Brains vs. Bronze

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Recommended: An analysis of Odysseus' characters

Brains vs. Bronze

What separates a hero from a regular man? Does large muscles and courage make a hero, or intelligence and wisdom? Andrew Bernstein once said, “A hero holds purposes appropriate to man and is, therefore, a thinker.” In this instance, Odysseus in The Odyssey is the accurate definition of the epic hero. Odysseus overcomes crazed goddesses, raging seas, and vengeful gods; however, by cunning or strength? Cunning versus strength has been the age-old question concerning the ‘hero’ of epic tales of all times. In The Odyssey, Odysseus exhibits many signs of cunning versus strength to get himself and his crew out of tough situations.

To begin with, there are many examples of Odysseus using his mental strength over his physical strength. To illustrate, in book 9 Odysseus and his crew is faced with an unmerciful Cyclops named Polyphemus. Odysseus and his men were subject to watch their own be smashed to pieces and ate as a meal by the Cyclops - helplessly. Odysseus restlessly thought of a plan to rescue himself and his men, but if he just killed the Cyclops, he and his remaining men would never escape the Cyclops monstrous cave. Therefore, as he witnessed his crew’s lives end, he reverently devised a plan to escape the Cyclops cave. He finally conjured an ingenious plan. Odysseus fills the Cyclops with fine wine; however, his most ingenious aspect was what he spoke to the Cyclops, “you ask me my name…my name is Nobody” (Homer IX, 365). This was the most important aspect because after Odysseus stabbed the Cyclops eye out the Cyclops screamed, “It’s Nobody’s treachery, not violence that is doing me to death” (IX, 408). So, obviously with ‘Nobody’ attacking the Cyclops, nobody came to his aide. Odysseus an...

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...sion and skill, Odysseus exhibited his full physical capabilities to all the suitors. Odysseus’ strength is one of his greatest qualities that assist him on his long weary journey home. According to Simon Argimate, “ Odysseus embodies such qualities as bravery, physical strength, and supreme cleverness, but he eventually also comes to represent the more mature attributes of endurance, wisdom, and self-control” (1). With these qualities, Odysseus is able to finally return home to Ithaca to his wife Penelope.

In conclusion, Odysseus’ brutal strength and cunningness is what carries him on his 20-year journey back home. However, is it his strength or brains that help him most along on his journey? This is a question that most cannot readily answer. Is Odysseus what most would call the traditional epic hero, or is there more than one type of epic hero?

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