The Effect of War

The Iliad begins with the rage of Achilles and his refusal to aid the Greeks in the Trojan War, while on the Trojan side, Hector bids farewell to his father, wife, and son as he goes off to protect Troy's walls. Both Hector and Achilles experience a transition in character as the war rages on, with their prides eventually leading to their downfall. Both are great warriors who fight for glory on the battlefield and when Achilles' pride overcomes him after Agamemnon insults his honor, he stops fighting for the Greeks and wishes death upon both sides. With Achilles off the battlefield, Hector's pride overcomes him and he believes he can truly face Achilles in combat. The Iliad depicts Hector as a sympathetic character, risking his life for his city and family, while Achilles is pictured as a selfish soldier wounded by his pride, but both heroes change as Achilles continues to not take part in combat.
At the beginning of the Iliad, Achilles is viewed as a selfish warrior who prays to Zeus to bring death upon both Greeks and Trojans alike all because Agamemnon insulted his honor. During Achilles' absence, many Greeks beseeched Achilles to return to the battlefield, with him refusing them every time. While Achilles is sulking in his tent, he has time to reflect on exactly why he is fighting in the first place, beginning his transition from glorified youth into mature warrior. Achilles becomes a more sympathetic character as he reflects on why he's risking his life for reasons that do not matter to his life. His retaliations to Odysseus, Phoenix, and Ajax become more and more rationalized as he disputes the consequences of war and the value of human life. Achilles matures in his absence from war, that is, until Patroclus is killed during battle by Hector.
Hector goes in an opposite direction of Achilles in that Achilles matures throughout his absence from the war, while Hector becomes overconfident in battle because he is now one of the greater warriors on the field. Hector transitions from a loving prince and husband into an presumptuous and reckless leader and warrior. Achilles' absence has clouded Hector's judgment into making him believe that he can actually face Achilles in combat. After Patroclus enters the battle as Achilles in disguise, he only faces "Achilles" after Apollo knocked off his armor and Euphorbus cowardly wounded him. Hector knew he wasn't facing Achilles, but his so-called victory over Patroclus made him believe that he is ready to face the real Achilles and even deserves the armor off Patroclus' back.
In his absence from war, Achilles allows himself to reflect on the nature of war, but his honor keeps him from helping the Greeks as Hector sets fire to the ships and allowing Patroclus to take his place on the battlefield. Achilles' honor leads to Patroclus' death and he reflects on how his decisions have lead him to this point. Hector's mind is clouded into thinking he can face Achilles on the battlefield because he was able to defeat Achilles' look alike. Hector starts off as a more sympathetic character, but becomes overconfident in Achilles' absence, while Achilles starts off as an immature warrior who becomes a man that reflects on the cost of a human life.