The warrior comes after the king in the social structure. Although he ranks second, the warrior has a powerful position in society. The warrior is dependent on the community for glory and commemoration because that is the only way he can reach the status of a "hero." The thought of being a hero is every warrior's dream. In order to obtain that goal, the warriors followed a heroic code, a set of rules, which have the potential to elevate a reputation to that of a hero. The code incorporates many regulations, but the biggest part of the heroic code comes from the paternal endorsement of the father.

With the opening of the poem, we see how important that father's name is in describing the identity of the hero. Agamemnon, in his first introduction to the reader, is referred to as "Atreus' son."(1.8). Genealogy even has the power to cease battle between enemies. S

The Iliadic women attempt to save the men from death by tempting they to stay home. If the warrior listens to the woman and stays home, he will not be part of the battle. Hektor is faced with death. Inevitably, however, the battlefield is the only place where he gains honor and immorality. Fathers, on the other hand, think dying in battle brings about fame and kleos.

The paternal expectations addressed to the son consist of what the son has to live up to in order to please the wishes of his father. The son must be a great warrior, surpassing the strength and greatness of his father. He must never shame the generations of his fathers. Hektor illustrated the paternal influences given to his baby boy when he takes him in his arms and prays to the gods for the future of his child.

But I should die of shame before our Trojan men and noblewomen if like a coward I avoided battle, nor am I moved to. Long ago I learned how to be brave, how to go forward always and contend for honor, Father's and mine (6.380-385)

Agamemnon almost gave up and left the war. However, Diomedes arises the fact that is it wrong and cowardice to retreat and leave. This brings up another part of the heroic code: fighting until the end. The warrior must not be tempted to return home before the war is over, because he cannot win the war. If the warrior is not the victor be cannot bring honor to his father and not living up to his generation's history.

This relates to the heroic code in which a warrior must fight without fear of the battle. If he is afraid, the warrior cannot win; which, in turn, he will earn no honor. Being faced with death but overcoming this fear and coming out as a victor of the battle brings honor to the father.

Paternal injunction is one of the major themes in the Iliad, since it influences the obtaining of honor.

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Iliad Andromache, Priam Achilleus, heroic code, paternal expectations, honor father, saving life, battle brings, code women, home battle, faced death, paternal injunction, home war,
Approximate Word count = 1245
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)