Every story has a hero, whose journey to find something, whether that is victory over evil, success, or self-fufillment. But what each hero must also have in common is flaws that humanize them and make them relatable to the moral middle ground of real people. The most beloved stories are one is which perspective is the only thing separating the hero and villian. Odysseus is an example of a hero who closely straddles the line between good and evil, with his violence, arrogance, and infidelity in direct conflict with his wit, bravery, and determination. The power of a story is shown in The Odyssey, as Odysseus is kept immortally alive as a protagonist who is cheered on by the readers. The development of Odysseus as a hero takes place through …show more content…
building early sympathy, the framing of the perspective, and the opinions explored. The epic opens with Odysseus’s fate being decided by the gods, “Announce to the nymphs with lovely braids our fixed decree: Odysseus journeys home-the exile must return” (153). From this point on, the end goal has been decided, he will succeed. Now the methods and trials Odysseus must face are in question. The actual entrance of Odysseus doesn’t come until Book 5, where he is found “wrenching his heart with sobs and groans and anguish, gazing out over the barren sea through blinding tears” (157). He doesn’t enter a shining war hero, as would be the chronological beginning of his story, instead he is shown as a broken man, with no hope for a way home. To further the portrayal of Odysseus as a hero, much of his adventures are told as a story from his mouth to Alcinous and the Phaeacians, “Come, let me tell you about the voyage fraught with hardship Zeus inflicted on me, homeward bound from Troy…” (212). The power of perspective is especially clear in this portion of the epic, as the connotations and description chosen is entirely biased towards what Odysseus wants to tell. He regales the audience with self-praise of, “how nobody’s name- my great cunning stroke- had duped them all” (224). He defeats great monsters, makes difficult choices with the lives of his men at stake, and shows off with great feats of physical strength in battle. His motivation is an unending desire to return home to Ithaca, where “the great man who had borne so much rejoiced at last, thrilled to see his Ithaca- he kissed to good green earth and raised his hands” (298). In first glance, Odysseus has all necessary accomplishments of a great hero. However when reading between the lines of the story Odysseus tells, his flaws become visible; he often leads with arrogance and rage.
The story of the cyclops could be told very easily told from the perspective of Odysseus as the arrogant theif, and the cyclops defending its home from those who, “set our hands on the cheeses, offered some to the gods and ate the bulk ourselves” (218). Odysseus’s demands for hospitality become in a sense hypocritical, as he slaughters suitors who’d taken advantage of his home without permission, yet attacks a cyclops that does the same. Odysseus’s rage towards the maids having sex with the suitors lead him to demand his men to, “slash out all their lives- blot out of their minds the joys of love they relished under the suitors’ bodies” (453). He is never criticized for his actions, his son even spurring on the murders and punishing the women for what was alluded to as rape in the epic. On the contrary, in a novel like The Penepoliad, the maids are innocent and Odysseus becomes the cruel brute. Odysseus flaws give him a moral depth, he is no longer the untouchable warrior, but a soldier suffering from the trauma of his fighting and his own character flaws. He becomes someone to understand, and can take on a human perspective apart from just the
legend. Odysseus is a classic hero by the Greek standard, but his flaws are not overcome in his journey home. There is something that does set him apart from many other heros, as his goal is not one to save others, but to fix himself. He is the protagonist and the story is framed in a way in which most readers will want him to succeed and return to Ithaca. The moral greyness and brutal violence of Odysseus’s actions conflict with the image of a perfect image, but do not serve to minimize the story, only adding a more realistic internal conflict and developed character. The weight of good and evil to Odysseus’s character can reveal a story about how the inevitability of the human struggle gives a far more accurate portrayal of a real human being. The connection to reality with a character that is not a simplistic good or evil is part of why The Odyssey is immortal and relatable. It addresses the common conflict between good and evil, and shows an example of how the line can be drawn on where the pen is put to paper. Having the dichotomy come to life in a mythological struggle of a hero gives lends the immortality of the human conflict to the story, and is why it can survive so long.
Opposed to that of common thought, superman is not the only type of character that fits the heroic persona. Although “superheroes” typically come to mind when one thinks of a hero, there are many other ordinary people capable of extraordinary things. A hero is a person who takes the initiative to set out on a journey of internal growth. During this symbolic journey, one truly finds himself and betters the lives of other mentally and physically. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus takes the path of heroism, resulting in the reborn spirit of a selfless, modest hero. During the process, Odysseus is faced with many challenges that he must overcome in order to earn the noble title. Odysseus proves himself to be a well-deserving hero because he is intelligent with his decisions, he displays cleverness, and he rids himself of hubris.
In his part of the story Odysseus is trying to get him and his men free of the cyclops so they can go home. The cyclops is Poseidon's son and Odysseus offended Poseidon when he harms the cyclops, which is very disrespectful. These are two huge examples that show why Odysseus is a bad
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.
An integral part of every epic story is the epic hero, a character often with superhuman qualities, designed to complete a difficult or seemingly impossible task. Ancient Greek poet Homer’s classic epics The Iliad and the The Odyssey center around some of the most memorable epic hero archetypes, Achilles and Odysseus, respectively. Each of these characters exhibits essential traits of the Greek epic hero, but Homer also designs Achilles and Odysseus to possess unique, complex identities that distinguish and highlight their particular strengths and weaknesses. When examining these heroes, one can admire Odysseus for the resilience, cunning, and faithfulness that set him apart from the brash, impulsive, and occasionally selfish Achilles. Both
In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus finally found his way back home during the hardest time of his life. Over the course of 10 long years, Odysseus encounters monsters, gods and suitors who strive to interfere with his return to Ithaca. The strength of this war-hero aided his journey home, but his intelligence and love for his family allowed him persevere through barriers that stood in his way. In the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus shows the importance of cunningness and trickery to overcome deteriorating obstacles.
