3.4 Key Characters in Books 4 & 6

📚 A-Level Classical Civilisation ⏱️ 60 min 📖 Homer's Iliad

Why These Characters Matter

Books 4 and 6 give us three crucial character studies: Diomedes (the ideal warrior in action), Hector (the defender caught between duty and love), and Andromache (the war's civilian victim). Together, they show us different faces of the Trojan War: glory, responsibility, and loss.

The Character Arc
Book 4: War resumes after broken oaths. Diomedes emerges as the Greek champion in Achilles' absence—showing what heroism looks like when it WORKS.
Book 6: Homer pulls us from battlefield to bedroom, showing Hector's farewell to Andromache—what heroism COSTS those left behind.

This lesson focuses on character development across both books. We see warriors in combat (Book 4) and at home (Book 6), creating a complete picture of the heroic world's demands.

Character Overview

Character Role Key Traits What They Represent
Diomedes Greek warrior Brave Skilled Respectful to gods Successful heroism
Hector Trojan defender Dutiful Conflicted Loving Heroism's human cost
Andromache Hector's wife Intelligent Powerless Prophetic War's civilian victims

Diomedes: The Substitute Hero

Who Is Diomedes?

Son of Tydeus, king of Argos, one of the younger Greek leaders. Books 4-6 are his aristeia—his "moment of excellence" when he dominates the battlefield. With Achilles sulking by the ships, Diomedes steps up to fill the gap. He's everything a hero SHOULD be: brave, skilled, respectful to gods (mostly), and effective in battle.

Diomedes is crucial because he shows us what successful heroism looks like. Unlike Achilles (who withdraws) or Paris (who runs), Diomedes PERFORMS. He fights brilliantly, wins kleos, and—critically—survives. He's the hero the Greek army needs, even if he'll never be as famous as Achilles.

'Son of Atreus, you know the facts: don't lie about them. I say we are far better men than our fathers. We did succeed in capturing seven-gated Thebes. With a weaker force, we stormed more powerful defences than they ever faced, because we trusted in Zeus' help and the signs that the gods sent us; but our fathers were destroyed through their own recklessness.'
— Diomedes to Agamemnon, Book 4, Rieu lines 405-410

What This Speech Reveals

  • "don't lie about them": Respectful but firm—challenges Agamemnon directly
  • "we are far better men than our fathers": Younger generation surpassed the old—confidence without arrogance
  • "we trusted in Zeus' help": Pious—credits gods, not just human effort
  • "our fathers were destroyed through their own recklessness": Learns from past mistakes rather than romanticising them

💡 The Perfect Response

Compare this to Achilles' rage-filled speeches in Book 1. Diomedes ALSO disagrees with Agamemnon (who just insulted him), but responds with reasoned argument, not fury. He corrects without escalating. This is mature, effective leadership—something Achilles never manages.

Diomedes' Key Traits

Strengths

  • Exceptional warrior: Dominates Books 5-6, kills dozens of Trojans
  • Brave but not reckless: Takes calculated risks, not suicide missions
  • Respectful to gods: Stops attacking when Athene warns him (mostly...)
  • Mature judgement: Speaks wisely in council, unlike hotheaded younger warriors
  • Team player: Fights for collective Greek victory, not just personal glory
  • Resilient: Gets wounded but keeps fighting

Limitations

  • Not quite Achilles: Excellent, but everyone knows Achilles is better
  • Dependent on Athene: His aristeia requires divine help constantly
  • Oversteps (Book 5): Attacks Aphrodite and Ares—goes too far
  • Less memorable: Effective but not as dramatic as Achilles' rage or Hector's tragedy
  • No major flaw: Almost TOO perfect—less psychologically complex than other heroes

Diomedes in Battle: Controlled Excellence

Book 4 shows the battle resuming after Pandarus breaks the truce. Agamemnon tours the troops, and when he criticises Diomedes and Odysseus for hanging back, Diomedes responds maturely (see quote above), then ACTS—charging into battle and demonstrating exactly why he deserves respect.

