The paper examines the many reasons which make Hector's
death so
tragic for the audience, including the influence of the
omnipotent gods, Zeus's own grief at seeing a pious hero die, Hector's own personality and "family man" status, especially in conjunction with the "
tragic widow"-in-waiting, Andromache and his prowess on the battlefield. The extent to which his
death is the emotional climax of the poem is also discussed, as well as Hector's importance compared to Achilles.