Source Analysis: The Death of Hector :: essays research papers

The Death of Hector is actually just whiz part of alarger work. The Iliad was written during the DarkAges of Greece by a blind poet named Homer. Itwas mainly entertainment, but today has turned intoa significant, though unrealistic History of the Darkages of Greece.The Iliad was written and performed for a bunch ofdrunk, barbaric nobles who were the soldiers of thetime. Thats the reason Homer put so muchdescriptive battle scenes and gory details. This iswhat they wanted lots of blood, to go with thedrinking and war. It is through this we get our depressionaccurate picture of the times of ancient Greece Abackwards, warlike, perpetually drunk societywhose only real interest was to gain respect andhonor by killing everyone else. This makes nosense, since if you kill everybody for glory, who isleft to honor you? Anyway, this was the main reasonHomer wrote the Iliad. The specific story of theDeath of Hector shows tells the story of Hector, whowants to fight Achilles alfresco the city gates. Herefuses his fathers request to come inside and beprotected. In the end he is killed. This entireepisode shows the way one should act. Even ifscared, it is better to die in battle than to live acoward. This was one of the basic tenants of theGreek code of conduct. So, not only did the storiesentertain, but they also were the early Greeks codeof conduct. If they were to be a "good Greek", theywere to strive to be like someone in the pantheon ofheroes. This honor code was needed to commemorate thepeople under one standard of honor and loyalty, andwhat is good, right, and acceptable. This honorcode existed for many years, until Classical Greece