In discussions of epic heroes, one controversial issue has been whether or not heroes have to stay the same or not. On one hand, some argue that heroes have to stay the static. Others contend that heroes have to be dynamic, or go through a big change. Those who argue that epic heroes have to be a static character are mistaken because they overlook the fact that not everyone is the same, some people will change, and others will not.
In the book The Once and Future King, by T.H. White, King Arthur, someone who had gone through many hardships and lessons to change, did not complete his ideal, but is still considered a hero. White says "To these young people, a sight of Arthur as he hunted in the greenwood was like seeing the idea of Royalty.
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They saw no man at all, but England"(White 421), this is stating that the younger generation looks up to Arthur, which is a trait of a hero. They saw Arthur as someone they wanted to be like, someone they could trust. White also says "after twenty-one years of patient success, the land presented a different picture"(White 423). Arthur had changed England for the better, after years of lawlessness and brutality throughout Europe. Once Arthur had become king he had considerably lessened that. In conclusion, Arthur had gained the trust and respect of the people, and had changed the land for the better, and because of that he was considered a hero. Also in the book The Once and Future King, by T.H.
White, Sir Lancelot, someone who had also changed considerably, would also be considered a hero. The author says "I am not going to hurt you, he [Lancelot] said. It's all right. Let me see"(White 348). This shows Lancelot as a kind and merciful person. The man and Lancelot had been fighting, but after the man called mercy Lancelot immediately went to help the man. White also writes "I only had to pretend I was not myself, and I could have had the prisoners safe"(White 353). When Lancelot goes to save the prisoners from Sir Turquine he could have easily lied and said he was not Lancelot to get the prisoners but he did not. Lancelot chose to tell Sir Turquine that he was Lancelot, he gave him a fair chance to avenge his brother, also putting his life on the line. In conclusion, Lancelot had a sense of fairness and justice and he used that to help others, which is why he is considered a …show more content…
hero. In The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus, a static character, someone who had not changed much throughout the story, had done many things that would make him a hero, but even more questionable things that would not.
The author writes "But as I sent them to Scylla, I told them nothing"(Homer 936). This is showing that Odysseus did not tell his crew about Scylla, and how he had to sacrifice 6 of them. This is questionable because a hero would not have sacrificed 6 of his men, he knew 6 of them would have to die, but he still went that route anyways. The author also writes "I entered Circe's flawless bed of love"(Homer 921). This quote is insinuating that Odysseus had slept with Circe even though he already had a wife. This act is questionable because he is sleeping with other women, as if he was not committed to his current wife. In conclusion, Odysseus while on his way back to Ithaca, though he would go out and heroically and save his men, he also willingly sacrificed him just to get back to
Ithaca. In short an epic hero is a character that undergoes a change in ideals or beliefs, after all, both Sir Lancelot and King Arthur had undergone a change in beliefs or ideals and are considered an epic hero. Admittedly, Odysseus could also be considered a hero, after all, Odysseus did try to bring his men back to Ithaca. Regardless, he sacrificed a few men to bring himself back. Therefore, an epic hero is someone who undergoes a change, a dynamic character, and not a static character.
In Odysseus's mind he has very good reasons to kill the suitors. He decided to kill them when he found out that they wanted to marry his wife. The suitors has all assumed that he was dead, for 20 years. As a result they tried to marry his wife. Penelope also believed that he was still alive and she tried to delay any marriages. Odysseus's idea to kill them all is not very logical especially because while he was away on his 20 year expedition he cheated on his wife two times. Odysseus actions were very rash. The reader can see this when Eurymachus says, “Rash actions, many here,” (Homer 818). Eurymachus knows that Odysseus has made rash decision and he is trying to show him his ways and how it is bad. Later the reader reads that Odysseus doesn’t really see that and he is just excited to be reunited with his wife.
This shows that Odysseus was cheating on his wife when the person talking says “other pleasures”. This isn’t respectful to his wife because he is having sex with another person nor is it respectful to his men because he is being a bad influence, which makes him a bad leader. Another disrespectful thing Odysseus did was offend the gods. He offended the gods multiple times but the worst time was when he hurt the cyclops. Odysseus says, “I drew it from the coals and my four fellows game me a hand, lugging it near the cyclops as more than natural force nerved them; straight towards they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it straight in his crater eye,” (374-378).
