Virigil's Influence on Dante's Divine Comedy

There are many heroes in Homer’s epic poem The Iliad. Most are mortal, some immortal and some are demigods. The classic hero that may come to mind when someone has read this story might be Achilles or Odysseus. However, the greatest hero within the play is Hector. Hector is loyal to his family, the bravest Trojan warrior, and a martyr to his people.

Loyalty to one’s family is not always easy, especially when ones brother brings home a wife that creates a war for two countries for several years. Yet, Hector stoically fights many battles for this loyalty. Speaking to his wife, Andromache, he states, “But my shame before the Trojans and their wives . . . If I hung back from battle like a coward. And my heart won’t let me. I have learned to be one of the best, to fight in Troy’s first ranks, defending my father’s honor and my own” (Homer 129-130). Hector’s allegiance to family is second only to his integrity as a soldier of Troy.

The Trojans had many good warriors, however, Hector was the best, and the most brave. Hector had defeated many Greeks and his newest defeat was Patroclus. Many of his men wanted to retreat at this time, however, brave Hector would not hear of this, stating, “For I will be there. I, for one, am not retreating. Maybe he’ll win, maybe I will. The War God doesn’t care which one he kills.” (Homer 166). In the end, Hector’s bravery led to his demise.

Many perish in war for their country and their people, as does Hector. Hector’s sacrifice was felt deeply by his family and fellow Trojan’s. “And there was not a man or woman left in the city, for an unbearable sorrow had come upon them” (Homer 203). Everyone in Troy felt the loss of this most beloved and revered hero.

The actions of Hector were...

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...raversed through the Inferno, but their journey was not over yet.

Works Cited

Aeschylus. "Agamemnon." The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. Ed. Sarah Lawall. Trans. Robert Fagles. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2006. 502-606. Print. 18 December 2013.

Alighieri, Dante. "The Divine Comedy." The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. Ed. Sarah Lawall. Trans. Mark Musa. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2006. 1456-1597. Print. 16 December 2013.

"Beowulf." The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. Ed. Sarah Lawall. Trans. Seamus Heaney. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2006. 1174-1247. Print. 18 December 2013.

Homer. "The Iliad." The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. Ed. Sarah Lawall. Trans. Stanley Lombardo. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2006. 100-205. Print. 15 December 2013.