The farewell between

Hector and Andromache

Andromache

Andromache is one of the most devoted and loyal wives in history. She was an incredibly loving wife. There was nothing she loved more than her husband except for maybe her son, Astynax.

However, she was not a particularly fiery woman who stood up for herself. She was a bit meek but Hector treated her well. Her son was not old enough to take place in the war. Astynax was only a baby as the Trojan War ended.

Unfortunately, when the Greeks seized Troy, Andromache was not able to escape with Astynax.

Hector

Hector was well known for his courage and his noble nature. He was a Trojan Prince and a great fighter. Because of his personality traits, Hector had become one of the Nine Worthies, the mythological figures who were believed to personify the ideals of chivalry.

The subject was taken from Homer’s Iliad. The Trojan hero Hector when setting out for battle says farewell to his family and compatriots. He has a foreboding of his death but does not bow before fate. The hero’s high patriotic impulse is more important than his personal suffering. The painting is imbued with high civic ideals as was characteristic of the historical painting of Classicism. The composition of the work is clear and balanced. The figure of Hector is placed at the centre of the painting; it is highlighted by an impressive pose, pathetic gesture and bright red cape. The other characters are depicted in the background. Their gazes and gestures are directed to the main hero. The main personages – Hector and his wife Andromache – are splendid both physically and morally, as was appropriate for ideal heroes. They serve as an example to later generations. The colour in the painting is strict and laconic. Its harmony is built upon the combination of brown and gray tones, as well as the contrasting silvery-yellow and reds.

In Book VI of the Iliad Homer retells the scene between Hector and Andromache, ending

with Hector’s departure for battle, where valiant Diomedes is killing the Trojans by the

dozen. The dynamics of this scene come from the different motives of the characters. To

Andromache, her husband represents her whole family and she wants him to stay at home

(because she is afraid of losing him) and protect her and their child at any cost. Although

Hector loves his family, he chooses the path of honor because he wants to serve his community

and does not want his fellow citizens to see him as a coward. Hector thus serves as the ideal

Homeric warrior who behaves completely according to the expectations of society.

Andromache fears that she will lose Hector and that their child will grow up without a

father. She remembers how Achilles killed her father and her brothers; why should

she let him or some other Achean kill her husband? She fears that the same situation will

repeat itself and her predictions will come true (eventually, they do). Most importantly, she

fears that she will not be able to do anything about it.

Andromache uses rational arguments to persuade her husband to stay. When her feelings cannot persuade him, she switches to reasoning and notes that the attackers know the weak part of the wall. Thus she implies that he should focus on defense and not go to the battlefield full of raging Argives. This example illustrates that Andromache discusses issues with her husband and, as opposed to other women, is not treated as an object. On the contrary, she delivers her arguments convincingly and Hector respects her.

The battles between the Trojans and the Greeks are fierce and bloody, and the leaders must constantly encourage their troops. Nestor reminds the Greeks that their mission is to kill, not to take the spoils of war. Hector walks through the Trojan ranks and encourages his men. Without the interference of the gods, the Greeks succeed in repelling the Trojans.

As the Greeks push the Trojans further into retreat, Hector goes into Troy to ask the women to prepare sacrifices to the gods, hoping to appease them and win them to their side. In his absence, the fighting becomes less intense, and Homer focuses on a meeting between Diomedes, the Greek warrior, and Glaucus, a Trojan warrior. After challenging each other to a duel, they realize that their grandfathers had been friends. As a result, they agree to a friendship pact between themselves and pledge to avoid each other on the battlefield. As a symbol of their friendship, they exchange armor.

In Troy, Hector asks Hecube, his mother, to prepare the offerings and present them in the temple of Athena. He then goes to look for his brother, Paris. When he finds him at home with Helen, he is irate and calls him irresponsible for not being on the battlefield. He chastises Paris for causing the war and the deaths of many Trojans. Paris apologizes and promises to enter the battle. Helen, overhearing the argument and still in conflict with herself, bemoans the fact that she has ever left Sparta and Menelaos.

Paris will use any excuse to avoid the battlefield. In contrast, Hector is eager to return there, even though Andromache, his wife, pleads with him to stay behind with her and their infant son, Astynax. He knows that he must fight to prevent his wife and child from being taken captive by the Greeks. Through his actions and beliefs, Hector shows that he is a proud, dutiful, wise, and honorable man, once of the most noble in the entire poem. Unfortunately, he will be destroyed, just as Troy is to be destroyed, and he has a sense of his own doom, which he expresses in this section.

After leaving Paris, Hector goes to see his wife, Andromache, and their infant son, Astyanax. She pleads with him not to return to battle, explaining that all of her other relatives have been killed by the Greeks and he is all she has left. Even as she begs, Andromache knows that Hector will return to the battlefield. When Hector turns to his son to take him in his arms, the child is frightened by the plumes on his helmet. Showing his sensitive side, Hector removes the helmet and takes the baby into his arms. He then prays to Zeus that his son will be great. Then with a final farewell, Hector returns to the battle, accompanied by Paris.

That’s all.

Thank you for listening! :D

Group 1; Members:Rhyllcy Jullien Bingtan

Vanjie Lepiten

Rose Anne Adarna

Mary Kathleen Perez

Ryx Joseph Gutierrez

Renz Carlo Englis

ChrisJohn Colina

Jairus Ceniza

Marlowe Patalinjug