The Qualities Of A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

As a society what do we define as a hero? Often, when we hear the word hero, we automatically think of someone who has accomplished great feats of strength or sports, such as a superhero, or a basketball star. Little kids look up to them with awe and amazement, but they are not the ones deserving of that honor. Individuals who truly do deserve the title are those who are the polar opposites of sports stars. True heroes work out of the kindness of their heart, not out of motivation for their paycheck. For example, a doctor who goes to an under-served country, and works tirelessly to make sure a community gets the care it needs. Is the physician working for fame or money? No, the act is done out of compassion and generosity. The doctor is putting others before himself. To be a hero, you must be willing to act selflessly, because a true hero serves others. Another key characteristic of a hero is courage. Merriam Webster defines courage as, “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty”. Courage is a defining characteristic of heroes. Gathering courage can be the most difficult. Having the willingness to stand up, and do something in a situation that causes most others to avoid helping. Without courage, one would not be able to accomplish heroic deeds. Susan B. Anthony is a

Toward the end of his journey, Odysseus spends 7 years with the nymph Calypso. In book 9 of the Odyssey Odysseus doesn’t think about others, and makes a bad decision. Almost costing the whole crew their lives, Odysseus lets his anger get to him, and shouts at the Cyclops. After being taunted, the Cyclops hurls a gigantic rock, barely missing the ship. This shows that Odysseus has his faults as well, and does not always exhibit heroic behaviors. Overall, though Odysseus brave, smart, and selfless actions on the way home to Ithaca warrant him a