Analysis of hector’s speech

Hector’s Distain of Paris’ Actions For many years the Trojans and Achaeans have spent their time fighting and being at odds with one another and the root of it all is one man-Paris. Hector makes a speech to his brother Paris condemning his actions for cowering away at the sight of Menelaus on the battlefield. Through Hector’s word choice one is able to detect the tone that he is to be speaking in and what emotions he is feeling.

As an older brother and citizen of Troy, Hector is trying to make Paris feel guilty for being a weakling and not facing Menelaus when Paris is obviously in the wrong because of his inability to prove his bravery and as a result shrunk away for a foreseeable conflict. Through everything that happens Hector is really only trying to make Paris see that he is not being honorable and should be because that is what the right thing to do is.

48).

Hector is only trying to make Paris see what wrongs he has done and how he has done nothing since to restore honor to him and to Troy. But since Paris obviously has no honor, Hector feels that he should be the one to try and get Paris to man up and defend what is his and his own action. Since the war began many people have been fighting and dying for a cause. The Achaeans it was to return Helen to their land and the Trojans, their pride. But the basis of the war was Helen.

0-53). Hector is essentially telling Paris that he is being weak even though he should be the bravest. Paris was the bravest warrior they had at one point, but after he completed a task that was beneficial for him he stopped being a warrior even though he is the reason for the war anyways because he stole Helen all those years ago. Paris should feel guilty for forcing others to fight his battle while he does nothing. Although Helen is safe there in Troy she is still strongly connected to the Achaeans because she was Menelaus’ wife.

But even with that being so, Hector begins to say to Paris that since he took Menelaus’ wife, that Paris he does not deserve all the treasures and gifts Aphrodite gave him such as ” your long flowing locks and striking looks” (3.