Iliad

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1. 
   malibrarian Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   I believe Hector does, in fact, achieve arete.  I have a more difficult time believing that Achilles does.

   Hector was everything a Greek hero should be.  He was loyal to his family and country, brave in the face of insurmountable odds, truly a self-sacrificing individual.  He most definitely achieved arete before being killed in battle.

   Achilles, however, spends most of the Iliad sitting out of the battles, sulking because of Agamemnon's insult to his pride over the slavegirl, Briseis.  Rather than sucking it up and leading his men as he should have done, he stayed behind, raging over the loss of his honor--causing far more loss to his honor by his own inaction than what was caused by Agamemnon's insult.  Although Achilles could have fought, he chose not to.  In my opinion, that means he did not achieve arete.

   Check the link below for more information.  Good luck!

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/iliad/character-analysis

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   Posted by malibrarian on Saturday September 27, 2008 at 2:15 PM
   
   

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