Diomedes' Aristeia Pattern (Books 4-5)

  • Gets insulted by Agamemnon for supposedly shirking
  • Responds calmly with reasoned defence, not rage
  • Proves himself in battle immediately after—actions speak
  • Receives divine help from Athene (Book 5) to see gods
  • Dominates battlefield killing Trojans and even wounding gods
  • Knows when to stop when Apollo warns him off Aeneas

Why This Aristeia Matters

  • Fills Achilles' absence: Greeks CAN win without Achilles—just not as decisively
  • Shows ideal heroism: Brave, pious, effective, survives—everything working RIGHT
  • Demonstrates limits: Even with Athene's help, he can't single-handedly end the war
  • Creates dramatic irony: We know Achilles will return and overshadow all of this
The Substitute Star
Diomedes is like an understudy who performs brilliantly when the lead actor refuses to go on stage. He does EVERYTHING right, wins significant glory, and keeps the show running. But when Achilles returns (Book 19 onwards), everyone forgets about Diomedes. That's his tragedy—being excellent but not legendary.

Diomedes vs Achilles: Different Heroic Models

Homer deliberately sets up Diomedes as an alternative to Achilles. Both are great warriors, but their approaches to heroism couldn't be more different.

Aspect Achilles Diomedes
Motivation Personal kleos and timē Victory for the Greek army
When insulted Withdraws, lets allies die Proves worth through action
Relationship with authority Defies, threatens violence Respects but corrects
Attitude to gods Questions, demands divine favour Grateful, mostly obedient
Fighting style Overwhelming, unstoppable fury Skilled, controlled, effective
Outcome Eternal kleos, dies young at Troy Survives war, returns home safely

💡 Which Model Is Better?

Homer doesn't answer this directly. Achilles gets eternal fame—we're still reading about him 2,800 years later—but dies young and causes enormous suffering. Diomedes survives, goes home, lives a full life—but outside the Iliad, hardly anyone remembers him. Is short life with maximum kleos better than long life with moderate fame? The epic makes you decide.

Diomedes' Significance

Diomedes proves the Greek army CAN function without Achilles. Not as well—they're still losing ground by Books 8-9—but they haven't collapsed. This undermines Achilles' assumption that Greeks are helpless without him. When Achilles refuses the Book 9 embassy, he's partly wrong: they're struggling but surviving.

Diomedes Throughout Books 4-6

  • Book 4: Insulted by Agamemnon, responds maturely and fights
  • Book 5: His aristeia—dominates battlefield with Athene's help, wounds Aphrodite and Ares
  • Book 6: Less prominent as focus shifts to Hector/Andromache, but still fighting effectively
  • Later books: Continues as steady, reliable warrior—never spectacular again, but always competent
The Forgotten Hero
Diomedes represents the good soldier: brave, effective, team-oriented, sensible. But "good soldier" doesn't become legendary. He's EXCELLENT at heroism but not EXTREME enough to be immortalised. His tragedy isn't death (he survives) but obscurity—being the second-best hero in an epic that only remembers the best.

Hector in Book 6: Between War and Home

Hector's Role in Book 6

Book 6 is HECTOR'S book. After five books of almost non-stop battle, Homer pauses to show us what warriors are fighting FOR. Hector leaves the battlefield, enters Troy, and interacts with his mother Hecuba, his brother Paris, Helen, and finally—in the most famous scene in these books—his wife Andromache and baby son Astyanax.

We met Hector in Book 3 criticising Paris. Book 6 deepens his character exponentially. We see him as son, brother, husband, and father. We see what he's defending—and what he'll lose. This makes his eventual death in Book 22 devastating, because WE'VE BEEN TO HIS HOME. We know what dies with him.

