What role do the gods play in Section 4?

In Section IV, the gods intervene not only to protect Hector's body from Achilles, but to protect Achilles from himself. In protecting Hector's body, the gods also serve to protect Achilles honor. Through the gods' intervention, Achilles is able to truly see himself, and as a result, see that he and Hector weren't so very different. They were, in fact, very alike.