Character Traits Of Odysseus As An Epic Hero

Odysseus overcomes another obstacle and saves his men from death in his long journey home from the Trojan war. Odysseus and his men often ran into strange creatures and distractions on their way home to Ithaca. During these events, Odysseus displayed actions of a true warrior that kept their hopes alive of returning home. He did everything in his power to keep his men alive and he didn’t show any remorse towards their obstacles. In the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is an epic hero because of his knowledge in battle combined with his faithfulness which he displays by using his resourcefulness and trickery to save his men, and fighting off the Suitors so he can peacefully live with his family once he returns to Ithaca. The main trait that Odysseus

He would not leave his men behind and he always tried his best to keep everyone alive. Odysseus brilliantly saved his men from the Sirens which sing a song that makes men drown themselves. No man has ever passed the Sirens alive but Odysseus had a plan. ”Going forward I carried wax along the line, and laid it thick on their ears.They tied me up, then, plumb amidships, back to the mast, lashed to the mast, and took themselves again to rowing,”(lines 711-715). In this scene Odysseus shows his loyalty for his crew by plugging their ears so that they don’t have to listen to the song. He then took an enormous risk by having his ears unplugged while being tied to the ship's mast. The Sirens then mainly targeted him which shows how much Odysseus cares for his men because he risked his life to ensure the safety of his crew. Not only is Odysseus loyal to his wife but also to his family. He could have stayed in Troy after the war but he wanted to return to his beloved wife and his family. He shows true loyalty for his family in the story of the Lotus Eaters because his men wanted to stay there for eternity but he did not give in. “...they longed to stay forever, browsing on that native bloom, forgetful of their

He is an incredible warrior and saved his wife Penelope from the Suitors that were trying to marry her for years. This type of protection is what she needed for years but he was out at war but as soon as he returned he jumped right into action. Odysseus announces him to the crowd of Suitors in a very ferocious way. “Not for the whole treasure of your fathers, all you enjoy, lands, flocks, or any gold put up by others, would I hold my hand. There will be killing till the score is paid. You forced yourselves upon this house. Fight your way out, or run for it, if you think you’ll escape death. I doubt one man of you skins by.” He is furious that all these Suitors went behind his back to try to marry his beloved wife and that they didn’t believe that he would return. He knows that he has the skill to kill all of them and to protect his wife. Then the battle begins and Odysseus, the warrior that he is, starts killing them all. ”While he had arrows he aimed and shot, and every shot brought down one of his huddling enemies.” He killed every Suitor, not one was spared. Odysseus showed his power and authority that he has in his kingdom in Ithaca. His true fighting ability and how powerful of a warrior he is proves how great of an epic hero he