ipl-logo

Heroes Always Sacrifice In Homer's Odyssey

729 Words3 Pages

Melissa Díaz
Heroes Always Sacrifice
Part of being a hero is having to make sacrifices. Sacrificing sometimes includes having to watch your men being violently mauled by a cyclops. Or maybe meeting your son for the first time 20 years after he was born. Even if a hero could choose, they would proceed anyway because that is what a real hero does. They sacrifice. Although there are many themes in The Odyssey, the main theme is that heroes always make sacrifices. The theme is present in many ways throughout the epic poem, specifically in “The Lotus Eaters,” “The Cyclops,” and “Father and Son.” For example, in “The Lotus Eaters,” Odysseus made various sacrifices involving him and his men.
To begin with, the section, “The Lotus Eaters,” reveals the theme when Odysseus sacrifices the happiness of his men, their time to rest, and everyone’s safety so that they may continue their voyage home. When Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of the lotus eaters, he sends some of his men to explore the island. Those men ate some lotus offered to them by the inhabitants of the island. They didn’t want to leave the island, so to continue their journey home, Odysseus had no …show more content…

During the escape from the cyclops’ cave, Odysseus made all his men go first before he escaped. Odysseus sacrificed his safety for his men, which shows that heroes make sacrifices. Also, Odysseus sacrificed his way home. Odysseus teased the cyclops about how he was able to to defeat him. That angered the cyclops, so he cursed Odysseus and his men so that they wouldn’t be able to go home. Not to mention, Odysseus sacrificed some of his men’s lives so that he could get himself and the other living men out alive. The theme is expressed through Odysseus because he was forced to sacrifice some of his men to keep others alive. Not to mention, Odysseus made other sacrifices during the section, “Father and

Show More
Related

  • Why Odysseus Should Be Considered A Hero

    587 Words  | 3 Pages

    Just like in the story of the cyclops, he put his men first to put them to safety. He isn't greedy and looks out for others. He did everything he could to ensure that they would all get off the island safely. Even if some of Odysseus's men were unlucky enough to get eaten, Odysseus still felt sorrow for them. A hero is one to care for others and not himself.

    Read More

  • Odysseus: An Attractive Leader In Homer's Odyssey

    748 Words  | 3 Pages

    Leadership can be established in how a hero guides his men and directs them. Numerous warriors from Greek Mythology are lauded for their control and management over their companions in times of difficulty and danger; furthermore, they are a model and an inspiration towards their comrades. Among several brave men, many people considered Odysseus to be incapable of being in charge, but some indications have also shown that his actions for the crew are sufficient. Even though both the controversies of the debate about the topic has information from The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is evidently an effective leader. Odysseus demonstrates as an efficient leader when they come across various threatening situations.

    Read More

  • Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

    744 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Odyssey Essay What is the first thing that comes to mind when hear the word Hero someone brave, nice, kind, honest, smart, and someone who puts their life on the line for others. Well in the Odyssey Odysseus is not all of these things only a few, Odysseus is a cruel, greedy, and murderous man who only cares for himself. In the Odyssey By Homer a king named Odysseus went to war with Troy which started this whole adventure he made a plan to defeat the Trojans by making the Trojan horse and sneaking himself along with his men inside Troy to wait till nightfall and sneak out of the horse to take over Troy while everyone is asleep. He tried to sail his way home but got lost and it took him 20 years to get back because of various misadventures like get caught by a cyclops, getting stuck on an island of lotus-eaters, going by the sirens, going through Scylla and Charybdis, Eating the sun gods cattle, getting stuck on an island with a time distorting goddess along with other misadventures which

    Read More

  • Examples Of Courage In Odysseus

    563 Words  | 3 Pages

    It was during the night when Odysseus and his men decided to be brave and put a stick in the Cyclops’ eye. Odysseus showed bravery by being able to put the stick in his eye and tried to not get killed. When the Cyclops decided to go outside, he opened the door to the cave, and Odysseus and his men decided to run away when they got the chance. They got their chance and ran off to the boat and escaped. This could not have happened without the courage of Odysseus.

    Read More

  • Humility In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

    846 Words  | 4 Pages

    John Ruskin once said, “The first test of truly great man is his humility”. In The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, the central character Odysseus learns humility through his failures and growth in obedience making him a hero. Odysseus reaches a heroic status through the lessons learned on his journey, which ultimately taught him the value of obedience and the dangers of arrogance. Initially, Odysseus appears to lack the heroic quality of humility, through his narcissistic nature.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Decisions In Homer's Odyssey

    831 Words  | 4 Pages

    Also in the story of Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus led his men to both of the monsters. Once his men began to get taken Odysseus could hear his men’s struggles, “Voices came down to me in anguish calling my name for the last time.” (936) In this final part of his journey to get home to Ithaca, Odysseus allowed all of his men to die when facing these sea monsters. He sacrificed his men, who had embarked on this extremely dangerous mission with him, for his own sake.

