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the odyssey character analysis essay
the odyssey character analysis essay
symbolism between odyssey and aeneid
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In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus goes on a harrowing journey to return home to Ithaka. Many people believe that throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus goes through a journey to become a hero. Odysseus does go through the stations of the hero’s journey, but he also does not have all the characteristics that would define someone as a true hero. Due to disrespect to the people affiliated with him, poor leadership, and cruelty, Odysseus does not earn the title of a true hero. Odysseus exhibits different forms of disrespect by being unfaithful, untrusting, and being neglectful to his peers. Odysseus is unfaithful in numerous episodes of The Odyssey. He beds with Kirke and betrays his marriage vows with Penelope, who is alone home in Ithaka waiting for him to come home. Hermes, the messenger god, says to Odysseus, “She will cower and yield her bed- a pleasure you must not decline.” (X, 334-335) Odysseus also betrays Penelope again, with another goddess, Kalypso. People may defend that he was a captive on her island, but Homer states: “Though he fought shy of her and her desire, he lay with her each night.” (V, 162-163) Therefore he was unfaithful not just once, but numerous times. Odysseus also displays disrespect when he questions the people he should trust. He inquires the god’s advice when they are trying to help him on his journey. “O damned confusion! Can this be a ruse to trick me from the boat for some god’s pleasure? No I’ll not swim; with my own eyes I saw how far the land lies that she called my shelter.” (V, 369-372) Leukothea, a Nereid, saw Odysseus suffering and gave him instructions to help him. Instead of embracing her advice, Odysseus disregards it, thinking it be a ploy from Poseidon. Odysseus, as well as ... ... middle of paper ... ... in it. “With our brand we bored that great eye socket while blood ran out around the red hot bar. Eyelid and lash were seared; the pierced ball hissed broiling, and the roots popped.” (IX,420-423) He could of found a different means of defeating Polyphemos, but instead injured him. Due to Odysseus’s disrespect, his poor leadership, and his cruelty, he is not a hero. A hero should be someone that is respectful towards all he meets, he should also be a strong leader and should do what is best for his crew. Likewise, he should never cruel, but compassionate and understanding. Though Odysseus may be considered a hero by some, the negative incidents that occurred in The Odyssey strongly overpower the good occurrences. A hero should be someone an individual could look up to, but Odysseus has had far too many blunders during his hero’s journey to truly be called a hero.
In Homer's Odyssey Odysseus is a character who, sometimes behaves like a proper hero and also as a very self-centered character at other points. He earns the respect of his men during the Trojan War by making good sound decisions and caring about the welfare of his men. But, in his adventure home Odysseus is definitely not taking the responsibility of a hero among his men. On almost any page you turn to in the epic, you can find some act of greed or foolishness coming from Odysseus. He plays with the lives of his men with no regard for the well-being or their families. Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness.
Odysseus is a hero because he used his cunning personality to save his men when they cannot save themselves. In The Odyssey, Odysseus said to Circe “Circe, if you want me to eat and drink, you must free my man and bring them to me that I may see them with my own eyes.”. This quote shows that Odysseus is a true hero because he is forcing a goddess to free his men so that she can get him to eat. Also in The Odyssey, Odysseus had also taken on the brave task of rushing Circe after she had tried to poison him in book X. This example shows that Odysseus is a hero because he had the courage to save his men by going against the goddess. It also shows that he was not afraid of the harm that he could face going against Circe as Odysseus did.
A person will typically think a hero as one who is equipped with great strength or ability. But a hero is more than just being brave or strong. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus goes through many challenges and is faced with his biggest weakness: his hubris or excessive pride. Though, Odysseus earns the title of a hero because he exhibits courage, utilizes cunning, and overcomes his hubris.
In homer's Odyssey the main character Odysseus is a person who only tries to help himself. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Many times in the epic he manipulates others, commits foolish acts and is full of hubris. He tries to take shortcuts and as a result of this is men are killed and his boats destroyed. He plays with the lives of his men and he is punished for it. Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness.
What are heroes? Are they special human gods or normal every day people who help the society in a positive way? When one looks at The Odyssey by Homer, one distinct character appears to be heroic:Odysseus. Even though Odysseus is arrogant and boastful throughout the epic, he pays the price by having to escape the cyclops and the wrath of Poseidon. On the other hand he is a good man who has the following attributes: leadership, loyalty and perseverance.
