Odysseus Is A Hero Essay

Odysseus is a great example of a homeric hero as he exhibits a moral responsibility in his actions throughout the epic poem. In Homer's epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus tries to find a way home for himself and other men going home as well. Many themes are conveyed as the story of Odysseus continues, but Homer delivers universal themes such as loyalty, leadership, and courage. While going through this journey, Odysseus shows many ways he achieves his goals through great qualities a good leader may possess. He exhibits a leader when fight in the Trojan war, defeats Polyphemus, and returns to Penelope.

Odysseus’ journey in the Trojan war helped sculpture the fact that he is a real hero. Before he went home he was battling aside the Greeks in the Trojan war. The Greeks believed they wouldn’t conquer the city of Troy, but due to the wisdom of Odysseus, their hopes of conquering Tory rose again. They then built a wooden horse and laid it in front of the entrance of Troy. The Trojans’ thought it was a surrender from the Greeks and took it to their city. But the Trojan eyes were deceived, and the wise trick thought of by Odysseus was in action. The huge horse was holding Greek warriors inside of it. The Greeks waited until the Trojans fell asleep and once they did,

the Greek lighted the city of Troy afire. “And no one there could hope to rival Odysseus, not for sheer cunning…”(Books 3-4). The Greeks symbolized Odysseus as a hero and no one could fight against him due to his devious acts.
Odysseus’ encounter with and escape from the Cyclops, Polyphemus is considered to be his most significant because he not only saves himself but his men as well. Initially, he tells Polyphemus that he is “nobody” because he needs to remain anonymous in order not to induce any retribution from the gods, like Poseidon. When he finally tricks Polyphemus to let him and his men, disguised as sheep, escape from Polyphemus’ cave. Odysseus can’t keep from telling Polyphemus, who actually defeated him, “Cyclops, if any one asks you who it was that put your eye out and spoiled your beauty, say it was the valiant warrior Ulysses, son of Laertes, who lives in Ithaca”(Book 9). This announcement has been criticized as Odysseus’ pride and egoism, however, it really proves Odysseus’ heroism. He could not let his defeat against Polyphemus be unheard of. Fame and honor are part of a leader’s well-being and Odysseus shows it in his triumph against Polyphemus.
Once Odysseus returns home he continues to show heroism.

Athena disguises him to be an old man, so he can enter the house safe, without worrying about suitor putting him to death. "First I will transform you- no one must know you. I will shrivel the supple skin on your lithe limbs, strip the russet curls from your head and deck you out in rags you'd hate to see some other mortal wear; I'll dim the fire in your eyes, so shining once- until you seem appalling to all those suitors, even your wife and son you left behind at home" (Book 17). This illustrates Odysseus’ loyalty to returning to Penelope and his son, Telemachus. He is willing to do anything to reclaim himself as king of Ithaca and live with his family

again.
Throughout Odysseus’ journey, he shows heroism and leadership in many ways. He overcame any difficulties that came his way by using his wise skills and knowledge to reach home. Odysseus proved it in incredible ways but mostly in the Trojan war, his escape from Polyphemus, and arriving home. No matter what happened, Odysseus completed all the traits of a true hero and will always be a man of knowledge, wisdom, and courage.