Book 6's Structure
Lines 1-236: Battle continues (Diomedes still dominant)
Lines 237-311: Hector returns to Troy, speaks with Hecuba
Lines 312-368: Confronts Paris and Helen
Lines 369-502: THE ANDROMACHE SCENE—the emotional heart of the book

Hector with Paris and Helen: Duty vs Desire

Before meeting Andromache, Hector finds Paris in his bedroom with Helen—again. Paris has been shirking battle (again), and Hector's frustration is palpable.

'Paris, my good friend, you really should not be sitting here. The men are dying in battle round the town and its high walls—and all for you... Come now, get up, or soon the town will be ablaze.'
— Hector to Paris, Book 6 (Rieu translation)

The Bitter Irony

  • "my good friend": Sarcastic—they're brothers but Hector can barely stand him
  • "you really should not be sitting here": Understatement—Paris should be FIGHTING
  • "all for you": Makes Paris's responsibility explicit—this is HIS war
  • "soon the town will be ablaze": Prophetic—Troy WILL burn (though Hector won't live to see it)

💡 Hector's Burden

Hector must fight to defend his city, his family, and his BROTHER—the same brother whose selfishness caused this war. He's dying for Paris's mistake. He KNOWS this. He fights anyway. That's duty—doing what's necessary even when it's unjust, even when the cause is tainted.

The Andromache Scene: Heroism's Human Cost

Hector goes to find Andromache at home, but she's gone to the city walls, terrified for his safety. They meet at the Scaean Gate. What follows is the most tender, tragic scene in Books 1-6.

'Hector,' she said, tears running down her cheeks, 'you are possessed. This bravery of yours will be your end. You do not think of your little boy or your unhappy wife, whom you will make a widow soon. Some day the Greeks are bound to kill you in a massed attack. And when I lose you I might as well be dead... Hector, you are father and mother and brother to me, as well as my beloved husband. Have pity on me now; stay here on the tower; and do not make your boy an orphan and your wife a widow.'
— Andromache to Hector, Book 6 (Rieu translation)

Breaking Down Andromache's Plea

  • "tears running down her cheeks": Physical manifestation of fear—she KNOWS what's coming
  • "This bravery of yours will be your end": His greatest strength is also his death sentence
  • "I might as well be dead": No exaggeration—captured women become slaves/concubines
  • "father and mother and brother to me": He's her ENTIRE family now (Achilles killed her birth family in Book 6)
  • "stay here on the tower": Begs him to abandon heroic code and survive
  • "make your boy an orphan": Appeals to fatherhood, not just marriage

What Makes This Scene Devastating

  • She's right: Hector WILL die in battle (Book 22)
  • She's powerless: Can't stop him, can only beg
  • He already lost her family: Achilles killed her father and brothers (context in Book 6)—Hector is all she has
  • We know the outcome: Troy falls, Hector dies, Andromache enslaved, baby Astyanax murdered—Homer's audience knew this

Hector's Response: The Tragic Hero's Dilemma

Hector doesn't dismiss Andromache's plea. He AGREES with her—and goes to fight anyway.

'All that, my dear, is surely my concern. But if I hid myself like a coward and refused to fight, I could never face the Trojans and the Trojan ladies in their trailing gowns. Besides, it would go against the grain, for I have trained myself always, like a good soldier, to take my place in the front line and win glory for my father and myself... And yet the day will come when holy Ilium shall be no more, and Priam and the people of Priam of the good ashen spear. But... what moves me most is the thought of you, when some bronze-clad Greek takes you away in tears and ends your days of freedom... But may I be dead and buried before I hear you screaming as they drag you away.'
— Hector to Andromache, Book 6 (Rieu translation)

Hector's Impossible Choice

  • "I could never face the Trojans": Social shame—his identity IS "defender of Troy"
  • "it would go against the grain": Personal honour—been training his whole life for this
  • "win glory for my father and myself": Family obligation—must uphold family reputation
  • "the day will come when holy Ilium shall be no more": KNOWS Troy will fall—fighting for doomed city
  • "what moves me most is the thought of you": Loves her MORE than city or glory
  • "may I be dead and buried before I hear you screaming": Would rather die than witness her enslavement
Why Hector Can't Stay
Hector isn't choosing glory OVER Andromache—he's choosing the only option his society allows. If he hides, he's dishonoured, worthless, despised—and still loses Troy eventually. At least fighting preserves his identity and gives Troy a chance. There IS no good choice. Only different ways of losing.

