1. Achilles is the bravest of the Achaean; he comes by violence and lives for violence, he was born for battle. Yet he lets his anger overtake him and withdraws from the battle to punish his commander and fellow princes. Resulting in the death of his close friend Patroclus. Achilles decides to fight with his intentions to kill Hector.
Hector the greatest champion of the Trojans. He is loyal to his fellow Trojans and fights bravely for peace. Even though he loves his wife and child more than anything he knows he must fight. Hoping for a future full of peace but knowing in the back of his mind that the city will crumble and his child will be left an orphan.
Hector and Achilles are both brave leaders. They are both looked up to by their fellow people. Achilles comes across as selfish and in it for himself. He chose not to fight in the battle due to anger and in spite of his commander and princes. But when he lost his friend, is when he chose to fight to gain revenge for Patroclus’s death. Hector on the other hand fights for the peace of his people. Even though he has the chance to stay with his wife and child, he still chose to fight in the battle. When he knows what the outcome will be.
2. Achilles is brought to balance when Hector’s father touches his heart. Priam suffers from the pain of his sons who were killed in battle. Achilles remembers that he has a father that he will not get to see again. Achilles gives Priam, Hector’s body to be buried honorably. For both Priam and Achilles share the pain of losing a loved one. Achilles anger has made a full circle. For both the Achaeans lost loved one as well as the Trojans. This communicates that war is very much so ugly. As the book says people are constantly faced with death and yet manage to find meaning in that death. I think that is what Achilles came to realize the meaning of all the deaths that took place during battle. With the result that he is soon to face his own death.
3. The Warrior Code and The Familial Code are not mutually exclusive. In fact they seem to butt heads with each other. As much as Hector would have liked to have stayed with his wife and child during the battle; He was unable to do so. It was more honorable and noble to fight in the war than to stay with his family. He knew that it would bring his son and wife honor and glory if he fought in the battle, even if he did not return. Even if his son was left an orphan. The same as for Achilles he chose to fight in battle than to stay with his aging father because at that time period to fight in battle brought glory, honor and bravery to your people.
I think that Hector was living by both the Warrior Code and the Familial Code. Hector knows that the war is inevitable and that he must fight to protect his family as well as his honor. If he does not live up to the Warrior code he will also be neglecting his Familial code. So in this instance the Warrior Code and the Familial Code are intertwined.
I thought that it seemed like Hector really wanted to fight in the battle. While it did seem like he loved his son and wife the call of the battle was too great. That was why I said that they are mutually exclusive when I wrote about that part. I do like your analysis though. It was a good thoughtful answer to all of the questions.
I think it is interesting how the warrior code based in honor and glory has merged so much with the Familial Code this day in age. Now instead of bringing our country/family glory we are protecting it by fighting in wars, and in this collision of code we are driven to achieve this great honor of defending our homes even though our homes are half a world away. At least here in the Iliad Hector’s battle was literally at his doorstep not figuratively.