Throughout the epic, Odysseus is portrayed by his friends and peers as a magnificent man, a godlike figure. But, throughout the journeys of The Odyssey, Odysseus’ true character shows. Heroes are no exception to human nature; all people tend to act differently in public than in private. A commonly accepted definition of a hero is, “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” Odysseus has not shown the noble characteristics of a hero by acting cowardly, barbaric, selfish and greedy in certain situations; such qualities do not deserve such a title. To be a hero, you must have a noble and courageous purpose. As The Odyssey moves along, Odysseus is revealed not to be a hero through his ignoble acts. Homer uses the character of Odysseus to depict false morality which undermines the concept of his heroism.
A hero accepts who he is as an individual, but strives to change himself for the better. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, the main character Odysseus is a valiant king who embarks on a life-changing voyage. While traveling from Troy back to his home in Ithaka, King Odysseus overcomes daunting obstacles, and in doing so discovers his place in the world. Odysseus is truly a heroic figure because he demonstrates courage, improves his character, and wins the support of the gods.
In Homer’s The Odyssey, the main figure Odysseus has excessive pride, a lack of faith, and selfish intentions, which prevent him from earning the title of hero. These mannerisms are just several examples of his multiple derogatory traits. They completely overpower the few positive attributes Odysseus possesses. The numerous negative behaviors that he displays are not those of a hero. Being chivalrous, determined, growing, or courageous in any way can make a hero. Helping others is an essential and main part of being a true hero. Even the smallest selfless act can make one a hero in another’s eyes. Heroes are discovered in every way possible, from pop culture to social interaction to the pages of a poem – just not this one.
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 portrays himself as anything but a hero throughout Homer’s The Odyssey. Odysseus goes through his life believing he is the best. He has no regard for anyone’s feelings but his own, and he believes nothing and no one can harm him, not even the gods. Odysseus feels he is always the leader and no one can tell him otherwise. Odysseus should not be considered a hero because he portrays himself as a selfish man that failed his crew, and is controlled by his hubris.
A true hero will go through immeasurable lengths to benefit not him or herself, but the people around them. Heroes are neither selfish nor uncaring. They seek every opportunity they get to help those in need. One must have also gone through the entire hero’s journey to be deemed a hero. He must start off naïve and inept and through his challenges, transform into someone worth calling a hero. Most importantly, a hero is not perfect. He must listen to other’s ideas and utilize them. However, in The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus disrespects his crew men and the gods’ advice, lets hubris interfere with his men’s lives, and is unfaithful to his wife Penelope.
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 hero is the man who fights for what he loves. A hero is someone who rises above circumstance to take back what is his or hers. A hero is a man who was favored by the gods. All of these qualities and more can be found in both Odysseus and Telemachus. Odysseus and Telemachus both showed many manifestations of a hero throughout the Odyssey. It was a journey of change and growth for both men. Out of this journey they returned with much wisdom and personal gain. Odysseus and Telemachus have truly walked the path of the hero’s journey.
There are numerous heroes throughout “The Odyssey,” but none of them are as significant as Odysseus. “The Odyssey” is a narrative poem written by Homer (around 800 and 600 BCE) to show the numerous adventures and experiences Odysseus goes through. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus a prominent Greek epic hero is on a quest to return back to his home in Ithaca; to his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. Just like real life, not all heroes are picture-perfect; they all have imperfections. In this case, Odysseus is sometimes insolent, and discourteous; but he is still considered an epic hero because of the many heroic qualities he endures. Odysseus proves himself to be an outstanding hero in various ways such as showing loyalty, intelligence, bravery, strength, and courage which are all some of the most momentous qualities found in a hero. If a true hero can prove they are a true hero, makes them a true hero.
Odysseus: a hero in every way. He is a real man, skilled in the sports, handy with a sword and spear, and a master of war strategy. Most of the challenges and adventures in his return voyage from Troy show us this even if we had no idea of his great heroic stature and accomplishments in the Trojan war. I found in my reading of the Odyssey that most of the trials the gods place upon him are readily faced with heroic means. These challenges are not