his anger becomes cruel He kills without mercy When a Trojan begs for life Achilles says Come friend you too must die Even Patroclus died a far far better man than you This shows that his heart is closed to pity He even abuses Hector s dead body by dragging the body behind his chariot Achilles is powerful but his rage makes him inhuman Even Homer writes The rage of Achilles sing it now goddess The wrath of Achilles is the subject matter of this epic Achilles s heroism is based on strength not moral goodness Hector A Hero of Duty and Responsibility Hector is the defender of Troy He fights not for personal pride He fights for his city and people He knows Troy may fall yet he does not run away He believes it is his duty to protect the city Hector also respects honour He believes that a warrior must face danger bravely When signs warn him against fighting he says Fight for your country that is the best omen This shows his courage and sense of responsibility He fights because Troy depends on him Hector as a Loving Family Man Unlike Achilles Hector is deeply connected to his family The scene with his wife Andromache and his baby son is one of the most touching moments in The Iliad Hector knows he may die and his wife may become a slave Still he returns to battle Hector prays for his son saying May he be like me first in glory among the Trojans This prayer shows his love and hope Hector fights not only as a warrior but also as a husband and father This human side makes him the real hero Hector s Death and Moral Greatness When Hector finally faces Achilles he knows he will die Still he stands his ground and fights hard He even asks Achilles to promise a proper burial for the loser This shows Hector s respect for human dignity After Hector s death Andromache cries You were their greatest glory while you lived This line proves that Hector was not only a fighter but the heart of Troy His death means the fall of the city Hector dies with honour courage and concern for others Why Hector Is the True Hero Achilles fights for himself for his honour and glory Hector fights for others Achilles is driven by anger Hector is guided by duty Achilles wins battles Hector wins respect and sympathy True heroism is not only about killing enemies It is about human values sacrifice and moral strength Hector shows all these qualities throughout the poem In fine both Achilles and Hector are great warriors Achilles represents strength and rage Hector represents courage duty love and humanity While Achilles may be the strongest fighter Hector is the true hero of The Iliad because he fights for his people