ipl-logo

Odysseus: An Archetype Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

353 Words2 Pages

The Odyssey Many people deem Odysseus to be an archetype hero. But was he really? Sure, he won many wars, but did he show the characteristics that matter? No! Odysseus did not tell the full truth to his men, he slept with the goddesses and he was impatient. If Odysseus would’ve told the truth and done what the gods told him to do, he would’ve gotten to Ithaca faster. Based on the story and the facts, Odysseus was prideful, unloyal and irresponsible, therefore, I deem that Odysseus is not an archetype hero. Odysseus was prideful. He thought that he could beat anyone who came up on his path. He believed that there wasn’t anyone who was better than him. Odysseus did not acknowledge the gods on his journey back to Ithaca. He thought he could get there all by himself. Odysseus was also unloyal. He slept with other women besides his wife. Odysseus slept with Circe to get his men transformed back into men. But then Odysseus stays with Circe for seven years, when Odysseus thought that he was with Circe for seven days. Penelope on the other hand kept faith in Odysseus. She never lost hope that one day he’d come home. Many suitors want to Ithaca to try to take Penelope's hand in marriage, but she refused, believing that …show more content…

He didn’t tell his men what the Bag of Winds was. Odysseus’ men-thinking it was treasure-opened up the bag only to find wind, leading them farther away from Ithaca. He didn’t tell his men what Circe said about Helios cattle. So the men killed the cows for food. Odysseus was also irresponsible because he never told the truth and he disobeyed the gods. Odysseus was all around, irresponsible. In conclusion, Odysseus is not the archetype hero people claim him to be. Odysseus shows characteristics of irresponsibility, unloyalty and pride. Odysseus falls short of what people claim an archetype hero to be. Because of his actions, and this traits, Odysseus is not the archetype hero that people think his

Show More
Related

  • Odysseus: The True Hero Of Homer's Odyssey

    443 Words  | 2 Pages

    While Odysseus was on Calypso’s island living with another woman, Penelope was at home trying to fight off suitors and being loyal to her husband who was supposed to be making his way home. Penelope is clever much like Odysseus is with the Cyclops. It had been twenty years since Odysseus had left and the citizens of Ithaca wanted a new king. The suitors were trying to marry Penelope and take over the kingdom because it presumed that Odysseus had died. She said that she would choose a new king when she finished her tapestry that she had been crafting for a while.

    Read More

  • The Hero Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    660 Words  | 3 Pages

    Early in the epic Odysseus is “captured” by Calypso, who is described as very beautiful, but he is faithful to his wife he wishes to return home, instead of being with the beautiful nymph, Calypso (book 5 of the Odyssey). Odysseus and his men also ransack the home of the Cicones for fun or for supposed glory (lines 150 to 170). Odysseus also tells Polyphemus his name after he had him thoroughly tricked into thinking Odysseus’ name was Nobody. Odysseus seemed to do this for glory, but in fact once Polyphemus knew his true name he started cursing Odysseus to the god Poseidon (Lines 395 to 423). Odysseus makes several more mistakes throughout the epic (which is a very human characteristic), such as wanting to listen to the Siren’s song even though he knew he might die from

    Read More

  • Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    325 Words  | 2 Pages

    Odysseus had so much genuine love for his with Penelope and Penelope had so much genuine love for Odysseus. So much so that Odysseus would go through all those trial and torment just so he could get back to her and Penelope would stall the suitors for twenty years because deep down she knew Odysseus was still alive. Odysseus was motivated to go through that whole journey so he could see his wife again. Odysseus didn’t even give in to the temptation of Poseidon’s daughter Calypso, when she offered to make Odysseus immortal if he would marry her and stay on the island forever, but Odysseus wanted to see his wife and he escaped. 　　 Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar so the suitors wouldn’t kill him and take Penelope for themselves, he scopes

    Read More

  • The Odysseus: A Modern Day Hero

    570 Words  | 3 Pages

    In The Odyssey, Odysseus’ characteristics do not fit in the definition of a modern hero, he illustrates a naive and a arrogant epic hero. Odysseus can be seen as a naive epic hero. This is because he doesn't step up to be a stern leader with his shipmates and he allows his shipmates to walk over him. An example of this is when Odysseus reaches Thrinacia, the island home to Helio’s cattles. Odysseus tells his

    Read More

  • Odysseus As A Hero In Homer's The Trojan War

    757 Words  | 4 Pages

    Whoever judged from Odysseus from his errors, was only focusing on the inadequate side; this idea was falsified numerous times. In fact, many quotes have been written about judging people from their mistakes, one of many being “To judge a man by his weakest deed is like judging the power of the ocean by one wave” (Elvis Presley); in the end, Odysseus is a hero, not a god. To conclude, Odysseus was considered a hero because of his qualities and actions; focusing on a specific point changes our view of a person. The king of Ithaca was a hero, mainly because of self-control and leadership.

