I think that part of Homer's genius is his ability to make his characters so abundantly human. The character of Achilles is so multi-textured and so rich in its development- but that's another post. I think you've nailed it, Nikolaos. His characterizations of married couples, i.e. Hector and Andromache in the Iliad and of course, Odysseus and Penelope in the Odyssey.

When Andromache runs flying out of the house, dropping her veil, because she fears Hektor is dead (he isn't.), when Hektor laments about what will happen once he is dead, when Astyanax cries, and Andromache's reaction when Hektor is indeed killed- the drama, pathos, and beauty is indescribably apt.