The Baby Astyanax: Future Destroyed

The scene ends with Hector trying to hold his infant son, but the baby CRIES at his father's helmet. It's both comic relief and tragic foreshadowing.

His glorious son shrank back with a cry into his nurse's arms, alarmed by his father's appearance, frightened by the bronze helmet and the horsehair crest which he saw nodding menacingly from the top. His father and lady mother laughed aloud to see him, and at once the illustrious Hector took the helmet off his head and laid the glittering thing on the ground. Then he kissed his son, dandled him in his arms, and prayed to Zeus and the other gods...
— Book 6 (Rieu translation)

Why This Moment Destroys Us

  • Baby afraid of warrior-father: Even his SON sees him as soldier first, father second
  • "glittering thing on the ground": Momentarily sets aside warrior identity to be father
  • "laughed aloud": Brief moment of family happiness in middle of tragedy
  • "prayed to Zeus and the other gods": Prays for son's future—future that will never come
  • Audience knows: Astyanax will be murdered when Troy falls—thrown from city walls to prevent revenge

💡 The Prayer Homer Doesn't Show

Homer doesn't tell us what Hector prayed for—but we can guess. He wants Astyanax to grow up, be a great warrior, surpass his father, bring honour to Troy. NONE of this happens. Astyanax dies as infant when Greeks conquer Troy. Hector's prayer, his hopes, his genetic legacy—all destroyed. That silence—Homer not telling us the prayer—makes it more painful.

Hector's Character Development Book 3 → Book 6

Book 3 showed us Hector the WARRIOR and LEADER. Book 6 shows us Hector the PERSON. Together, they create a complete tragic figure.

Aspect Book 3 Book 6
Public role Criticises Paris, arranges duel Confronts Paris again, returns to battle
Private life Not shown Revealed in detail—wife, son, family
Awareness of fate Hopes duel will end war KNOWS Troy will fall, fights anyway
Motivation Duty, shame avoidance Duty, love, honour—complex mix
Emotional depth Frustration with Paris Love for Andromache, fear for family, resignation to death
Why Book 6 Changes Everything
Before Book 6, Hector is admirable but distant—a good soldier defending his city. After Book 6, he's OURS. We've been in his home, met his family, watched him hold his baby. When he dies in Book 22, we don't just lose "Troy's defender"—we lose Andromache's husband and Astyanax's father. Book 6 makes Book 22 unbearable. That's Homer's genius.

Andromache: War's Civilian Victim

Who Is Andromache?

Wife of Hector, mother of Astyanax, princess of Thebe (a city Achilles sacked). She appears in only one scene in Books 1-6 (the Book 6 farewell), but that scene is so powerful that she becomes one of the Iliad's most memorable characters. She represents everyone who suffers war without choosing it.

Andromache has NO power in this story. She can't fight, can't make policy, can't save her husband. But she's the most AWARE character we meet—she knows exactly what's coming and can't stop it. That combination of intelligence and powerlessness makes her tragedy especially painful.

Andromache's Background: Loss Upon Loss

Before we meet her in Book 6, Homer tells us her backstory—and it's horrific.

