A Definition Of Heroism In Homer's Odyssey

Heroism

Over the course of human history, some people have arisen to become what is now known as heroes. A hero is someone who has done something remarkable. They don’t necessarily have to be mythical beings, or supernatural people with superpowers, mainly because people like that aren’t real. These heroes aren’t perfect either. They’re all human beings that make mistake just like us. Some examples of real life heroes are people like Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and George Washington. All of these people have something in common: they all strived to do something that was considered impossible at their time. Edison perfected the light bulb. Einstein invented the theory of relativity. Washington led a nation to battle so they could split from their mother country. Heroes don’t even have to

A war hero, a selfless person, or just a good person in general are considered heroes. Over time the meaning of this word has changed dramatically. It started off as a person born from a god and a mortal, to a man with superhuman strength, to a sandwich, and then to the modern day definition: “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character. (dictionary.com)

The theme of heroism has always been a timeless topic, and it shown up in old literature as well. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is “portrayed” as a great hero that is returning from the Trojan War. But is he really a hero? Sure, Odysseus killed a lot of mythical beings, but this doesn’t decide whether or not you are a hero.

After Odysseus leaves Circe’s island during his journey home, she gives him this warning: “I see destruction in your ship and crew” (715-716). Odysseus understands what this warning means—that his entire crew will die—but doesn’t do anything about it. He knows only one thing. He will survive. This is the most selfish thing someone can do. I get that you don’t want them to know about their death, but you could at least try to do something about