Odysseus Heroism In The Odyssey

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In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus’ heroism, or lack thereof, is demonstrated throughout his journey from Troy to his kingdom in Ithaca. Scholars today debate the usage of the word “hero” to describe Odysseus. However, I think that this is a highly ambiguous question. The question cannot simply be whether or not Odysseus is a hero, because the definition of a hero is dependent on one’s perspective. While it may be clear to some that Odysseus is a hero, by other’s standards he is quite the opposite. As written in On Heroes, ancient Greeks considered heroes as “humans, male or female, of the remote past, endowed with superhuman abilities and descended from the immortal gods themselves.” By this definition, whether or not one is a hero is not based on one’s humanitarian qualities or moral traits but on one’s strength, ability, and prestige. Today, heroes range from superheroes on television, to civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., to firefighters, even to a neighbor helping another find a lost pet. Heroism is not necessarily associated with brute strength, or even recognition, but with noble deeds to help others. In addition, heroes must follow strict moral codes. One who performs great actions, but has no moral compass is not considered a hero in present day. With these definitions in mind, we can begin to analyze Odysseus’ heroism and find that he straddles the line between heroic and unheroic. Under the Greeks …show more content…

And the answer is yes and no. By Greek mythical terms, Odysseus is most definitely a hero, as he is strong, courageous, and brave. However, by contemporary western terms, he clearly is not, as he is dishonest, arrogant, immoral, and hypocritical. Whether or not Odysseus is a hero is entirely dependent on one’s perspective. Thus, while he may be considered a hero in ancient Greek times, from our perspective in the 21st century, he is no hero, but barbarous

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