For seven years, Odysseus is held captive by the goddess Calypso. The young goddess “desired me and detained me in her hall. But in my heart, I never gave consent” (Homer 372). This quote suggests that although Calypso may have believed she was loved by Odysseus, he never really cared for her. If Odysseus would have stayed faithful to his wife, Calypso would have killed him. Thus, he is able to protect himself by lying to her. Another point in the epic where Odysseus' dishonesty impacts his success is with the suitors. After arriving at his homeland, Odysseus disguises himself to protect himself from being harmed: “Odysseus enters his home as a beggar, and the suitors mock and abuse him” (Homer 402). When Odysseus appears to be a beggar, the suitors think nothing of him. They disrespect him, his family, and his home. Had they know Odysseus was back, they would have treated him much differently. Because of the way they acted towards him, it can be suggested that they would be willing to do anything to take control of his kingdom. He is then able to find out more about them and their motives without getting
The three heroes discussed here, Beowulf, Sir Gawain and King Arthur, are heroes for different reasons. Beowulf, our earliest hero, is brave but his motivation is different than then other two. To Sir Gawain personal honor and valor is what is important. King Arthur, Sir Gawain's uncle, is naturally the quintessential king of the medieval period. Though all men to a certain extent share the same qualities, some are more pronounced than in the others. It is important to see how these qualities are central to their respective stories and how it helps (or hinders) them in their journeys.
Again Odysseus shows a lack of self discipline while with the witch Circe. Odysseus chooses to stay with Circe instead of trying to make it back to his wife, Penelope, and his kingdom of Ithaca. In the Odyssey it says "he enjoyed the many pleasures of Circe." (Page 913). This proves that Odysseus, once again has no control over himself when he is tempted. He choose the beautiful witch over his very own wife who has been waiting for years for him to return.
An epic hero is almost overwhelmed with difficulty, often beyond that which a normal man could withstand. Not only is he confronted occasionally by danger or hopelessness; it is the entire premise of the poem. “Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy” (Fagles 77). This it the first line of the whole poem, summing up what is going to happen as the speaker prays to the Muses, goddesses of stories. There is in fact, no other person, fictional or otherwise, in all of history, ever so besieged with difficulty, as Odysseus. Women and goddesses often tempt epic heroes, and Odysseus is tempted too. The goddess Circe is one of the many people who tempt him, “Come, sheath your sword, lets go to bed together, mount my bed and mix in the magic work of love-we’ll breed deep trust between us” (Fagles 240). Though Odysseus does bed with her, he never loses sight of his hope of coming home to his wife, Penelope.
Beowulf is the exact image of a perfect hero. He is unimaginably strong, selfless, determined and courageous. Victor Frankenstein may be much less of a hero, but a hero nonetheless. Heroism is often seen as someone who is strong, brave, selfless and determined. It is someone who would risk their own life for the benefit of others. It is someone who is physically strong and mentally capable of enduring extreme pain and hardship. Heroism can ultimately be defined as someone who puts others ahead of themselves.
Odysseus on numerous occasions, is unfaithful to Penelope. Penelope however, remains loyal to Odysseus and she is praised by greek society for it while Odysseus is never seen as adulterous for his disloyalty. However, one could argue that Odysseus’s relationship with Calypso is non-consensual, as she used her power over him as a goddess to control him and keep him on the island. In the end, however, Penelope and Telemachus are the main reasons Odysseus continues his journey home to Ithaca. The other marriage we are introduced to is the relationship between Agamemnon and his wife Clytemnestra. When Agamemnon returned from war, his wife and her lover murdered him. He sees this as a cruel act of deceit, despite the fact that he killed their daughter. Agamemnon views Clytemnestra, and other women as evil and untrustworthy. In book eleven he tells Odysseus, “So, there’s nothing more deadly, bestial than a women set on works like these, what a monstrous thing she plotted, slaughtered her own lawful husband!” Agamemnon makes this generalization and doesn’t take into consideration that he also cheated on his wife and probably murdered numerous
Throughout British Literature, there are many instances of heroism. To be considered a hero by others in the time period of 449 to 1625, you must be, “noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose: especially, one who has risked or sacrificed his life” (Morris 618). Four characters in British Literature that portray heroic traits are Beowulf, Sir Gawain, Macbeth, and the Knight of The Canterbury Tales. Beowulf shows himself worthy of the title of being a hero when he leaves his country to help a neighboring country, Denmark and rid them of the long lasting fear of a malicious monster known as Grendel. Sir Gawain is considered a hero by many because of his loyalty to King Arthur. He even risks his life so that King Arthur would live and participates in the Green Knights challenge. Although Macbeth has got a few more faults than other heroes have in British Literature, his name is still synonymous with “hero”. Aristotle says “the tragic hero has to fall from grace … after being on top” (Chui 1). Before the three witches tell Macbeth the false prophecies, Macbeth is in held is high accord, yet afterwards, his ambition tears him down and he does anything it takes gain the role of King. The Knight, from The Canterbury Tales, excels beyond all others when it comes to being a hero. He is the most loyal and is admired by the other characters for his courage, bravery in battle and his exploits in war. He is on a religious pilgrimage not to make money or any other avaricious deed that the other characters are on the pilgrimage for, he is on the pilgrimage to worship God, which is also honored by his peers as being heroic. All four characters mentioned have heroic traits and they all are considered heroes. Although they might gain their title in different ways and for the wrong reasons, they are truly heroes. In British Literature, many stories have been influenced by the heroic traditions of their time period. The characters, although in different stories, all portray the heroic tradition in British Literature.