What Andromache Has Already Lost

  • Her father EĂŤtion: Killed by Achilles when he sacked Thebe
  • Her seven brothers: ALL killed by Achilles in one day
  • Her mother: Taken as captive by Achilles, ransomed, then died shortly after
  • Her city Thebe: Destroyed by Achilles
  • Her entire birth family: Hector is now ALL she has

Why This Background Matters

  • She's already experienced EXACTLY what she fears: Losing everything to Greek warriors
  • Achilles destroyed her first family: Now she's about to lose her second (to Achilles again, indirectly)
  • She knows what captivity means: Her mother was enslaved—Andromache knows that fate awaits her
  • Makes her plea more desperate: Not hypothetical fear—she's LIVED through this before
'I have no father and no mother now. My father the great Achilles killed when he sacked our lovely town... He killed my seven brothers too... And my mother... Achilles brought away... but he gave her up for a generous ransom. Hector, you are father and mother and brother to me, as well as my beloved husband.'
— Andromache to Hector, Book 6 (Rieu translation)

💡 Achilles Everywhere

Notice: Achilles killed her father, all her brothers, and destroyed her city. Achilles ISN'T EVEN FIGHTING in Books 1-6—he's withdrawn by his ships. But he dominates Andromache's past and will dominate her future (he kills Hector in Book 22). Even absent, Achilles is the force of destruction in her life. That's his power.

Andromache's Key Traits

Strengths

  • Intelligent: Understands military situation clearly
  • Prophetic awareness: Knows Troy will fall, Hector will die
  • Articulate: Makes powerful, reasoned plea to Hector
  • Loving: Genuine affection for Hector, not just duty
  • Brave (in her way): Speaks truth despite knowing it's hopeless
  • Realistic: No illusions about war's outcome

Limitations

  • Completely powerless: Can't affect any outcomes
  • No agency: Can only beg, not act
  • Trapped by social role: "Wife" means no political/military power
  • Dependent: Survival relies entirely on Hector
  • Doomed: Will be enslaved when Troy falls

Andromache's Plea: Reasoned, Desperate, Hopeless

Andromache doesn't just cry and beg emotionally. She makes a MILITARY argument for why Hector should stay defensive.

'Come, take pity on us and stay here on the tower; or you will make your boy an orphan and your wife a widow. And concentrate the army by the fig-tree, where the wall can be most easily scaled and the city is most open to attack. Three times their best men have tried an assault at that point...'
— Andromache to Hector, Book 6 (Rieu translation)

The Strategic Argument

  • "concentrate the army by the fig-tree": Specific tactical suggestion—she's studied the defences
  • "where the wall can be most easily scaled": Identifies strategic weakness
  • "Three times their best men have tried": She's been watching—knows Greek tactics
  • Implies: defend, don't attack — stay behind walls rather than fighting in open field

💡 Why This Makes It Worse

Andromache isn't just emotional—she's STRATEGIC. Her plan might actually work (defensive warfare favours Troy). But Hector can't accept it because hiding behind walls while others fight would destroy his honour. She has the INTELLIGENCE to see the solution and the POWERLESSNESS to implement it. That combination is agonising.

Andromache as Anti-War Voice

In an epic ABOUT war, Andromache is the clearest anti-war voice. She sees through the heroic code's glory to its human cost.

What Andromache Represents

  • Civilian perspective: Experiences war's consequences without participating
  • Female perspective: No glory in war for women—only loss and enslavement
  • Realist perspective: Sees war clearly, without heroic code's romanticism
  • Victim's perspective: Already lost one family to war, about to lose another
  • Future perspective: Knows what happens to conquered women—slavery, concubinage
Why Homer Includes Andromache
The Iliad is about warriors winning kleos through battle. Andromache shows us the OTHER side: families destroyed, women enslaved, children murdered, cities sacked. She's Homer's reminder that for every hero's glorious aristeia, there are dozens of Andromaches losing everything. War creates kleos for men and devastation for everyone else.

Andromache's Fate (Known to Ancient Audience)

Homer's original audience knew what happened to Andromache after the Iliad ends. That knowledge makes the Book 6 scene even more painful.