    Read More

  • The Destruction Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    1066 Words  | 5 Pages

    Odysseus and his men were fleeting from Polyphemus’ island, he said, “ Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye…” (book 9, lines 416-418, textbook). Odysseus is being to boastful and therefore it caused him and his man to become cursed and their journey to last for several years to come. Odysseus’ actions caused his men to pay for just being too full of pride and egotistical. After encountering Aeolus, king of the winds, odysseus received a bag full of wind so they could finally return home to Ithaca, “ nine whole days we sailed, nine nights, nonstop.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Suffering In Homer's Odyssey

    1141 Words  | 5 Pages

    From the onset of the book, death is a recurring event, persistent throughout the entire poem. In many ways, the Odyssey is the story of the death of all of Odysseus’ friends and fellow fighters during their return home from conquering Troy. These deaths are particularly heartbreaking to Odysseus because, normally, one would expect that all dying would conclude with the end of the war against Troy. In this case, however, the anticipation of his return to his family at home became a series of tragedies. This sequence of events changes his view and molds Odysseus’ character in regard to his surviving friends and family.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Crew In The Odyssey

    1764 Words  | 8 Pages

    In the book called The Odyssey by Homer, it mainly follows the story of a king of a village called Ithaca, hundreds of years ago-This man, is named Odysseus. Odysseus goes through many adventures after the victory of the Trojan War. However, this is where Odysseus, is not being as strong as a great war hero and a king as he should be. Although Odysseus was seen as a very strong person, physically and mentally, he lacks the appreciation and the care of his crew throughout the trials and didn’t think through many of his actions thoroughly and how they would affect not only his crew but people around him.

    Read More

  • Temptation In The Odyssey Analysis

    704 Words  | 3 Pages

    TS1 (Thesis): In The Odyssey, Homer depicts Odysseus’ real foe as the theme of temptation with displays of hubris and lustrous goddesses, which portrays the importance of being vigilant to not submit to temptation. ST1: Homer depicts that Odysseus is determined to get home, but Odysseus succumbs to temptation when he leads his crew into the cyclops lair, eats the cyclops’ food, and demands for a gift, resulting in a protracted journey home. 1: Homer displays Odysseus as recklessly brave when he requests, “we’re at your knees, in hopes of… a guest-gift”(9.300) from the cyclops. 2: It is apparent that Odysseus has given into the temptation to be arrogant when he declares for the cyclops to give them, “a guest-gift,” after Odysseus and his men have broken into the cyclops lair, showing even further Odysseus’ isn’t vigilant to

    Read More

  • Courage And Bravery In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

    592 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the Greek writer Homer, and it recounts the story of a man named Odysseus and his journey to return to his home. Throughout his journey, Odysseus encounters many obstacles, including cyclops, giants, and he even has dealings with the gods. As Odysseus tries to return home, his son Telemachus has to deal with a group of suitors who in the absence of Odysseus, are trying to marry Penelope, Odysseus’ wife. In Homer’s the Odyssey, the idea of how one needs courage and bravery to accomplish tasks is exemplified, especially when the tasks seem insurmountable.

    Read More

  • How Odysseus Is An Epic Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

    541 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Odyssey by Homer is a book that involves the Journey of Odysseus and his men and the Obstacles they come across. The Odyssey portrays many themes including vengeance, hospitality, courage, bravery and more. Odysseus experiences some good and bad during his journey. He comes across people who help him, but also comes across creatures who hold him back. Odysseus is an Epic hero because of his quick thinking skills, bravery, and confidence for himself and his men.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Heroism In The Odyssey

    769 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the course of an exceptionally dangerous point in Odysseus’ return voyage he and his men find themselves caught in the territory of the Lotus Eaters, natives who have had their minds corrupted by a certain Lotus flower. Upon landing on the island, Odysseus sent three men to scout the area, all three of which became plagued by the flower. However, Odysseus “… drove [his men] to the ships, tied them down… [and] moved out again” (Homer 9.105-112). Odysseus cares about the safety of those three crew members, though they may have seemed insignificant due to the total size of his troupe. Rather than simply fleeing the island, he ventures out to ensure his men will return despite their stupefied state.

    Read More

  • The Heroism In Odysseus Of Homer's The Odyssey

    414 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Odyssey is a fantastic story full of interesting characters, conflicts, and theme. The Odyssey was written by Homer who was a blind poet. It was written in the 8th century B.C during a time of Greek god worship. With intricate characters, exciting conflicts, and an impressive theme the Odyssey is an amazing book for anyone. Odysseus showed the heroism of a mighty hero buy his heroism was not without foibles.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Reciprocity In The Odyssey

    1190 Words  | 5 Pages

    A major theme in the Odyssey is reciprocity: people getting what they deserve. Reciprocity is an important theme in the Odyssey because it explains why Odysseus’ journey was very long and treacherous. Eurylochus, Antinous, and Odysseus all suffered consequences due to poorly made actions. Each of them made the wrong decisions which lead to death and a long/adventurous journey. Eurylochus was the first to be killed by Odysseus and his men due to his actions.

    Read More

More about Heroes Always Sacrifice In Homer's Odyssey

Open Document