Foolishness In Homer's The Odyssey

An example of this is in Homer’s ‘The Odyssey” where Odysseus tries to persuade his crew to bypass Thrinacia, the island of the sun god Helios, but they were too stubborn and insisted on landing. Due to their ignorance, and refusal to listen to Odysseus they accidentally angered the god Helios and to appease Helios Zeus sent down a thunderbolt on their ship killing all of Odysseus’s crew except himself. This is proof of how this was not entirely his fault, and how his name and reputation of being a hero shouldn’t be

Even after he was able to free himself and his crew from the cyclops’ captivity, Odysseus exposes himself to Polyphemus and further jeopardizing his men, “ '"Cyclops, if any mortal man ever asks you who it was that inflicted upon your eye this shameful blinding, tell him that you were blinded by Odysseus, sacker of cities. Laertes is his father, and he makes his home on Ithaka" (9.500-505). Odysseus’ inability to control his hubris and be considerate about the lives of his crew validate the idea that he isn’t an admirable hero. His lack of selflessness and humility drives him to make flawed judgments. This deprives him of the title of an epic hero because his tendency to take unhealthy risks causes him to delay his trip back to his homeland of

Counter to theirs, to stamp out these accursed people with my sword” (IX 162-163). This shows that he weeps about not getting what he wants, because they are getting the glory. He hates the Trojans for the fact that they do a better job than he does at defeating people. Turnus does not show that he cares for his troops and that is something that Aeneas does. While they are in a meeting discussing the Trojans and Turnus and one of Turnus’ men stands up, Drances, and he says to him: “Turnus surrender to king and country their due rights!

Odysseus believes that his words are final and his actions are always right and just, but he often lets his ego take over his rational thinking, causing harm to his crew and tampering with the gods’s plans. His team could have returned home safely for it is the wish of Athena and the other heavenly gods who sit next to her in Mount Olympus, but Odysseus takes it to himself to anger and blind Polyphemus, the monstrous son of Poseidon, loved by his father but hated by the people, thus sabotaging their entire plan. After being blinded by the heroine, Polyphemus throws giant pieces of rocks at Odysseus's ship, almost destroying them all at once. But instead of retreating for safety, Odysseus continues to taunt Polyphemus and “[calls] out to the cyclopes again, with [his] men hanging all over [him] begging him not to”(Book 9, 491-492). His sense of pride and arrogance makes him neglect the pleas of his men even in these dire situations.

He denies the fact that it is impossible, till it is thoroughly pointed out to him that it has happened. After that, he no longer is king and is taken from his throne. His downfall was brought upon him from his excessive pride; he is so full of pride throughout the book that he continually denies that anything bad can happen to him. It is written like this in order to show that being to conceit, and believing that it horrible things can’t happen to people, will make people blind to when it does happen. When Tiresias the blind prophet come to Oedipus to bring him the prophecy, Oedipus is too prideful to see what Tiresias is trying to say.

However, by the end, the speaker is also dead because of the siren’s song. The original myth about the sirens was mentioned in the story Odysseus. The sirens are considered enemies that would drive Odysseus’ crew to death if they listened. Odysseus was determined to hear their song though so he instructed his men to tie him firmly to the mast of the ship while everyone else had plugged

Moreover, Helios messages the thunder god to kill those who ate his cattle. It was this decree that made Zeus throw a bolt at Odysseus’ men, killing them all. Odysseus’ prayer shields him from Zeus ' bolt. The cry to Zeus conveys that the hero needs help from the gods and is unable to do everything himself, thus showing Zeus he is learning. This shows progression because in the beginning of the journey Odysseus disregards the gods and gloats about the obstacles he excels, whereas on Helios Island, the hero calls for help knowing he can not surpass famine/every challenge.

Sophocles’ magnum opus Oedipus Rex details the story of a gallant king who falls from grace because of fate. The King of Thebes’ curiosity leads him down a blurry path between madness and sanity. He was a prideful and a figuratively blind man, and his pride was his metaphorical limp. Oedipus’ life and inevitable downfall, causes intense pity from the audience. Oedipus is a tragic hero because how the audience perceives him.

This action negatively impacts him due to the developed hatred the other characters gain towards Macbeth. His ambition has led to not just the death of Duncan and Banquo but also many others such as the Duncan’s chambermaid and Macduff’s family. This slaughter ruins Macbeth’s original image of a brave, valiant, worthy gentleman to the point that others begin to address him as tyrant. Young Siward, when Macbeth told him his name, stated that “The devil himself could not pronounce a title more hateful to mine ear.” (V. vii). This quote only further emphasizes the fact that Macbeth’s name has turned from one of bravery, as shown by the Sergent (I. ii), to one of disgrace and has been condemned.

So, he seeks revenge. After Odysseus reveals himself and they start fighting, Telemachus kills a suitor just to save his father. Odysseus loves his family and would fight till the death to save them. In “The Odyssey” written by Homer, it shows how much Odysseus cares about Penelope just to risk his life to be with her. In my essay you learned how I think Odysseus is loyal, trustworthy, strong-hearted, and a hero.