In Homer's Iliad there are many war victims such as Sarpedon, Patroclus and Hector, who all die. There is, however, another less discussed casualty of this war, Andromache. Andromache, Hector's wife, showcases the effect of war on those left at home and who must survive the aftermath. The epic poem presents her past with Achilles, how caring she is, and how tragic her future will be. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Achilles, who is often considered the hero, is truly a villain in Andromache's eyes. Achilles killed his father, mother, and all seven of his brothers. “I lost my father. Mom is gone too. Father... the brilliant Achilles struck him down." Even though Andromache sees Achilles as a villain, she also has some respect for him. Achilles inflicted suffering on her, yet she still respects him. Andromache describes him in a positive light, and is even grateful towards him: "He killed Eetion, not that he stripped himself of his equipment, at least he would have some respect." As a result of Achilles' actions against her family, she is terrified that he will strike once again and take the rest of her family. Despite the tragedy in her life, Andromache is still a kind-hearted person. The first time she is mentioned is when Hector is trying to find her to say goodbye one last time. Unsuccessful, he asks a servant, "Where has Andromache gone?...The sanctuary of Athena where the noble Trojan women gather to conquer the great grim goddess?" One of the first places he thought she had gone was to the temple to help with the war. After Hector returns to battle, he gives a speech about how kind he is to horses. “The loving care of Andromache, the generous daughter of Eezione, has showered you in abundance.” He gave the horses extravagant food and drinks and took care of them before taking care of Hector. This shows how thoughtful she was towards others. At the end of the poem, Andromache laments the future that awaits her. Achilles killed Hector as she feared, and now she and her son must face the consequences of a soon-to-be-lost war. She cries: "my daughter, she will follow me to toil, somewhere, in hard and degrading work, working as a slave under the eye of a heartless master." There is no other path to take because women had very limited options. Andromache continues with her son's fate significantly different from her own. “Some Achaean raider will grab you by the arm and throw you headlong off the ramparts: a horrible death.” Her daughter's fate adds to the tragedy that awaits her. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, Andromache is the true victim of the Iliad. Every member of the family except his son is killed by Achilles and eventually his son will be killed. So, on top of that, he had to face a grim future. However, Andromache was not the only one to suffer this fate. A similar fate would have befallen the other women of Troy. They would be slaves or trophies while their husbands, brothers and sons would be killed. Ultimately, women like Andromache are the true victims of war in Homer's Iliad.