What Happens After Book 6

  • Hector dies in Book 22: Killed by Achilles, body desecrated
  • Troy falls (after Iliad ends): Greeks sack city, kill male survivors
  • Astyanax murdered: Thrown from Troy's walls to prevent revenge (he's Hector's son)
  • Andromache enslaved: Becomes prize of Neoptolemus (Achilles' son)
  • Eventually remarried: To Helenus (Hector's brother) after Neoptolemus dies
  • Ends in exile: Lives out life far from Troy, refugee in foreign land

The Layers of Tragedy

  • Loses husband twice: First Hector dies, then forced to "marry" his killer's son
  • Loses child: Baby Astyanax murdered when Troy falls
  • Loses home twice: First Thebe (to Achilles), then Troy (to Greeks generally)
  • Becomes concubine: Property of Neoptolemus, not legitimate wife
  • Survives everything: Lives to old age—but survival might be worse than death

💡 The Cruelty of Survival

Heroes die and get eternal kleos. Hector's death is glorious (in heroic terms). But Andromache SURVIVES—and survival means witnessing everything she fears: Hector's death, her son's murder, enslavement, rape, exile. Homer shows that sometimes the survivors suffer most. Death ends suffering; living through loss continues it.

Andromache vs Helen: Two Women, Two Wars

Both Andromache and Helen are trapped by this war, but their situations differ dramatically.

Aspect Helen Andromache
Role in war Cause (prize both sides fight for) Victim (innocent civilian)
Blame Blamed by everyone (including herself) Blameless—did nothing to cause war
Awareness Self-aware but ambiguous about choices Completely clear-sighted about situation
Marriage Despises Paris, forced to stay with him Loves Hector genuinely, wants to keep him
Power Some (men fight FOR her, gods protect her) None (can only beg, not act)
Survival Survives, returns to Menelaus (in myth) Survives, enslaved to Achilles' son
Different Flavours of Powerlessness
Both women are powerless, but differently. Helen is THE reason for war—central, visible, blamed—yet can't stop it. Andromache is ONE victim among thousands—peripheral, invisible to armies—yet suffers just as much. Homer shows that war destroys women whether they "caused" it or not. Both are trapped, both suffer, both survive to remember loss.

Character Comparisons Across Books 4 & 6

Understanding Diomedes, Hector, and Andromache individually is important. Understanding how they RELATE creates sophisticated analysis for essays. Here are the key comparisons that illuminate Homer's themes.

Warriors Compared: Diomedes vs Hector

Both are excellent warriors fighting for their side. But their MOTIVATIONS and OUTCOMES differ dramatically.

Aspect Diomedes Hector
Fighting for Greek victory, collective glory Family, city, home, specific people
Divine help Athene constantly assists Apollo helps sometimes, but less consistently
Personal stakes Can sail home if war goes badly If Troy falls, loses EVERYTHING
Shown at home Never—we see ONLY warrior identity Book 6—with mother, wife, baby son
Emotional depth Competent, brave, but not deeply explored Complex—duty vs love, honour vs survival
Fate Survives war, returns home (in mythology) Dies in Book 22, city falls, family destroyed
Attacker vs Defender
Diomedes is an INVADER—attacking someone else's city for someone else's wife. If he dies, it's tragic for his family but doesn't destroy his homeland. Hector is a DEFENDER—fighting for his actual home. If he dies, his family, city, and civilisation fall with him. Same heroic code, completely different stakes. Homer makes us sympathise with the defender more than the invader.

Hero and Wife: Hector & Andromache's Impossible Situation

The Book 6 farewell scene is devastating because BOTH are right and NEITHER can win.

