According to the dictionary, a hero is “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” However, if one were to ask a general person who a hero is, the response in all likelihood would be along the lines of, “a hero is someone who selflessly sacrifices himself, out of the pure goodness of his heart, in order to help or save others.” The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer over three-thousand years ago, describes the long, difficult journey undertaken by the main character, Odysseus. Odysseus certainly fulfills the dictionary’s criteria for being considered a hero. He’s cunning, intrepid, brave and strong. The journey home he embarks on is abundant with challenges that he successfully overcomes. …show more content…
For example, at the end of the Land of the Laestrygonians, Odysseus callously abandons his men in the cave in order to save himself. He states, “The oarsmen [tore] the sea in mortal fear / and my ship [sped] out of range, far out / from that deep canyon where the rest were lost” (Homer Packet 4, Pg. 4). Odysseus is solely concerned with his own escape, and he doesn’t even consider attempting to rescue his helpless men. Furthermore, it’s quite evident that Odysseus views his life as more sacred than the lives of his men, for he relays in the Land of the Cyclopes, “I took / the wooliest ram, the choicest of the flock, / and hung myself under his kinky belly, / …” (Homer 1059). By taking the biggest ram, Odysseus is essentially implying that his safety prevails over that of his men. Additionally, none of his crew had wanted to remain on the Land of Cyclopes in the first place. Each of them pleads with him, hoping to convince him of departing from the land. “...Yet I refused. I wished / to see the cave man, what he had to offer-...” (Homer 1051). Odysseus supplies no valid reason to stay, and he hardly considers the consequences his men will suffer because of his selfish actions, therefore causing six of them to lose their lives. If Odysseus were a hero, he wouldn’t allow his men to hurt for the sake of meeting his personal demands and …show more content…
For example, Odysseus taunts Polyphemus after escaping from the cave instead of making a silent get-away. Odysseus’ men implore him to stop his antagonistic cries in fear that Polyphemus will destroy the ship. Even so, Odysseus disregards their pleas, saying, “I would not heed them in my glorifying spirit, / but let my anger flare and yelled: / Cyclops, / if ever mortal man inquire / how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him / Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: / Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca!” (Homer 1062). His pride blinds him with asininity, for he announces his name to Polyphemus, revealing his authentic identity. As a result of such folly, Polyphemus places a curse on Odysseus that strains him for the rest of the journey. Odysseus’ pride and arrogance also stand out when they first come to the Land of the Cyclopes. The minute they get there, Odysseus haughtily passes biased and opinionated judgments, describing them as, “...giants, louts, without a law to bless them. / In ignorance leaving the fruitage of the earth in mystery / to the immortal gods, /...Cyclopes have no muster and no meeting, / ...but each one dwells in his own mountain cave / ...indifferent to what others do….” (Homer 1050). He depicts their race in a negative manner, entirely due to the fact that they have a different culture than his own. Acting indifferent
A heroic person is best described as someone whom is extraordinarily bold and that daringly goes to extreme measures for particular reasons. Odysseus lived up to such heroic qualities numerous times throughout Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, while on his voyage home to Ithaca. Homer has created Odysseus as a heroic figure in the Odyssey possessing characteristics of savior, courageous, and sly. Savior was shone while is on the island of the Lotus Eaters, home to a harmless group of people who eat only the flowering lotus plant. He sent and trusted three of his men to scope the island but instead they ran into and joined the lotus eaters.
Yes, Odysseus did have to sacrifice the lives of his men, but if it wasn’t for Odysseus being who he truly was and standing for his men through tough times, the story wouldn’t have gone the way it
This shows that he’s heroic because he goes out of his way just to save three of his crew members. This makes it clear that Odysseus, although a little flawed, is a hero, because he goes out of his way just to save his crew and gets nothing in return. So the debate on whether Odysseus is a hero or not is very debatable. Even though it's a very debatable topic your can say that he is Smart, he’s trying to get home to save his wife from the unwanted suitors, and that he is as loyal as can be to his crew and will do almost anything to save them.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to preserve and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ”- Christopher Reeve. This quote relates to the hero, Odysseus because he does many heroic actions in the epic that classifies him to be heroic. The Odyssey is a about a man named Odysseus, who has to face many challenges in order to return to his home, Ithaca.
First, Odysseus was not a hero because he was cold hearted and a selfish man. He basically did anything that he could to get home. He had killed many people. 1 SENTENCE HERE. He only cared about himself and no one else, not even his own men.
Although some may say that Odysseus deserves the loyalty of his crew, he does not because he puts them in the way of danger, is very inconsiderate, and usually follows other plans that people have gave him. While on his journey home,
In the section “In the One-Eyed Giant’s Cave” from Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as a hero through his character traits and behaviors. When Odysseus and his men attack the city of Ismarus, the Cicones’ strong hold, Odysseus made sure to fairly distribute the spoils among his men. Odysseus’s behavior shows that he is a great leader, a characteristic of a hero. While Odysseus and his crew are in the Cyclops’ cave, Polyphemus, the cyclops, notices them. Polyphemus asks who they are with a monstrous tone, “‘Strangers!'
While Odysseus and his crew are slowly moving away from Cyclopes Island, Odysseus tells Polyphemus that he is “Odysseus, Laertes’ son,” whose home “lies on Ithaca” (Homer 459 and 460). Because of his arrogant decision to tell Polyphemus the truth of his origins, he essentially dooms him and his crew. Polyphemus, who is Poseidon's son, asks of his father to punish Odysseus for his arrogance, whom grants his prayer. In cessation, Odysseus’ haughty decision to tell Polyphemus his whereabouts leads to his utter
Such as in the story of Circe, Odysseus decided to go back to the dangerous land to save his men. “Against Eurylochus’ advice, however, Odysseus rushes to save his men from the enchantress.” (920) This shows that Odysseus chose to risk his own life and more members of his crew’s lives. Although some do say that this was a heroic act, he put his idea above those of his men.
He acts extremely self centered, self righteous and all important. Odysseus does not show any respect for his men after everything they have been through. This is after the Cyclopes after they sailed away. He does not take any responsibility for what happened at the cyclopes land. Even though a mature person would have already taken responsibility for what happened.
His arrogance leads to him and his crew having to face more difficult challenges and an elongated journey home. Odysseus and his crew had successfully evaded Polyphemus. Instead of quietly leaving the island, Odysseus’ arrogant nature caused him to stop to insult the Cyclops. “‘ O Cyclops! Would you feast on my companions?
Then, Odysseus always wants it his way, and his crew has no say in what they are doing. Additionally, Odysseus never listens to his crew’s ideas, which makes him seem egotistical: “ God sake, captain!/ Why bait the beast again?/ Let him alone!” (408-410) This greatly illustrates how Odysseus shatters his crew’s ideas. It seems that every time his crew gives him an idea of what they could do, he shoots it down.
In fact, all of his actions are only done for himself. For example, he is only fighting his way home and keeping his soldiers alive so that they can help him get home. He shows his selfishness while on the boat, leaving the Cyclops cave. He shouts out insults to the Cyclops, which puts his men and himself in danger, even after almost being killed by the hurled boulder which was sent by the giant Cyclops. This proves that Odysseus is very selfish in his seemingly heroic ways.
The definition of a hero has evolved over time. According to Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, the first definition of a hero is, “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability.” In The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus is a hero according to this definition. Odysseus is a hero because he used his strength to overcome tough circumstances. Odysseus battles many mortals, immortals, monsters, and even gods.