Odysseus, Hero or Zero?
There is a debate among scholars and students regarding the Odyssey on whether questionable morals and being a hero are mutually exclusive. The opinion on this topic is based off of what the readers definition if hero is. To the ancient Greeks, someone who defeated monsters and protected the public deserved the esteemed reputation, not letting their perception be altered by negative attributes.. The Greeks considered him one of their greatest and most powerful warriors, so Odysseus is a hero.
Odysseus vanquished several enemies that were threats to civilian lives as well as the gods’ rule. He was a brave protector who continually risked his life to protect his men and citizens from the inevitable demise associated with living in a world full of monsters. Such as when he looked for “some way for me to escape away from the deadly Charybdis, but yet fight the others off, when she attacks my companions” (Homer,
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This is most likely why they respected him and made him the protagonist of an epic poem to begin with, because he was a hero, “O Father, for all my life your fame as a fighting man has echoes in my ears- your skill with weapons and the tricks of war” (Homer, lines 926-928). Although he was an arrogant infidel, those were not uncommon traits and they did not undermine all of the lives he saved. It raises the age-old question about what makes someone a good person and Odysseus is a perfect example of how someone can be good in the traditional sense of the word and still have negative qualities because he’s a flawed human being. Odysseus was a hero to the Greeks because he intelligently defeated monsters and nobly defended his home. It is impossible to be the epitome of a hero to every culture and generation so it is only the ancient Greek’s opinion of him that is significant, and they believed he was a
Odysseus, during his long journey, exhibited many heroic qualities including bravery, strength, and determination. He was determined to return to his family after hs journey, and he bravely fought to stay alive during the cyclope situation, as well as other situations, and showed strength by being able to battle the cyclopes in self-defense. However, Odysseus was also obnoxiously arrogant about his victory and was actually very selfish throughout his entire story; he almost did not leave his town to help with the war because he did not want to leave to protect his family. Although Odysseus exemplified heroic qualities, this does not make him a true hero.
A hero is someone who would sacrifice himself for others, someone who is selfless and caring. Odysseus from Homer’s, “The Odyssey” does not have these traits. Throughout the book, Odysseus displays many negative character traits that show he is not someone to be admired or treated like a hero. He is too proud, he does not listen, and he constantly puts his needs before that of his men.
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.
Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness. Although he may be considered a war hero, Odysseus is not a hero in other respects. This is so because he is self-centered which is clear because he doesn't value other people's lives. He also is foolish risking the lives of his crew members for unnecessary reasons. He also outright disrespects the Gods at more than one point in the epic. As well, he lacks the loyalty of a true hero as shown by his affairs with other women even though his wife remained faithful. A hero is someone who does something for other people out of the goodness of his heart, Odysseus clearly is not this.
In conclusion, Odysseus deserves the title of a hero because he shows bravery, displays a change in character, and has the Gods supporting him throughout his journey home. Odysseus has the courage to overcome physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges. While Odysseus he is on the hero’s journey, he vastly improves his character. He changes from arrogant to humble, and learns leadership qualities, and most importantly, his place in the world. Odysseus has the revelation that the gods are above him, and are in control. Because he realizes the supremacy of the gods, his reward is assistance from the gods themselves. Odysseus is not a perfect man, and is flawed, just like every other human. However, heroes are not gods.
First of all, Odysseus is deemed a hero in the eyes of the Achaians. His intelligent mind renders him a heroic figure among ...
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
The majority of those who read The Odyssey consider the protagonist of the story, Odysseus, a hero. On many occasions, however, Odysseus makes decisions beneficial to himself alone. For example, when Odysseus and his men find themselves on Polyphemus's island, Odysseus's actions are self-centered and at the expense of his men. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. Having his men by his side when he returns seems a trivial thing to him. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero.
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 crafty ruler of Ithaca is not a hero because of his lack of many important heroic qualities. One of which is his lack of mercy and because of that he can be considered more of an anti-hero instead of a hero. At the middle of the chapter Odysseus’ Revenge, Homer tells of how Odysseus showed no mercy to the Suitors, even though they begged for it and the citation that shows how merciless he is reads, “Spare/ your own people. As for ourselves, we’ll make/ restitutions of wine and meat consumed,/ and add, each one, a tithe of twenty oxen with gifts of bronze and gold to warm your heart./ Meanwhile we cannot blame you for your anger/… Not for the whole treasure of your fathers, / all you enjoy, lands, flocks, or any gold / put up by others, would I hold my hand. / The will be killing until the score is paid. / You forced yourselves upon this house. Fight for your way out, / or run for...
But aside from that, lets just look at the question of Odysseus's heroic status from the point of view of whether or not he is someone to admire? We can see that he makes mistakes, like getting his crew killed at sea