Andromache's Logic (Stay Alive)

  • Troy will fall eventually: Defending is futile
  • You're more valuable alive: Living father/husband better than dead hero
  • Glory isn't worth death: Family needs you more than Troy needs glory
  • Defensive strategy could work: Protect vulnerable wall section
  • Your death destroys us: She and Astyanax suffer if he dies

Hector's Logic (Fight With Honour)

  • Can't face social shame: Hiding = being worthless
  • Identity IS warrior: Trained entire life for this role
  • Family honour demands it: Can't disgrace father Priam's name
  • Troy needs defenders: If best warriors hide, city falls faster
  • Heroic code requires it: No honourable alternative exists

Why This Conflict Is Unsolvable

  • Both are logically correct: Andromache's strategy makes military sense; Hector's reasoning follows social code
  • Different value systems: She prioritises survival/family; he prioritises honour/duty
  • Gendered perspectives: Women gain nothing from war's glory; men's identity depends on it
  • No compromise possible: Can't be half-heroic or semi-honourable—it's all or nothing
  • Both lose regardless: If Hector fights, he dies; if he hides, he's dishonoured and Troy still falls

💡 The Heroic Code's Victims

Hector and Andromache love each other genuinely. They want the same thing (to stay together). But the heroic code makes their desires incompatible. HE must fight to be honourable; SHE needs him to survive to avoid enslavement. The system destroys them both. Homer shows that even "good" characters in "justified" wars still suffer terribly.

Replacing Achilles: Why Diomedes Can't Fill the Gap

Books 4-6 show Diomedes performing brilliantly in Achilles' absence. But subtle details reveal why he's ALMOST but not quite a substitute.

What Diomedes Accomplishes

  • Dominates battlefield in Books 5-6 (aristeia)
  • Wounds two gods (Aphrodite, Ares)—unprecedented feat
  • Rallies Greek troops effectively
  • Demonstrates mature leadership in councils
  • Prevents total Greek collapse without Achilles

Why He's Still Not Achilles

  • Requires constant divine help: Athene assists throughout; Achilles' skill is more innate
  • Trojans don't flee in terror: When Achilles returns (Book 20), Trojans panic; Diomedes is respected but not feared
  • Can't turn tide decisively: Greeks still losing by Book 8—Diomedes slows defeat but doesn't prevent it
  • No psychological impact: His excellence doesn't change anyone's mind (cf. Achilles' absence changes everything)
  • Forgotten after aristeia: Less prominent Books 7+; Achilles dominates when present
The Irreplaceable Hero
Homer uses Diomedes to prove Achilles' uniqueness. Diomedes does EVERYTHING heroically correct—fights brilliantly, leads wisely, respects gods (mostly)—yet still can't replace Achilles. This validates Achilles' withdrawal strategy: the Greeks genuinely NEED him specifically, not just "a great warrior." Being excellent isn't the same as being essential.

Gender and War: Contrasting Male and Female Experiences

Books 4 and 6 together show how war affects men and women completely differently. Same war, opposite outcomes.

Male Warriors (Diomedes, Hector)

  • Agency: Can choose how to fight, when to retreat
  • Glory possible: Excellent performance = kleos
  • Identity through action: Define themselves by battlefield deeds
  • Death honourable: Dying in battle = glorious end
  • Social power: Respected, listened to, make decisions
  • Victory benefits them: Winning = prizes, honour, safe return

Civilian Women (Andromache)

  • No agency: Can only beg, cannot act
  • No glory possible: Suffering brings no honour
  • Identity through relationships: Defined as someone's wife/mother
  • Death or survival both terrible: Die = killed; survive = enslaved
  • No social power: Ignored, not consulted, no voice
  • Defeat destroys them: Losing = enslavement, rape, family murdered

What This Reveals About Heroic Society

  • Heroic code is gendered: Only men can achieve kleos through violence
  • War's "glory" is male-only: Women experience ONLY war's devastation, never its rewards
  • Women bear costs of male honour: Hector's glory requires Andromache's suffering
  • Female intelligence irrelevant: Andromache's strategic sense ignored because she's a woman
  • Survival worse than death: For male warriors, glorious death > long life without honour; for women, ALL options are terrible

💡 Homer's Critique?

Is Homer criticising the heroic code by showing Andromache's suffering? Or just depicting reality? Scholars debate. What's clear: Homer SHOWS us both perspectives—warriors seeking glory AND families destroyed by that quest. He doesn't tell us which matters more, but he makes us FEEL both. That's more powerful than simple condemnation.

