The Illiad and Gilgamesh Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Illiad and Gilgamesh - Essay Example The prime example is Achilles, the greatest hero of The Iliad, was the son of Thetis, a sea-goddess known for her far-reaching cosmic powers. The prestige accorded by ancient Greek civilization to the figure of Achilles, and the strong emotional attachment that goes with it, is worthy of readers attention especially because they find relatively unresponsive to this sullen and darkly brooding hero: "Rage - Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses hurling down to the House of Death (Book I). Hector represents a hero who acts in social interests more than in his own, while Achilles takes into account his own interests and neglects social responsibility. In contrast, Achilles is an ideal warrior, who is a little bit "crazy" when follows his own codex of norms. Hector is philosopher who does not subdued to common norms, and this very feature helps him to keep away from ignorance and complacency existing in the world He is a man of nerve who is able to survive and protect others in any difficult Hector can be called an ideal moral "hero" in contrast to Achilles who is driven by his own success only. In contrast to these heroes, the role of Agamemnon is to protect his land and people. His position as a king affects his decisions and actions during battles.