Throughout The Iliad, the heroic characters make decisions based on a
definite set of principles, which are referred to as the "code of
honor." The heroic code that Homer presents to the reader is an
underlying cause for many of the events that take place, but many of the
characters have different perceptions of how highly the code should be
regarded.
Hektor, the greatest of the Trojan warriors, begins the poem as the
model of a Homeric hero. His dedication and strict belief in the code of
honor is illustrated many times throughout the course of The Iliad. An
example of this is presented in book three of the poem, where Hektor
reprimands Paris for refusing to fight. He says to Paris, "Surely now
the flowing-haired Achains laugh at us, thinking you are our bravest
champion, only because your looks are handsome, but there is no strength
in your heart, or courage" (3:43). Hektor believes that it is against
the heroic code for a person to abstain from fighting when his......

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Title: The Iliad
Approximate Word Count: 1124
Approximate Pages: 5 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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