The Iliad - Book 6 - Hector returns to Troy

• Reading time: about 40 minutes

• Heroism and humanity.

• Menelaus: This book raises the issues of war and life beyond war. How much does a war define oneself? What defines humanity for a warrior? This book begins by continuing the slaughter of the last two books. At a point early in the book (59), a Trojan begs Menelaus for mercy: "His pleas were moving the heart in Menelaus." But his brother Agamemnon questions him: "So soft, dear brother, why?"
• In contrast, Glaucus and Diomedes, two enemies, Glaucus from the Trojans and Diomedes from the Achaeans, in a most unusual encounter not seen up to this point, meet in battle (138 ff). Their initial encounter (165-175) epitomizes the stark picture of mortality that is the hallmark of The Iliad. (Although mortality is the theme of many great works of literature and art, I can think of none that impresses the meaning of mortality so insistently and unsparingly as The Iliad.) The brief greeting of Diomedes to Glaucus: "mortal born for death" and Glaucus's response to Diomedes: "as one generation comes to life, another dies away"-- captures succinctly the clear vision of these two warriors who understand their place in the universe in a way others in the epic--and in real life--don't.Glaucus tells the story about how he descends from Bellerophon, who killed the Chimaera and the Amazons. Diomedes realizes that his grandfather Oeneus hosted Bellerophon, and so Diomedes and Glaucus must also be friends. They exchange gifts and resolve not to fight each other. [Discuss  Il 06-Heroism & Humanity]

• Hector at home: One of the most famous scenes in all of literature

• 283: We get a picture here of the home life of this warrior. Hecuba, Hector's mother, offers him wine, which he refuses.
• The Trojan women go to Athena's shrine and pray for her help, but Athena refuses.
• Hector looks for Paris and finds him, with Helen, polishing his armor. He excoriates Paris, and Helen joins in the criticism of Paris.
• Then Hector searches for Andromache, his wife, and Astyanax, his son. Andromache, in a most emotional scene, begs Hector not to leave her a widow and her son an orphan. Hector's response: "I would die of shame to face the men of Troy if I would shrink from battle now, a coward." (522)
  • Hector states his vocation in life: "to stand up bravely--winning my father great glory, glory for myself."
  • He also realizes fully his mortality: "The day will come when sacred Troy must die."
  • Andromache had already greeted him with an acknowledgement of his impending death: "Soon they will kill you off."
  • His son, Astyanax, recoils at the sight of his father.
  • Hector prays to Zeus for his son: "May he be like me, first in glory among the Trojans."
    • The entire prayer is so crucial in appreciating the warrior code.
    • This scene bears reflection about Homer's portrayal of the warrior. Homer is not merely depicting a sweet scene here. Think about the irony in the lines spoken by a father who will soon leave this son fatherless.
    • Mueller points out that this scene is the "crowning instance of the clash between the heroic and the domestic."
  • Reflect in your discussions on the effect of placing this domestic scene here in the midst of battle. Hector in many ways is the most fully depicted character in the book--we see many sides of him. Why do you think Homer shows Hector expressing the warrior's heroic code at this point, and why does he also depict Andromache and son Astyanax expressing sorrow and horror? [Discuss Il 06-Hector at Home]
  • It is similarly fascinating that the other father-son pair, Hector and Priam, are never shown together in the entire Iliad. Surprisingly, Priam and Achilles are portrayed together instead.
• After Hector leaves Andromache, Mueller points out he takes on a false role
  • The poet consistently show him as a man not fully in control of himself.
  • The new Hector shows a misplaced confidence in divine support.
  • The discrepancy between promise and performance is repeated in the long-delayed encounter of Hector and Ajax.
• Think about the difference between fighting just with fellow warriors on foreign soil, as the Achaeans do, and fighting for your home, right at your home, with all your family there each day, as the Trojans do. Which is the more difficult situation? Why?
• The two principal episodes of this book take a respite from the brutal fighting and allow us to reflect upon the values of the characters. How would you characterize their values?