Page 15 - GALIET THE WALL, THE SPEAR, THE ROSE AND THE QUEST FOR THE 4 CARDINAL CORNERS: Hektor of Troy IV

At this stage, Hektor can neither be concerned for Ilion or family for he realizes that there is no way out from his past errors; instead he has to assume his fate and die the honourable death of heroes as recalled in his valiant words, “now my fate is upon me... but at least let me not die without a struggle, ingloriously, but do some big thing first, that men to come shall know of it” (Book 22, 303- 5).
Hektor’s tragic struggles symbolize a cosmos whose movement is chaos and suffering due to the limitations of being human. “Even the strongest hearts feel apprehensions at the most challenging circumstances,” Pope says. Mueller suggests that Hektor, finding himself trapped by his poor decisions, becomes fully aware of his past folly and errors which can only impel him towards a single course of action: to nobly die. Mueller, based on Redfield’s argument, considers Hektor’s errors to be threefold: first, he goes on an offensive; second, he does not to retreat; and third, he waits for Achilles. However, it is his third error, Mueller says, that is questionable. Mueller proposes that Hektor’s third fatal flaw arises out of his hopeful delusion that he “might be equal to Achilles” (p.62). Hence, Mueller rejects Redfield’s position that Hektor’s third and last fatal error is his
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