Achilles and Hector are the two main characters of the Iliad written by Homer. It has been told more often than not that our hero in this epic poem is Achilles the great Achaean and the fierce Trojan Hector as the enemy. They were very renowned fighters for their armies; these two warriors were similar in a few ways, but mostly very different. According to the definition of a modern day hero that I present, it shows that Hector shall be the hero and Achilles not as so.
A modern day hero is someone who is honest, loyal, and respectable. A hero is someone who puts others before himself. He is willing to take responsibility for his own actions no matter the consequences. A hero will stand up for what they believe in and fight for it as long as it doesn't endanger lives of others. He respects the opinions and actions all, even his enemies. A hero stays loyal to his own and protects the safety of his people. A hero will even show compassion and mercy in spite the actions of his foe.
The reputation of Achilles claims him to be the perfect warrior, strongest of the Greeks. Achilles has all the marks of a great warrior, and indeed proves the mightiest man in the Achaean army, but his deep-seated flaw of self-pride constantly impedes his ability to act with nobility and integrity. He cannot control his pride or the rage that surges up when that pride is injured. This attribute poisons him that he abandons his fellow Achaeans and even prays that the Trojans will slaughter them, all because he has been slighted at the hands of his commander, Agamemnon. Achilles withdraws from the war because Agamemnon the King has taken his prize Briseis, since he had to return the daughter of the priest. Achilles will not fight in this war and has his mother have Zeus kill the Achaeans off until he is satisfied with the results. He is selfish and a mere savage in his actions. This present action easily demonstrates his selfishness.
