Heoes of the Iliad and the Odyssey - 1610 Words

â€Å"All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.† ― Sophocles, Antigone Honor is a major component of ancient Greek culture, which weaves its way through out the great epics of the time. It is perhaps the single most important entity to some of the most renowned heroes. However, the desire for honor seems to have the power to lead such famous men into the clutches of â€Å"excessive pride†, or hubris (Oxford Dictionaries.com). As a result, choices tend motivated by the idea of increasing not only their honor, but soothing their insulted pride. Their actions tend to be chosen because of their honor was insulted, which as a result has wounded their†¦show more content†¦Achilles’ attitude continues on for so long, and they are so desperate, that that Ajax feels the need to call him out for it: â€Å"Achilles - / he’s made his own proud spirit so wild in his ch est, / so savage, not a thought for his comrades’ love - / we honored him past all other by the ships. / Hard, ruthless man†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (The Iliad 9: 766-769). Ajax is also a strong-willed character, but here he rejects the notion because he is well aware of the situation between the Trojans and Greeks. His engagements, influenced by pride, eventually lead to the death of his good friend, Patroclus, and Achilles’ own death. Patroclus tried to convince his friend to return to the war, but Achilles, who had realized that he needed to move on, will not step down and admit that he had made an error in his genius plan to get back at Agamemnon: â€Å"Still, by god, I said I would not relax my anger, / not till the cries and carnage reached my own ships† (16: 71-73). His pride, not his honor, is at stake here. It would be honorable to fight, and be successful, not shy away because of a wounded ego. He would earn much more respect, empathy and the honor of a heroic s tory, which at this time he so desperately desires, if he participates in this war for the ages. So Achilles makes the choice to send Patroclus in his place: â€Å"So [Patroclus], you strap my splendid armor on your back, / and lead our