Page 10 - GALIET THE WALL, THE SPEAR, THE ROSE AND THE QUEST FOR THE 4 CARDINAL CORNERS: Hektor of Troy IV

Hektor’s character in relation to Achilles’ character, towards his duty to community and family, towards his errors and fate and whether it was in Hektor’s power to negotiate peace.
In Schein’s view, what distinguishes Achilles from Hektor is the heavy burden of social responsibility that rests upon his shoulders to protect the wellbeing of his family and his city-state including its families and elders. Hektor struggles between duty to his private and public life particularly in relation to Andromache and his son, Astyanax (Book 6). If Hektor perishes, his family will perish, Ilion’s rich culture will be destroyed, and families will be dispersed: men will be killed, and women and children will be enslaved and taken to Argos. If Achilles perishes, either the Argives will perish while at Troy or will return to Argos with their injured and their dead, defeated, empty-handed and honourless: without Helen and the spoils of war. Schein also points out that while Achilles is “cut-off from his parents”, Hektor is surrounded by their presence (p.181) and that while Achilles’ mother, Thetis, “sends him to battle” (p.181), King Priam and Hecuba try to persuade Hektor to “keep him out of battle” (p.181). Schein’s claims are partially
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