Characterization Of Odysseus In The Odyssey

Characterization Abbreviated Essay

Chase Moran

Every great hero has their lows, their times of struggles, that point in time when they just can’t go on, and it is in these hard times that the hero receives help. No hero can go it alone, Batman had Robin, Dorothy had Glenda, and Odysseus had Alcinous. In Homer’s epic The Odyssey, Odysseus, the once great war hero and king sets to return to his native land Ithaca. But, his journey home does not run smoothly. In book 5, Odysseus battles with the god of the raging seas, Poseidon, and is left battered and wrecked on the Phaeacian shores. In Phaeacia, Odysseus receives help from three key characters; Nausicaa, and her parents king Alcinous and queen Arete. Alcinous was the most important to Odysseus’ journey

Not only was Alcinous kind to Odysseus, but he also observed Odysseus’ emotional state and was able to make plans accordingly. Odysseus is no apathetic man, in fact, intense emotionality is one of the qualities of the Homeric Hero. Upon hearing the bard Demodocus song of Odysseus and Achilles, Odysseus began to cry. He tried to cover his tears, and “his weeping went unmarked by all the others; only Alcinous, sitting close beside him, noticed his guest’s tears.” (action) (8.209-112). Alcinous displayed his observational prowess in seeing Odysseus’ tears. No other man or woman had taken note to their guests weeping, only Alcinous had that keen an eye. No man should leave his guest in tears, and Alcinous had just the perfect idea for cheering Odysseus up. Alcinous called out to the lords and captains of Phaeacia, telling them to go and test themselves in “contests, games of every kind.” (speech) (8.118-119). Alcinous does not wish to leave his guest distraught. To solve this, Alcinous proposes that the group participate in contests and games to lighten the mood. This