Many think being a hero is having super powers, but on the contrary it's more than that. In many cases he only saves himself, he is selfish, and he isnt humble. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. That is why he began this trudge across lands in the first place; to be a hero. Odysseus, the crafty ruler of Ithaca is not a hero because of his lack of many important heroic qualities. Throughout the Odyssey Odysseus faces an internal battle between loyalty and betrayal in the presence of numerous temptations. WebOdysseus is Not a Hero for the Modern Age Essay. He never failed to remember his main goal was to get back to his wife and son in Ithaca.Odysseus was brave enough to conquer these many obstacles on his way home. Odysseus could have left his men behind with Circe or the Lotus Eaters, but he. Hero It states in the book, Athena touched him with her wand and covered him with wrinkles. Athena made the plan to defeat the suitors and helped disguise Odysseus. Also this shows that he cheated on his wife Penelope, he also never told her about it. The crew tries to get Odysseus to be quiet, but his ego gets in the way, and he tells Polyphemus his name; leading to Polyphemus cursing him and his men to make the journey home slow and painful. The archetype of heroism allows, most people, Odysseus is believed as a hero. While traveling from Troy back to his home in Ithaka, King Odysseus overcomes daunting obstacles, and in doing so discovers his place in the world. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Then Odysseus threatened her. Odysseus knows how loyal his crew is to him so, if one of them was to untie him they could have all ended up dead. These heros helped anyone they saw in need, even if it put themselves in danger. With Michelles humanitarian work and benevolent attitude, she helps those in need while trying to better society. Homer remains one of the most well-read texts even today. Odysseus was faithful and loyal. War itself may also be considered an antagonist in the poem war is what separated Odysseus from his home, and he spends much of the poem battling the traumas he and his men suffered in the Trojan War. For instance, Odysseus says that Circes luxuries appealed to his and his mens battle-hardened spirits. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. When Circe captured Odysseuss men he was advised not to save them by his best man, Eurylochus, however Against this advice, Odysseus rushes to save his men from the enchantress (Homer 1125). ro \hir- ()\ Noun a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal Literary Devices Hero The villains that try to keep the hero from his quest are usually uglier, more evil, and more cunning than anyone we know in ordinary life. If you wish to support us, please check out. protagonist Odysseus is a hero because all he wants to do is go home and protect his family. 13181950) Selwood, Fleet, GU51 4QT. Some men were killed by the Cyclops, a huge monster with one eye. He takes much conceited pride in He does not have any supernatural abilities unlike Achilles who is the son of a goddess and so has superhuman strength and speed. Odysseus makes a plan to stab the cyclops in the eye, which leads the crew members to run for their lives to get to their ships. This shows that he is selfish. Odysseus WebOdysseus is a villain because he is stubborn in Polyphemuss cave, disrespectful to the gods, and is unfaithful to his wife. This hero may be tall and handsome, but he is often arrogant, disrespectful, conceited, and rude. This is what underpins a modern-day hero, and it drastically differs from the ancient perceptions of heroism. 2765. However he had respect for the gods (Athene), a strong sense of duty, (will always go back for his men) showed great honour and was highly regarded by his men and peers. He leads his followers into lousy situations where many people were hurt. Another example that proves he is not a hero when he was acting selfish by sacrificing his crew men. Homer was truly the precedent of works to follow from Greek tragedy to Virgils Aeneid, the influence of Homer on the ancient world was undeniable. He is consistently seen to display piety and is perhaps more closely aligned with our ideals of a modern hero in his selfless motivations, comparable to a superhero like Hawkeye whose duty to family trumps all. Odysseus must battle the suitors that have taken his wife Penelope, and may soon kill his son Telemachus. Odysseus has no reason to save his mens lives but for his own convenience. He is not a selfish hero: instead, his drive is to his people and to found a new city that will eventually become Rome. In my mind it is right in the middle he does some things that were ok, but he also did things he shouldn't have done. The son of Laertes and Anticlea, He would have killed her thinking she would spoil his plan. She only wanted Odysseus to come home and for the suitors to stop eating their food. He even risks his own soul for them. Throughout the book of the Odyssey, Odysseus does some things that may have been wrong, but in his mind was he doing the right thing? New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2009., I will be writing a essay of the book The Odyssey written by the person Homer. One of the many situations Odysseus survives is his encounter with Skylla. The main reason why I am written is so that you can know Odysseus is a hero because how he helps other people before he would help himself., Odysseus is not a hero because he let down a lot of people. Instead, he charms the people he meets and uses his wise words that cause them to help and pity him. Also if you ask me, yes a hero can commit crimes. He takes the punishment of Antinous and the other suitors without saying a word and is able to see those who have invaded his house. Odysseus is sailing away from Cyclops Island and he is teasing Polyphemus about escaping. Even though there is a large gap in space between Odysseus travels and the present, human nature and weakness still share the same obstacles. According to our views, Odysseus is definitely one of, if not the one, ideal hero of the ancient Greek world., All heroes have a certain attribute or character that made them stand out from the rest of the crowd or society. He leads his men into trouble, kills the suitors and maidservants without mercy, and betrays loyal wife. Once back to Ithaca there were many suitors insulting him, his wife, son, house, and the gods and begging for Penelopes hand in marriage. The opening line of The Odyssey introduces Odysseus by his epithet, the man of twists and turns.. Some people question whether the main character, Odysseus, is a hero or not. Odysseus, Hero or Villain? In some parts of this epic poem, Odysseus also displays the characteristic, foolishness, in which that also results in the deaths of a number of his men. Joseph Campbell once said, A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. True heroes are those who do something for others rather for themselves, Odysseus doesnt exactly show this trait in The Odyssey. Odysseus doesnt do this only once through his journey back, he does it again with Kalypso for seven years and by will: He lay with her each night, for she compelled him. (V, 163). Of course he did, he just didnt care. Odysseus cheats on his wife more than once; it was not a simple lapse in judgment. Odysseus: Hero or Villain - 638 Words | Studymode Like most epic heroes, Odysseus has been mostly harmed by the gods. Odysseus is clever by doing this because he can predict that the liquor will make him fall asleep. He is not necessarily up against anything (Hydra is not Hercules' opponent but a task he has to complete). A good example of a modern hero would be the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

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