Odysseus' Character as Genuine Hero

Odysseus was a very robust individual who was obligated to leave his kingdom of Ithaca to embark on a journey to fight the battles of Greek and win over Troy. To do this, he was required to leave behind his newborn son Telemachus, and his wife Penelope the Queen. The war lasted 10 years, and once the battle was over Odysseus and his fleet split and attempted to sail back to Ithaca. There, he was favored by Athena, goddess of handicrafts, learning, and the arts, and despised by Poseidon, god of the sea. His journey back home went off track and Odysseus eventually returned home after 20 years. Throughout the journey, Odysseus encountered many different situations in which he made some respectable choices, but the poorer ones landed him in a pit of trouble.

Odysseus made a remarkable realization when he rejected Calypso’s proposal to become immortal. She wanted to lay with him and keep Odysseus on her island for herself. Odysseus declined Calypso's offer without even the slightest hesitation, comparing his wife Penelope to Calypso, “I am quite aware that my wife Penelope is nothing like so tall or so beautiful as yourself. She is only a woman, whereas you are an immortal.” (Homer 62) Calypso’s desire for Odysseus forced her to speak words to frighten him. "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes…but if you could only know how much suffering is in store for you before get back to your own country” (Homer 62) Odysseus held to his realization to remain determined drove forward making a boat like raft from the washed up materials on the back of the Island.

Odysseus’ determination pushed him past the limits of normal men while crossing the seas. His journey led him through many challenges that most men would not bear to complete. His mindset...

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... a minimal appearance of Odysseus. The Iliad focuses on the necessary qualities to be a champion, and most of the plot is based on a love triangle that manifested into a war, which eventually caused Hector’s death. The Odyssey illustrates the death of Achilles and is based around Odysseus trying to get home after the 10 years of battle at Troy. The Odyssey constantly stressed the concept of what it takes to be a true hero. Being physically strong is not everything; a man needs intelligence, gallantry, and perseverance to be considered as a true hero. Both pieces of literature exposed battles and challenges that the characters fought to overcome.

Works Cited

Homer, Samuel Butler, Andrew Lang, and Homer. The Iliad & the Odyssey. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1999. Print.

Homer, Robert Fagles, and Bernard Knox. The Iliad. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking, 1990. Print.