Odysseus’ Heroism Some say that the character Odysseus was the greatest hero of all time. This may be true, however, as any human would, Odysseus definitely possesses substantial flaws in his personality aswell. Although he is persistent and wise, rash actions may take place due to the altering of his behavior by his overconfidence and his prideful mindset. Odysseus also bears the ability to react swiftly and effectively in the face of danger, which he displays multiple times in the story. In effect, the traits of Odysseus define him as a hero, although, a controversial one at that. One of Odysseus’ most substantial attribute that makes him the hero that he is, would be his continuous persistence. This trait is partly caused by his motive. It is to achieve his one goal: return home and take back all that is his. This includes his family, his kingdom, and his home and possessions -all of which were left behind when he went to fight in the war. All these things are extremely important to Odysseus so it would …show more content…
This trait grants him fearlessness and valence. Also, this overconfidence of self leads to inflammation of ego and then ultimately to sometimes careless, rash, unjust actions. In the Odyssey, after deceiving the cyclopes, Polyphemus, Odysseus and his crew begin to sail away from the island when Odysseus yells insults and curses the helpless, defeated cyclopes and informs him of his true identity. This only brings anger to Polyphemus who then hurls boulders at the ship. Odysseus, who was unable to swallow his pride, risked the lives of his crew members. Also, later in the story, one can easily see a darker side of Odysseus show during his disguised homecoming. In the scene, he is having his feet washed by Eurycleia, his childhood nurse whom he is very much close to, and he rudely threatens to end her life if she gives away his
Odysseus has all the qualities made to be a true hero. Not only did Odysseus fight on behalf of the Greeks in Troy (Trojan War), but everything he went through he learned a valuable lesson at the end; Odysseus endured so much during his journey going back to Ithaca but he never gave up on any of his principles. He also had good escape strategies, and he risked his life to save others. Imagine you being on the same journey Odysseus went through, do you honestly believe you would have survived? He made some minor mistakes along the way but nobody’s perfect. That’s why Odysseus is a hero because, he’s strong, and intelligent and was able to get out of sticky situations.
By definition, bravery is courageous behavior or character. Most stories, including epic poems, are based around the idea of bravery. Many people hold a common misconception about bravery. They believe that bravery is the same as being without fear. But being brave and being fearless are two different things. Many people skydive, do public speaking, ask questions, or enter relationships not because they are unafraid but because they are willing to overcome this fear. Or perhaps they are willing to go ahead despite the butterflies in their stomachs. To some, this is a foreign concept that prevents them from trying new things. However, others understand that “bravery is being terrified and doing it
Overall, Odysseus is a hero because Odysseus is a clever and intelligent man, he is a courageous soldier and leader, and he is loyal to his crew. He never gives up even though it seems like nothing will go right. Odysseus fights against difficult odds and takes unimaginable risks, but stays loyal to his crew one hundred percent of the way. Odysseus is not only a model hero, but he is an epic
Odysseus, the epic hero blessed with great strength, intellect, and wit demonstrated that he was recognizable through his human error and flaw. Throughout the epic, Odysseus was well aware of his faults and did what was possible to control himself. His journey was a torment of temptations which he needed to overcome and each one of them challenged him to stay true and increased his will. While some of the temptations were just obstacles and others controlled his destiny, each one defined Odysseus. Odysseus evolved from a flawed man into an epic hero, overcoming his submission to temptation and receiving the ultimate glory he deserved.
“There is heroism in crime as well as in virtue. Vice and infamy have their altars and their religion.” William Halzlitt, a British writer, once said this on the subject of heroism. His personal view, reflected in this quote, was that the evil and the righteous can be heroes. Everyone has a different view on heroism. Some may view Odysseus from the Odyssey, a fighter and soldier, as a hero, and others may view Mahatma Gandhi, humanitarian and pacifist, as a hero. Although Odysseus from the Odyssey and Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent figure in the fight for India’s independence, are both known to be heroes because they are brave, they are different because Odysseus used deceit to reach his home while Gandhi used his morals and honor to fight against bigotry.
The role model for society should not be someone with a big head. Odysseus is quite the self centered. Odysseus comes home, and after killing the suitors, he receives a test of sorts from Penelope to prove he is Odysseus. She wants to move his bed, though he knows the bed is carved out of a tree. He then realizes this is their sign and boasts to his wife saying he is the only one who could have made it or removed it from it's place. Earlier in the story Odysseus tries to come together with the remaining crew. Though in doing so, he brags about his success. "Did I not keep my nerve, use my smartness to find a way out for us". He seems to think it was just by the sole operations of himself they escaped the Cyclops. Odysseus and his crew encountered a Cyclops on their journey home. They manage to escape the clutches of the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Once aboard their ship, almost out of harms way, Odysseus chooses to call back to anger Polyphemus. After his achievement, Polyphemus throws the rock and narrowly misses the ship. After the crew protests, Odysseus shouts back again. Polyphemus gets the final word by asking his father, Poseidon, god of the sea, to give them a long and terrible journey
Almost all written works have some sort of hero to lead the way and have the readers side to. In the Odyssey, that very hero is Odysseus, and he has a few important traits to define his character. He is very courageous which helps him lead his men and go into battle. Odysseus is also very cunning because he is able to devise plans when times get tough. Even though many people may disagree, Odysseus’ cunning and courage are his most defining characteristics.