The epic poem The Odyssey by the ancient Greek writer Homer takes us deep into the life of a man called Odysseus. As the reader gets to know Odysseus many sides of his character are exposed through the challenges he faces. Though he and his crew face danger and obstacles every step of the way Odysseus’s character hardly changes. The entire book Odysseus longs to see his wife but he is a good man and a courageous leader.
Often through great literature, there is an epic hero. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the journey of one man’s journey home from the Trojan War. The protagonist of the epic poem Odysseus is often regarded as a great hero. However, Odysseus is not quite the glorious soldier that people often see him as. Odysseus shows that he is an antihero through his pride, disloyalty, and bloodthirstiness.
Arthur Ashe, a renowned tennis player who contributed his later life to research for AIDS, once said, “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” By stating this, Ashe expresses that a true hero does not look to win against people but will help them along the way. The Odyssey, an epic centered around a so called “hero,” from the Trojan War, narrates the struggles and difficult decisions the main character Odysseus makes in order to get back to his son Telemachus and wife Penelope. Although Odysseus shows many gallant qualities, like being courageous, strong, and brave, he shouldn’t be considered a hero because he doesn’t meet
The Odyssey is a tale that has changed literature and storytelling. In this tale Odysseus is a Soldier from the battle of Troy trying to get home to his island of Ithaca, where he is king. His wife and son must wait ten years while he is trying to make his way home. In Odysseus’s absence wooer’s, or better known as suitors, learn of his absence and travel to Ithaca to win his wife’s hand in marriage. These men come every day feasting on Odysseus’s food and wine, and give his servant’s orders. His son Telemachus, does his best to keep the suitors from ruining his fathers house but he is only a boy, and doesn’t receive the respect of an adult. Telemachus then has a visit from the god Athena, whom Odysseus is friends with, who advises him to travel to find out about his father. In his travels he hears that Odysseus may still be alive. Meanwhile Odysseus goes through a series of adventures and hardships that prove his wisdom. It is interesting in contrast of the Iliad, even though Achilles was much stronger and a better warrior, Odysseus was portrayed as a greater hero due to his wisdom. He uses this wisdom to escape from the Cyclops.
War and time combined together have the ability to ruin someone’s life. Odysseus, who went through war and then spent years away from his family and home still managed to survive after all the experiences he had throughout these long years. He did this simply to get home to his family in Ithaca, his journey set in ancient Greece. Heroicness, among many other things, is often evident in epic heroes, an archetype that Odysseus fits incredibly well. Odysseus’s journey is filled with Greek gods and goddesses, helping Odysseus on his way home to his son, Telemachos, and his wife, Penelopeia. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus displays qualities of an epic hero, particularly through his journey, his interactions with the gods, and his hubris.
Homer’s Odyssey is a magnificent mythological tale. This work was presumably created after his encounter with goddess Athena. Although Odysseus’ journey is filled with unrealistic adventures and mythical powers, some principles behind this story can relate to our everyday lives. Odysseus’ adventures in Odyssey relate to the heroism, intellect, and ruthlessness that are in our lives.
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.
Homer portrays Odysseus as a physically adept, intelligent, and good with quick thinking in high pressure situations. He has the characteristics of a homeric leader showing courage, nobility, and strength. He is a good speaker and has no troubles winning over an audience. But there comes moments that proves his humanity where he acts in foolish measures. Sometimes Odysseus’s glory seeking self let him looking foolish. For example, in book 9 written as a flashback, Odysseus and his men come upon a cave full of sheep and crates of cheese and milk on the island of the Cyclops. His men suggest to grab the crates and leave, but he decides to stay and feast on their upcomings. When the Cyclops Polyphemus returns to its cave, it seems hostile at
The idea of a true hero is varied from person to person, because each viewpoint has a different idea of the personality that makes one a hero. There have been many fiction and non-fiction heroes that show different character traits, which influence people’s definitions of a hero. However, each person’s unique thought about a hero still focuses about one central idea: a hero must prove himself in order to earn his heroic status. This is the cornerstone of all the opinions about heroes because heroes have to show their heroism in order to become who they are in the end. At the beginning they are inexperienced, ordinary people who go on their adventures, and face their fears and weaknesses, but they develop greatly throughout these journeys. After comprehending what true heroism is and following it only then will they become heroes even though each of them has different traits. In the epic poem The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus gains the title of hero during his journey back to Ithaka, from Troy, by proving to be one. It is through his characteristics and experiences that he becomes the well developed man at the end of the book. In truth, because of his confidence, loyalty, and difficult struggles, Odysseus becomes a genuine hero to the people he defended.
Homer’s literature served as a moral messenger to the people of ancient Greece. The Odyssey by Homer demonstrates the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, and his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus was a great, wise, noble, and well respected war hero to his people. Odysseus had one tragic flaw that was demonstrated by his actions throughout the book. The author Homer continued to strip Odysseus of his arrogance throughout the story, by throwing challenges his way, making him pay for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus journey also to reach his home a more humble man. Reading Odysseus’ journey also served as a way to look at morals. The