Homer's poem the "Iliad" has a character named Achilles. He is destined for death, but doomed for glory.

He is a
fearless, fiery leader that lets his selfishness get in the way of doing what is right sometimes. He is the best of his
craft, and the most skilled of the Acheans. But is he really the hero of the poem? No, although Achilles is greatest,
and he has the most natural ability , he has too many character flaws to be a hero.

Achilles is told by his mother Thetis that he will have glory if he goes to Troy and fights with the Achean army but the
only catch is he will die while fighting. But if he stays he will have a long life full of pleasures that only the gods enjoy.
Achilles chooses to go to Troy and earn his glory. Glory is the main theme driving Achilles. He prefers a name that
will live for a thousand years in the hearts of men over a long lasting god like life.

Achilles natural ability and his pride are his best attributes. He is the most intense warrior when in battle. "The most
violent man alive" (82,172) Agamemnon credits Achilles being the most violent. And on the battle field that is a great
to have. He has the most ability because he was born half god half mortal. He takes pride in being a warrior. And
carries his pride over into training, violence, and everything he does he must be the best.

Achilles does great things when in battle. He is the greatest of all the Acheans. His comrade Odysseus even credits
him to be the greatest "Achilles, son of Peleus, greatest of the Acheans, greater than I, stronger with spears by no
small edge" He is a warrior that not only has he mastered the art of war but he is a master of many trades like
medicine. He slaughters armies almost single handedly,and he shows compassion. Agamemnon credits Achilles
value as a fighter. "Why look, that man is worth an entire army". He is not totally immortal he has a weakness, his
heel. So he is vulnerable just like everyone else on the battlefield. His ability to have so much confidence on the
battle field shows his greatness. When Achilles chooses to fight he is a killing machine. All of these things make him
great to the men that fight along side him on the battlefield. Achilles truly is the greatest to ever fight, but because he
is half god. He has an advantage over all of the mortal men, his weakness is very small.

Achilles character is too flawed for him to ever be considered a hero, he fights only for himself and his glory. There is
a big difference between Achilles and most men, most men are fighting to preserve the institution of their country, but
Achilles like Lord Agamemnon, takes all the glory for himself. Achilles is very selfish and that is his worst character
flaw. He expects everyone to bow down to him because he thinks he's the hero.

The poem focuses on control and selfishness between Achilles and Lord Agamemnon. Each man wants control. But
because of his selfishness he chooses to prolong his destiny and sit out of the battles. "My honors never equal yours,
whenever we sack some wealthy Trojan stronghold my arms bear the brunt of the raw, savage fighting, true, but
when it comes to dividing up the plunder the lion's share is yours."(83.193-197) Achilles thinks that Agamemnon
disgraces him by watching him fight all day and when the battle is over Agamemnon takes the treasure. This fight
between the two men angers Achilles so much that he actually prays that Lord Agamemnon's men die in battle just to
prove to Agamemnon how much he really needs him. "Grant the Trojans victory after victory till the Achean armies
pay my dear son back, building higher the honor he deserves"(94, 605-608) Achilles is not a very clearheaded
thinking man, he is so quick to judge others that he doesn't realize his own less than noble actions. His ego is so big
that he has no capacity to help anyone but himself. In book 16 Achilles allows Patroclus to go fight the Trojans off the
Achean ships. Even though Patroclus is his best friend he tells Patroclus "You must come back, Patroclus. Even if
Zeus.lets you seize your glory, you must not burn for war against these Trojansnot without me, you will only
make my glory that much less." (415-102-108)Achilles is so concerned with his glory and his selfishness that he
doesn't want his best friend to take any glory away from him.

Achilles is a master of everything that is war, he is a slayer of men. He is a seducer of women. He is the most skilled.
He is the greatest ever to fight.. He is the greatest of men because he does kill Hector. But he is selfish, meaning he
doesn't show enough concern for others to really make him heroic. He fights for seemingly the wrong reasons making
him less of a hero in my eyes. So, he is the least heroic but greatest mortal man ever to live and die in battle.