When we are first introduced to Hector he is the first character we genuinely like. He is brave, he is strong, he has a family that loves him, he understands his fate, and he wants his son to be a better man than he will ever be. What's not to like, right? Unfortunately, our favor for Hector falls when he comes to his defining moment. The battle against Achilles.
He is the only Trojan left, and he doesn't want to retreat with the others since it was his idea to fight on and not retreat in the first place. Then when Achilles comes, not only does he try to negotiate with him, but also he runs away when he realizes a negotiation is hopeless. The brave Trojan soldier Hector runs away. What exactly is Hector running away? While Achilles is the obvious answer, I personally think that Hector has just realized that he is going to die. Although he knows his fate, he tries to outrun it. I think it goes to show that no matter how brave you are or how important you are or how much you want glory, when fate comes knocking that last shred of humanity in you will fight as hard as it can to keep you alive-- even if it means acting like a coward.
In the end, Hector has to be tricked into fighting Achilles because he thinks Deiphobus will be helping him. I guess that serves as Hector's last straw in attempting to outrun his fate, by having someone help him kill Achilles. However, that doesn't work either since Deiphobus isn't actually there, and Hector goes down pleading for his body to be brought back to Troy. Do you think Hector should receive glory for his death? Instead of being brave and facing his fate he tried to run away, literally! Does that qualify as a glorious end? I'm not so sure that it does.
p.s. commented on Emily LaForce A Life for a Life
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