Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Hektor

The interesting thing about the Iliad is that, while its protagonist (Achilleus) is kind of a jerk, its antagonist, Hektor, is in many ways a very likeable guy.

For one thing, Hektor's basic motivation is extremely honorable: he is the protector of his city and everyone in it, including his wife and son, whom he dearly loves. The reason Hektor is the antagonist is that he kills Patroklos, Achilleus's best friend. (Okay, actually he only delivers the mortal wound; Apollo and a Trojan warrior called Euphorbos hit him first.) But in any case, when Achilleus comes back to battle, Hektor is the one he's gunning for.