Using Character Comparisons in Essays

Comparative analysis demonstrates sophisticated understanding. Here's how to structure character comparison paragraphs for Books 4 & 6:

Essay Example: Hector and Andromache

"Book 6's farewell scene encapsulates the Iliad's central tragedy: the heroic code's requirements destroy the very things heroes fight to protect. Andromache makes a reasoned, strategic plea—'concentrate the army by the fig-tree, where the wall can be most easily scaled'—demonstrating military intelligence and offering tactical alternatives to open-field combat. Yet Hector cannot accept her logic: 'if I hid myself like a coward and refused to fight, I could never face the Trojans.' His rejection stems not from disagreement but from social impossibility—the heroic code offers no mechanism for prioritising family over honour. Homer deepens the tragedy by making Hector AWARE of consequences: 'the day will come when holy Ilium shall be no more'—he knows Troy will fall and fights anyway. The scene's power derives from mutual awareness and mutual powerlessness: both understand the outcome (Hector's death, Andromache's enslavement, Astyanax's murder), both want to prevent it, neither can change the system that demands it. Through this couple, Homer reveals that the heroic code victimises not just enemies but the heroes themselves and everyone they love."

What Makes This Effective

  • Thesis: Clear argument about heroic code's destructive nature
  • Evidence: Specific Rieu quotations from Book 6
  • Analysis: Explains WHY quotes matter, not just WHAT they say
  • Complexity: Acknowledges both characters' valid perspectives
  • Context: Connects to broader Iliad themes (kleos, timē, fate)
  • Sophistication: Shows understanding of social/cultural constraints

Key Takeaways: Character in Books 4 & 6

What You Must Know

  • Diomedes: Ideal warrior filling Achilles' absence; brave, skilled, respectful to gods; proves Greeks can fight without Achilles but can't WIN without him; demonstrates successful heroism but limited impact
  • Hector (Book 6): Deepened from Book 3—shown at home with family; torn between duty and love; knows Troy will fall but fights anyway; represents heroism's human cost and tragic nobility
  • Andromache: War's civilian victim; lost first family to Achilles, about to lose second; intelligent and powerless; makes reasoned military arguments that are ignored; represents everyone who suffers war without choosing it
Why These Characters Matter Together
Diomedes shows heroism WORKING—skill, bravery, divine favour, survival. Hector shows heroism's COST—duty requiring sacrifice of everything loved. Andromache shows heroism's VICTIMS—those who lose everything so heroes can win glory. Together, they present a complete picture: war creates kleos for some, tragedy for others, and devastation for most. That's Homer's genius—showing ALL perspectives without resolving the contradictions.

Connections to Books 1 & 3

These characters build on what we learned in earlier books, creating cumulative understanding.

Character Development Across Books 1-6

  • Achilles (Books 1-2) → Diomedes (Books 4-6): Replacement hero proves original irreplaceable
  • Agamemnon's leadership (Book 1) → Diomedes' response (Book 4): Mature warrior handles criticism better than Achilles did
  • Hector criticising Paris (Book 3) → Hector with family (Book 6): Public warrior role expanded by private family bonds
  • Helen's self-hatred (Book 3) → Andromache's suffering (Book 6): Two women, both trapped, both suffering—one blamed, one blameless
  • Paris's cowardice (Book 3) → Hector's courage (Book 6): Brother contrast deepened—Paris hides while Hector sacrifices
The Cumulative Effect
Books 1-6 together establish the war's moral landscape: Achilles withdrawn (justified but destructive), Greeks struggling (Diomedes heroic but insufficient), Trojans defending (Hector noble but doomed), civilians suffering (Andromache intelligent but powerless). By Book 6's end, we understand ALL perspectives—Greeks, Trojans, warriors, families. This makes everything that follows (Patroclus's death, Achilles' return, Hector's death) emotionally devastating because we CARE about everyone involved.