In the Odyssey, Odysseus must persevere through many challenges and hardships. During his journey he displays the almost godlike qualities of the typical hero in a Greek myth, and the regular qualities of a human man. Throughout the entire story Odysseus possesses a very human goal: to return home and see his wife again. He constantly displays emotion for his wife during his travels. Athena acts as Odysseus’ mentor during his journey. Athena is always there with him, helping him get home or performed heroic deeds. Most of his heroic actions however were thought of and performed by Odysseus. Throughout the Odyssey Odysseus displays the traits of both a traditional hero from Greek mythology and the traits of an average human man. Odysseus’ heroism always seems to involve his intellect rather than his strength, for example five men aided him in driving a spike through the Polyphemus’ eye (324 to 329), which shows that he was not the strongest of the Greek heroes. Odysseus also saved his men from the witch Circe (Book 10), …show more content…
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
When Odysseus and his men explore the cave of Polyphemus his men beg him to just steal some cheese and leave, but Odysseus refused to listen, telling the Phaeacians that he “would not give way- and how much better it would have been-not till I saw him, saw what gifts he’d give”(9.256-258). His selfish refusal causes the death of many members of his crew, a choice no traditional hero would have made. While Odysseus and his crew flee from the island, Odysseus foolishly tells Polyphemus “If any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you...say Odysseus….gouged out your eye, Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca!”(9.559-562). While a true hero would act as a servant to his crew and put them first, Odysseus acts as a blind servant to his pride putting only his arrogance above his own self preservation. Odysseus stays on the island of Aeaea with Circe “day in, day out, till a year had run its course”(10.515).
In The Odyssey there are many characters who could be defined as a hero. Odysseus is not one of these characters due to his loose morals leading him to be disloyal and have impulsive behavior. Throughout Odysseus’ journey home, he exhibits his loose morals as he is disloyal. Odysseus and Calypso make love one last time after receiving the news from Mt. Olympus that it is time for Odysseus to leave. Homer says, “And now, withdrawing into the cavern’s deep recesses, long in each other’s arms they lost themselves in love” (Homer 5.250-251).
With the great skills of leadership, having immense amount of courage, and to be very intelligent, these things let him do great things for his people and his family. Odysseus escaped many dangerous situations that would of killed him or his men, as in Book IX when he tells the Goggle-eyed giant, Polyphemus, that his name is Noman or in Book XXIII when he starts to play wedding music after he killed all the suitors so that no one would suspect the death of the suitors. Odysseus also shows a great courage by taking on the hundreds of suitors on all at once. With his leadership though, Odysseus is able to defeat the Troy and lead his men on his quest to get back home. These qualities let Odysseus be the great king he is and although
Regardless, Odysseus was extremely heroic and victorious in the Trojan War, and proved his loyalty once more when he finally returned home to his family. At the time Homer wrote the Odyssey, Odysseus was a loved and favorite hero among the Greeks for years. Which is why it comes as a surprise, as expressed by one writer in “The English Journal”, that modern readers do not see Odysseus as a hero. The author predominantly tributes this to their lack of knowledge of what people in society were like at the time. The first example they use is that modern readers see Odysseus as much less faithful than his wife, Penelope.
In the book the Odyssey, we learn many things about Odysseus and his personality. We first find him held captive by Calypso. All of Odysseus’ crew has died but we are told it is not his fault. His failure to avoid temptation ensures his crew’s eventual death throughout the journey. Odysseus is a man of many great characteristics, but also has some faults that he learns from throughout the book.
Odysseus: Heroism Essay Odysseus, a name uttered in nearly each and every sentence, but one of the extensive controversies of all time revolves around our most cherished character of the most illustrious greek franchise, The Odyssey, by one of the most famous B.C. authors, Homer. The great puzzle, as described in layman's terms, would be is Odysseus a hero? Many people would argue that he is, those people are dead now, the remaining people state that he’s just an average guy who happens to be blessed by several ancient gods known to unfairly punish their subjects. When in reality he’s not trying to be rude nor hurt others, but is out purely for himself and his journey to re-obtain the love of his lost wife Penelope.
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!'
Odysseus is not a hero because he stabs Polyphemus in the eye and blinds him. Odysseus is still a hero because he is a leader. Moreover, after Odysseus and his men fight the Cicones, he orders ¨Back and Quickly! Out to sea again!” (Homer 984).
Odysseus has grown from the man he was before, as now he finds comfort and safety in obeying the gods when in the past he did not consider their wishes. Odysseus has only returned due to Athena and he has recognized that and his compliance is founded in his appreciation and respect for her. Odysseus is now a hero due to the obedience he now has to the gods, founded in a sense of humility. Through Odysseus’ experiences on his journey, he learns the value of obedience and dangers of arrogance and ultimately, become a hero through the lessons learned.
The Odyssey by Homer is an exemplary story that teaches life lessons to those going on a journey for themselves. It illustrates how the challenges and obstacles one may face can help someone become a better leader. The Odyssey highlights one man, Odysseus, a man filled with excessive pride, experiencing the wrath of the god Poseidon. He expects to arrive at his home, Ithaca, safely to reunite with his wife, Penelope, but unfortunately faces many temptations and setbacks. Due to the challenges he faces, it prevents him from arriving home as early as he thought he would.
In part one of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus uses his epic hero qualities to help him out on his quest to get back home to Ithaca. He’s shows superb intelligence when fighting the cyclopes in “Book 9.” That’s a quality of superhuman intelligence that Odysseus possessed all throughout his entire journey. Another epic hero quality that helped Odysseus was help from Greek gods and goddesses. In part two of Homer’s Odyssey, Athena helped out Odysseus when he got back to his home land.
A hero is someone who is revered for his or her exceptional achievements and bravery. Anyone who puts themselves before others not for recognition or an award, but because it is the right thing to do, is a true hero. In "The Odyssey," written by Homer is an epic poem about a man named Odysseus and his crewmates competing against the power of the gods to return to their homeland, Ithaca. Throughout his journey, he loses almost all of his men, but Odysseus finally arrives home, concluding his prolonged twenty-year voyage. Odysseus must battle the suitors that have taken his wife Penelope, and may soon kill his son Telemachus.
In The Odyssey Homer makes Odysseus’ journey to his beloved Ithaca excruciating. Odysseus encounters many friends and foes throughout his journey and has to be a leader throughout his experiences. As an example, he encounters Polyphemus and Poseidon, both of whom make his journey mentally and physically painful. Odysseus faces countless scenarios in which he has to save multiple people in those situations. He also encounters the suitors, who are a group of men that try to marry Penelope, when he returns to reclaim his home.
Odysseus is an epic hero because of his bravery and confidence during every obstacle throughout his journey In Part 1 whie Odysseus is about to come across cyclops cave, he says “I brought along and victuals in a bag, for in my bones I knew some towering brute would be upon so soon- all outward power, a wild man, ignorant of civility. “ Odysseus is showing his bravery of not being petrified of what he might come across, like the cyclops. Odysseus has no intention of harming them, but he is not sure what their intention is. This example is important because not only does it show confidence in himself, he also shows confidence in his men. In Part 2 Odysseus also shows his confidence in his men in part 2 where Eurylochus says, “Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure more than a man can?
Athena is known as the goddess of war. Odysseus was aided by her ideas on how to regain power through her tactical skills. The fact that the goddess warrior was on his side through the journey home, reclaiming his land, and killing the suitors was a huge advantage. Athena is very intelligent in how she strategizes and won wars in the past. Some may argue that Odysseus is the real hero but there were many times throughout The Odyssey where he needed Athena’s protection and input of logical ideas.