies for Patroclus, he turns into a real demon destroyer. Filling the entire river bank with the corpses of enemies, Achilles enters into a battle with the god of this river. However, it is very interesting to watch how Achilles heart softens when he sees a father asking to give his son’s body. The old man reminds him of his own father, and the cruel warrior relents. Achilles also bitterly yearns for his friend, weeps with his mother. In the heart of Achilles, nobility and the desire to take revenge are fighting.
Hector
Continuing to characterize the protagonists of Homer's Iliad, it is especially worthwhile to dwell on the figure of Hector. The courage and courage of this hero are the result of the prevailing goodwill in his mind. He knows the feeling of fear, like any other warrior. However, despite this, Hector learned to show courage in battles, to defeat cowardice. With sadness in his heart, he leaves his parents, son and spouse, as he is faithful to his duty - to protect the city of Troy.
Hector loses the help of the gods, so he is forced to give his own life for his city. He is also portrayed as humane - he never once reproaches Elena, forgives his brother. Hector does not hate them, despite the fact that they were the culprits of the outbreak of the Trojan War. In the words of the hero there is no neglect of other people, he does not express his superiority. The main difference between Hector and Achilles is humanity. The excessive aggressiveness of the main character of the poem is opposed to this quality.
Achilles and Hector: Comparison
A common task is also a comparative description of the main characters of the Iliad - Achilles and Hector. Homer gives the son of Priam more positive, humane features than the main character. Hector is aware of what social responsibility is. He does not put his experiences above the lives of other people. In contrast to him, Achilles is a true personification of individualism. He is building his conflict with Agamemnon to a truly cosmic scale. In Hector, the reader does not observe the bloodthirstiness that is inherent in Achilles. He is an adversary of the war, he understands how terrible a disaster it is for people. The whole disgusting and terrible side of the war is clear to Hector. It is this hero who proposes not to fight with whole troops, but to expose individual representatives from each side.
Hector is assisted by the gods Apollo and Artemis. However, he is very different from Achilles, who is the son of the goddess Thetis. Achilles is not affected by weapons, his only weak spot is the heel. In fact, he is a half-demon. Gathering for battle, he puts on the armor of Hephaestus himself. And Hector is a simple man who has a terrible test. He realizes that he can only answer the challenge, because the goddess Athena helps his enemy. The images of these characters are very different. The Iliad begins with the name of Achilles, and ends with the name of Hector.
The element of heroes
A description of the main characters of Homer’s poem Iliad would be incomplete without a description of the environment in which the poem takes place. As already indicated, such an environment is war. In many places of the poem, the exploits of individual characters are mentioned: Menelaus, Diomedes. However, the most significant feat is the victory of Achilles over his opponent Hector.
The warrior also wants to know with certainty who he is dealing with. In some cases, the confrontation stops for a while, and to ensure freedom for soldiers, as well as non-interference of strangers, a truce is sanctified by sacrifice. Homer, living in an atmosphere of war and constant killings, expressively depicts the death throes of the dying. No less vividly depicted in the poem is the cruelty of the winners.
Menelaus and Agamemnon
One of the main characters of the Iliad is the Mycenaean king Agamemnon, as well as the Spartan ruler Menelaus. Homer portrays both as not the most attractive characters - both do not miss the opportunity to abuse their position, especially Agamemnon. It was his selfishness that caused the death of Achilles. And Menelaus's interest in the attack was the reason that the war broke out.
Menelaus, for whom the Achaeans advocated in the battles, was to take the place of the Mycenaean ruler. However, it turns out to be inappropriate for this role, and this place is occupied precisely by Agamemnon. Fighting with Paris, he gives vent to his anger, which has accumulated in him against his offender. However, as a warrior, he is significantly inferior to other heroes of the poem. His actions are significant only in the process of saving the body of Patroclus.
Other heroes
One of the most charming protagonists of the Iliad is Elder Nestor, who loves to constantly remember the years of his youth, to give his instructions to young soldiers. Ajax is also attractive, who surpasses everyone with his courage and strength, excluding Achilles. Patroclus, the closest friend of Achilles, who was brought up with him under one roof, is also admired. Performing his exploits, he was too keen on the dream to capture Troy and died at the merciless hand of Hector.
An elderly Trojan ruler named Priam is not the main character of Homer's Iliad, but has attractive features. He is a true patriarch who is surrounded by a large family. Aged, Priam cedes the right to command the army to his son, Hector. On behalf of all his people, the old man brings sacrifices to the gods. Priam is distinguished by such character traits as gentleness, courtesy. He even treats Elena, whom everyone hates. However, the old man is haunted by misfortune. All his sons die in battle at the hands of Achilles.
Andromache
The main characters of the poem "Iliad" are warriors, however, in the work you can also find many female images. This is Hector's wife named Andromache, his mother Hekub, as well as Elena and the captive Briseis. For the first time, the reader meets Andromache in the sixth song, which tells of her meeting with her husband, who returned from the battlefield. Even at that moment, she intuitively foresees the death of Hector and persuades him not to leave the city. But Hector does not heed her words.
Andromache is a faithful and loving wife who is forced to live in constant anxiety for her spouse. The fate of this woman is filled with tragedy. When her hometown of Thebes was ravaged, Andromache's mother and brothers were killed by enemies. After this event, her mother also dies, Andromache remains alone. Now the whole point of her existence is in her beloved husband. After she says goodbye to him, she mourns with the maids, as if she had already died. After this, Andromache does not appear on the pages of the poem until the hero’s death. Sorrow is the main mood of the heroine. She foresees her bitter lot in advance. When Andromache hears the screams on the wall and runs to find out what happened, he sees: Achilles drags Hector's body on the ground. She falls without feelings.
Heroes of the Odyssey
A frequent question that students ask in literature classes is to name the main characters of the Iliad and Odyssey. The poem Odyssey, along with the Iliad, is considered to be the most important monument of the entire era of the transition from the communal clan to the slave system.
The Odyssey describes even more mythological creatures than the Iliad. Gods, people, fairy-tale creatures - the most diverse characters are full of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. The main characters of the works are both people and gods. Moreover, the gods take an active part in the lives of ordinary mortals, helping them or taking away power. The main character of the Odyssey is the Greek king Odysseus, who returns home after the battle. Among other characters, his patroness, the goddess of wisdom Athena, stands out. Opposes the main character is the sea god Poseidon. An important figure is the faithful Penelope, wife of Odysseus.