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" Achilles vs. Antigone" The word heroic means surpassing the ordinary especially in size or scale; relating to or characteristic of heroes of antiquity; having or displaying qualities appropriate for heroes; impressive in size or scope; showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort. In Homers The Iliad Achilles the heroic figure, and also in Sophocles Antigone Antigone is the heroic figure. Arte is an Ancient Greek word that describes the quest for individual excellence within a social content. All men in ancient Greece would like to gain this excellence, so they may in a way feel superior to others who do not possess such a characteristic. Possessing this characteristic is one of the many key elements in becoming a hero.
In Homer's The Iliad the greatest definition to be taken of the heroic code would have to be honor, both amongst your peers and in war. If one of the heroes at any time were to be warned about death in war they would have to ignore the warning because the only way to win honor is in battle. Since I know that it is the cowards who walk out of the fighting but if one is to win honor in battle, he must by all means stand his ground strongly, whether he be struck or strike down another. (11. 408 - 410) Odysseus is thinking this to himself in order to fight. Once he begins battle he kills two soldiers. As he continues he comes to battle with Solos, a Trojan, whom he kills.
It seems as though the more men you kill the more honor you gain. The biggest demonstration that Achilles gives of his heroic code is obviously winning the Trojan War and defeating Hector thus gaining honor from all his peoples. Yet even prior to this demonstration Achilles possesses a great honor one of which he acquired from the gods because they believed his cause to be a worthy one. So therefore when you have a god helping you in your time of need there must be a great feeling of honor and arte Certainly it is believed that in the heroic code you only achieve honor for yourself, because during time of war no one else is going to worry about whether or not you are going to die, they are too busy worrying about themselves.
Achilles proves himself to be different. He is different for the fact that he goes to honor and avenge the death of his dear friend Patrokolos. This shows us that Achilles possesses emotion and lacks selfishness. In a peculiar way Achilles transcends the heroic code by showing feeling and emotion for his friend.
He is taking his honor to another level, the level of a caring human side that Achilles didn't have till the loss of his friend. In Sophaclies Antigone the heroine is a young girl around the age of 14 that desperately tries to bury her brothers rotting body with honor. When King Creon announced that he was not going to bury Polynices because he was a traitor, Antigone knew that she could not the king's orders. She went and decided that she was going to do the right thing and bury her brother even though it would eventually cost her, her life. Antigone is both similar and different in comparison with Achilles. One major similarity is that they were both Greek and they believed in the same heroic code.
Also and major difference other than the fact that she is female is the fact that Achilles is a part of Greek history, and Antigone is a fictional character. Their concerns are the same because they both decided that they were going to do the right thing when someone that they loved was either killed or dishonored. They were both fighting for a worthy cause. Antigone is heroic because she is a female and she decides to stand up to the King who is a male.
She didn't go out on to a battlefield and kill soldiers, but she did fight for her cause on her own. In a sense burying her brothers body was like fighting a war because as she was doing it she was unaware of could happen to her. Achilles and Antigone are both Greek characters from epic stories. They are also both heroes that fought for what they believed in and for what was right. I believe that Antigone deserves to be looked upon as a great warrior because just like Achilles, she did fight in a battle. She did however have one disadvantage she was a young girl.
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