Odysseus’ declaration to Polyphemus after stabbing the cyclops in the eye is a proud mistake that follows Odysseus for years. The King learns a lesson in humility in the journey that he couldn’t learn through any other circumstance. How much time and effort and men could have been saved had he not needed to secure the glory for himself from his clever act. When his men opened his bag of winds and sent their ship off course where they encountered yet more trials, Odysseus surely learned the value of trust and honesty, and the consequence of holding secrets. When Odysseus has returned to his kingdom disguised as a beggar, he says, “I, too, seemed destined to be a man of fortune once and a wild wicked swath I cut, indulged my lust for violence, staking all on my father and my brothers. Look at me now. And so, I say, let no man be lawless all his life, just take in peace what gifts the gods will send.” This passage shows how Odysseus has grown as a person throughout his journey, and learned how to become a person of piety. Odysseus was a reckless warrior and a reckless leader of the men he was trying to lead home to Ithica. He lived the punishments of recklessness and learned the importance of having Piety towards the gods. From humility to piety, the lessons Odysseus learned are as abundant as the hardships he faced, but each made him a better
The main character of the Odyssey, Odysseus the King of Ithaca is given a complex personality to an extent where it is hard to identify whether he is a true hero or not. True heroism is only achieved when a person achieves certain qualities that portray heroism. Odysseus is not a hero based on the standards of merciful, selfless, and gentle because of his actions of sacrificing his men, killing the suitors and being ruthless throughout the Odyssey. Along with many others qualities these three are helpful and necessary in a hero. A hero must be willing to do service for others and put the needs of others safety and protection before his own. Odysseus does not even come close to matching these qualities because he is a person, who only serves of himself, and he sacrifices his allies to achieve his goals and often he takes action ruthlessly.
The Odyssey shows the hero’s ordeal. Odysseus blinds Polyphemus, the one-eyed cyclops, causing him to ask his father, Poseidon, to make Odysseus return home alone after a long voyage. Poseidon sees Odysseus leaving Calypso's and he rams “the clouds together-both hands clutching his trident”(161:321-322) which turned the waves into chaos. Poseidon is furious that Odysseus is escaping Calypso’s island, so he tries to stop him. Odysseus is facing the biggest life or death crisis. Odysseus
In his epic, Odyssey, Homer reveals the monomyth of the hero named Odysseus faces by retelling his call to adventure, the many trials he must face, and his return to his family.
However, this all goes to ruins due to Odysseus’ arrogance. Once escaped, he feels the need to boast to Polyphemus of what he had done. This results in the Cyclops throwing a hilltop at their boat, taking them back to the shore of the island, which could have had dire effects. Even after this, Odysseus is unable to contain himself, and shouts to the giant that “Odysseus, raider of cities, took [his] eye” (9.418). Now that Polyphemus knows his assailant’s name, he calls upon his father Poseidon to curse him. This leads to all of Odysseus’ men being killed, his journey home being long, and “bitter days at home” (9.452). Another time Odysseus demonstrates exuberant pride is when he sails between the goliaths Scylla and Charybdis. Despite being told by the witch Circe that “no power can fight [them] / all that avails is flight” (12. 81-82), he dons his armor in preparation for combat. In the end, he listens to her, after realizing that she was right and he was being overly arrogant. Had Odysseus not realized he could not defeat the monsters, he would have lost more men than he did. One example from real life of vanity is Adolf Hitler. After a few
The Odyssey demonstrates Odysseus' hero and human characteristics throughout his journey. His humanism is demonstrated when he displays his curiosity and feelings during his encounters on his journey. However, Odysseus demonstrates heroism when he is defeating obstacles in his journey. Another way his heroism is shown was when he saves his crew for danger. In the Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates characteristics of a hero and human.
Odysseus, man of many wiles, husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus, Son of Laertes and Anticlea, has all the qualities of a hero, but also has some flaws. Odysseus seems to be more than the average person, therefore he is an average person with a mixture of good and bad qualities. Intelligence, and strength, are both great traits that describe Odysseus, and his weaknesses are his pride, sensuality, lack of leadership, and temptation. First of all, Odysseus shows great heroism through his intelligence. This quote for example “It was so strong that we usually diluted it in water twenty to one.
The concept of heroism has been a topic of hot debate since the beginning of time itself. The disparities between the Greek concept of heroism and the modern concept of heroism are huge. In this century, a hero is the one in shining armor, willing to lay down his life for the safety of others. However, it will be preposterous to dismiss this definition, although it does not exactly exemplify the Greek concept of heroism. It is, in fact, one of the qualities of a hero as shown in not only The Odyssey, but also in The Iliad. In these two poems by Homer, the heroes eventually die, but their deeds precede them.