Comparison between Hector the public hero and Hector the doomed man

Some of the comparison between Hector the public hero and Hector the doomed man are:

Hector the Public Hero (as seen by theTrojans)

  1. Devoted Family Man: Hector is a loving husband and father to his wife and son, Andromache and Astyanax. Additionally, to the people of Troy, he was seen as the protector of his family and the future of the city. His prayer for his son to be a greater warrior than himself highlights his selfless love and hope for a better future.

  2. Pillar of the city.Hector was viewed by the Trojans as the representation of their military’s strength. He is their most important leader and warrior, constantly praised with epithets like “godlike” and “breaker of horses”. The entire city, from King Priam to the common citizen, depends on his courage to face the Greek army.

  3. Honored and respected leader: Hector earned the respect of everyone around him, including his family, his troops, and even Helen of Troy. He is known for his noble conduct and fairness, as when he exchanged gifts with Ajax after their duel. His death is seen as a profound tragedy that demoralizes all of Troy.

Hector and the Doomed Man (seen as in his farewell to his family and final fight)

  1. Fearful husband and father: during his farewell, Hector is a man and torn between his duty and his family. He fears his family’s fate, in which his wife might become a slave and his son possibly being killed, making his brave facade a tragic necessity. As such, this private anguish presents him much differently to his public image as Troy’s steadfast guardian.

  2. The unwilling victim of fate: In his final moments, Hector knew the truth in his heart that his time of death had come. He explains to Andromache that no one can escape their destiny, a fact he accepts with mournful resignation. He understands that no amount of his own bravery can overcome the will of the gods.

  3. Humiliated and desecrated corpse: Hector’s story concludes being disgraced by his own miscalculation. In which, he recklessly decides to have the Trojan army camp beyond their city walls after a temporary victory against the Greeks. In doing so, when the Greeks regrouped, the Trojans were overwhelmed and slaughtered. Hence, this costly decision being attributed as a personal failure of Hector.

The difference between Hector the public hero and Hector the doomed man, in the "Public Hero”, is that he is the embodiment of Trojan pride and valor, exemplifying a great leader who fights for the collective good, a devoted family man, and an inspiration to his people. Having said that, in the final moments with his family, particularly in his farewell to Andromache and his son, a deeply human and vulnerable side is revealed. In his public duty and private fears, it is revealed that Hector is a man who embraces a heroic death, not for the thrill of battle, but out of a profound sense of duty.