    Read More

  • Social Standards In The Odyssey

    602 Words  | 3 Pages

    Odysseus was the hero, he could do no wrong. But some of the decisions he made and actions he took that made him a hero to all, would bring him all the wrong kinds of fame in our society today. After winning the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men ransacked the Ciccone's island of Ismarus. They “killed the men” and dragged “the wives and plunder” away (Homer 212). This kind of disregard and blatant disrespect for other people would make Odysseus the opposite of a hero today, he and his men would be the kind of people that parents pray their children don’t turn into.

    Read More

  • Leadership In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

    511 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is clear that Odysseus is not a hero through his terrible leadership. In conclusion, Odysseus is not a hero because of his impulsive decisions, his hubris, and terrible leadership. He does not plan ahead, he is not humble and a sore loser, and he strays away from telling important things to his men. Though in Greek society Odysseus is seen as a hero, he can not be called one now.

    Read More

  • Odysseus: The True Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

    997 Words  | 4 Pages

    Odysseus portrays those three heroic traits throughout his voyage home to Ithaca, which is why he is a hero. Odysseus is highly dedicated to his reputation and ego for the whole of his rocky and treacherous journey. From going up against a cyclops that is five times the size of him, to placing wax upon his crewmates’ ears to mute the singing of the Sirens, Odysseus is brave when he faces his fears and intelligent when he creates lifesaving tools from ship materials. A modern hero can be someone who saves a life or even sacrifices his or her own for someone else. Odysseus can be compared to a modern hero because he risks his own life to protect his crewmates.

    Read More

  • The Destruction Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    1066 Words  | 5 Pages

    Odysseus, a man who was known for his adventures, but do we really understand the attributes needed for an epic hero? The King of Ithaca had a very concealed past where it is hardly ever noted that his men were mistreated by their captain and all of Odysseus’ mistakes affected those around him. Odysseus, on several occasions did his men wrong and along his journeys, he became very willful and big headed. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus has several misfortunes such as losing all of his men and being stranded and not returning home for 20 years, but evidently all of these problems were caused by the mens lack of trust in Odysseus and Odysseus being too stubborn and full of pride. The crew had a very important job in the quests that Odysseus

    Read More

  • The Flawed Character Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    432 Words  | 2 Pages

    While Odysseus did have good intentions of bringing his men home, he continuously made poor and selfish decisions, and he was constantly putting his men in danger more often than

    Read More

  • What Makes Odysseus An Epic Hero

    831 Words  | 4 Pages

    Well the definition of an epic hero is, “a brave and noble character in an epic poem, admired for great achievements or affected by grand events. ”(Dictionary.com) If that doesn’t describe Odysseus, I don’t know what does. He risks his life in many circumstances, and he’s widely admired for being the one of the reasons the trojans won the war. He is also affected by lots of events throughout his adventures.

    Read More

  • My Experience With Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    2435 Words  | 10 Pages

    I have heard many stories of the great Odysseus. His actions presumably heroic in the Trojan War as others call it. Though, my encounter with Odysseus changed my assumption of him from the day the mortal stepped into my land. He is no hero, but rather a coward full of greed and pure hubris.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Character Analysis Essay

    574 Words  | 3 Pages

    You must be made all of iron" (279-80). While Odysseus is a strong man and a hard worker, it is always better to be on his good side, as he can be very temperamental( third source). We see that he has a temper multiple times throughout his journey, but the most prominent time, perhaps, is when he has the suitors killed when he returns to Ithaca. In conclusion, Odysseus is a hero because of his many great qualities.

    Read More

  • Comparing Odysseus And Ulysses In The Odyssey

    863 Words  | 4 Pages

    In The Odyssey, Odysseus was a major hero of the novel. He had both heroic traits and human weaknesses. Odysseus defeated the Cyclops, defeated the suitors that were courting his wife, and overcome other challenges throughout the novel. A special trait that made Odysseus a hero was that he was a courageous

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of The Epic Hero Of Homer's Odyssey

    1058 Words  | 5 Pages

    No matter what is thrown at him he never stops trying to get home, getting past a Cyclopes, the Lady Circe, and sirens. He even gets through the Underworld and lives. Despite this, Odysseus does have faults about him, though not as many as there are qualities. He is a worldwide symbol, an archetype, of both nobility and bravery. Odysseus, the epic hero of the Odyssey, a great leader with many attributes as well as flaws, is no ordinary man.

    Read More

More about Odysseus: An Archetype Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

Open Document