The Vice of Pride in The Iliad by Homer

Often, what makes a tale engaging is not a character who is admirable and good, but one who is profoundly flawed. It is through such a flaw or an irremediable vice that the reader begins to understand the nature of the human condition. One of the character flaws that is prominent in The Iliad is the vice of pride. Achilles, suffering from a profound and persistent bout of hubris, is so filled with pride that he makes decisions that are literally fatal for one of his dear friends. In this essay, the problems of pride are examined, and the degree to which Achilles overcomes this vice is analyzed.