An important idea in the Iliad is how "the plan, or will of Zeus" affects Hektor. The god's promise to Thetis (to give victory to the Trojans) traps Hektor into a key role. Zeus has promised him divine help with victory that will last until the Trojans have reached the beaches and the Achaian ships. Hektor assumes that final victory is his. Of course, though, it isn't. Therefore, Hektor can be seen as an instrument of Zeus. But although he is an instrument of Zeus, he is not a victim of Zeus. Hektor has sufficient flaws and errors to cause him to deserve his death. With this in mind, one must ask, "What is Hektor's error?"
An "error" is a misdeed consciously committed, and as such, a character must live with the shame of having committed the deed. Error sometimes occurs when the hero seeks only honor. If a warrior is reliable, he is admired, and if others admire the warrior, then he admires himself. According to the heroic code, the warrior should gain his honor by combat; consequently, he often over-reaches himself in his attempt to win honor. In the case of Hektor, it is sometimes difficult to determine what Hektor does in full knowledge, which constitutes an error, and what he does when he is acting as an instrument of the gods.
Hektor's first error is his promise to his fellow Trojans of a Trojan victory after the Achaians have been driven back to their ships. In his speech, he announces his plan for the Trojan troops to remain on the plain, ready for an early attack. The Trojan victory, however, is a result of his misunderstanding Zeus' plan which is simply to give the Trojans success until they reach the Greek ships so that the Achaians, specifically Agamemnon, will be punished for the mistreatment of Achilles. Hektor's success in battle, then, leads to a presumptuous wish for immortality and, consequently, to the beginning of Hektor's deterioration.