What is a hero? The Webster dictionary describes it as, “a person...who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” But how can mere words on a page create icons that change the course of a culture? Lost in the midst of time, two stories emerge from the medieval era, telling of two great kings who clash in various ways.
After his near decade captivity and escape from Calypso, Odysseus faces many challenges in his attempt to return to Ithaca. Arguably, being held captive so long may have been a shameful period, although being a sex slave for a beautiful goddess wasn’t the worst thing imaginable. With the lack of help from and trust in the gods, Odysseus had heavy weight on his shoulders that would decide whether his fate would be shameful or honorable. A quote from Zeus emphasized this, “Odysseus shall come back by the convoy neither of the gods nor of mortal people, but he shall sail on a jointed raft and, suffering hardships, on the twentieth day make his landfall on fertile Scheria at the country of the Phaiakians who are near the gods in origin, and they will honor him in their hearts as a god, and send him back, by ship, to the beloved land of his fathers, bestowing bronze and hold in abundance upon him, and clothing, more than Odysseus could ever have taken away from Troy, even if he had escaped unharmed with his fair share of the plunder” (Odyssey 5, 30-40). The gods here place trust in the abilities of Odysseus, even though he would very much appreciate some help. Although Odysseus is mortal, he is comparable to immortal heroes due to his strength and leadership. A quality of his that is notable for a great leader was that he wouldn’t ask of his men something he wouldn’t do himself. At times though, he
“Though he was longing to return to his wife and country, was detained by the goddess Calypso, who had got him into a large cave and wanted to marry him” (Homer Book1). After, he left Calypso and ended up with a witch goddess, Circe, which he been with for a year. While all of this happening, he have a wife and child in Ithaca. Odysseus is intelligent, strong, and brave man some people will call him a hero, but he is also a cheater and a liar. When he left to go fight in the Trojan War, he left behind his wife and his only son. While he lived the double life sleeping with Calypso and Circe; Penelope was being a thoughtful wife. She stayed faithful to her husband because she could not see herself being with anyone else. Penelope husband was gone for twenty years, so she became celibacy until her husband came back. When suitors came to her door for her hand in marriage, she turn them down because she knew she took a vow to stay commit “in sickness and in heath through death do us
When applying Marxist Criticism it is important to understand that all aspects of humanity are based on the struggle for economic power and drives the basic endeavor between the “haves” and the “haves nots” (Springboard). In The Princess and the Frog, every character strives for power or the money to achieve said power. Tiana wants nothing more than to work hard enough to be able to buy her restaurant. Prince Naveen has been cut off and is now desperately searching for a wealthy damsel to wed. Dr. Facilier craves to completely take over New Orleans using the butler, Lawrence, as his pawn since he too is searching for his own riches and revenge. The Disney animation The Princess and the Frog illustrates
... middle of paper ... ... Although Odysseus was unfaithful, there is no consequence for his actions, for he is a man, but for those women who were unfaithful, it could be seen how they are punished by men. In the case of Odysseus’ maids, they were “unworthy” for they laid with the suitors and as punishment Telemachus says that “By no honorable death [their lives will be taken]” (Homer, 220).
How would you describe Sir Lancelot? Most people would say he is the strongest, bravest, and kindest knight of the round table. Some might say he is the biggest Benedict Arnold of all time because of the adultery he committed with Queen Guinevere. However, his chivalry and code of honor make him the epitome of a true gentleman. These contrasting qualities set Sir Lancelot apart from all the other knights and characters in the “Morte D’Arthur.” Lancelot’s gallant, courageous, and conflicting personality make him a complex character in this dramatic tale of love and betrayal.