Odysseus: An Archetype Hero In Homer's Odyssey

The OG Archetype Hero

Ever since the story of The Odyssey was written, people have deemed that Odysseus was not an archetype hero. At first, you may not think he was. Odysseus was considered arrogant, irresponsible and unfaithful. Have not a lot of people been like that though? Odysseus has been heroic in many circumstances. He outwitted the cyclops, Polyphemus, he defeated the powers of Circe and saved his men, and he saved his men from The Sirens. Odysseus should be considered an archetype hero.

Odysseus was a archetype hero in many ways, but one of his most famous moments was against Polyphemus. Odysseus and twelve of his men encountered the giant cyclops, Polyphemus, on the island of Sicily. Odysseus and his men got trapped in the cave and Polyphemus started killing Odysseus’ men by eating them alive. Odysseus offers Polyphemus some of the best wine and gets Polyphemus drunk. When Polyphemus passes out, Odysseus sharpens a huge stake and thrusts it into Polyphemus’ only eye. The cyclops then goes to the huge rock slab by the door and removes it to call for his brothers. Odysseus tells

The Sirens are half woman, half bird that lure sailors in by singing beautiful hymns. Odysseus orders his men to tie him up to the mast of the ship and don't untie him until they are past the Sirens. His were ordered to stuff their ears with beeswax so that the couldn’t hear anything. Odysseus and his men get past The Sirens without any casualties thanks to the smarts of Odysseus and Circe. Odysseus was once again an archetype hero in this situation.

Odysseus is an archetype hero. All of these are examples of when Odysseus was a hero and saved his men. All throughout the story of The Odyssey, people have dissed Odysseus for some of his decisions that he made. In the end, he still gets back to his wife and son in Ithaca."A cruel turn, this. Never had I thought to see this land, but Zeus has let me see it..."