Is Odysseus A Good Hero

Since the cyclops’ vision is impaired, Odysseus “tied them silently together, twining/cords of willow from the ogre’s bed/then slung a man under each middle one/to ride there safely, shielded left and right/So three sheep could convey each man” (Homer 500). Odysseus possess the trait of cleverness which is demonstrated through his quick thinking and by only using using the resources available to free his men from Polyphemus’ grasp. He is a man to be revered because he uses his cunning skills to help others reach safety. Odysseus is also the last man to exit the cave because he puts their lives before his. He is also willing to take the responsibility and consequences of their actions. For example, if the cyclops were to notice him he would force his men escape and leave him behind to be devoured. Odysseus is a hero, for his willingness to put his companions’ lives before his own and use of his wits to save those around him.

Merriam-Webster defines a hero as, “A person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” For Odysseus to be a hero this definition is supposed to fit and describe him and his character, but why does this definition not describe or fit him and his character? This is because Odysseus is not a hero. Odysseus has done unethical things on his journey that makes him a person that should go unadmired. For example, when Odysseus ignored the death of his man in order to make more progress on his journey since he claims a task was pressing and waited for the Cyclops in order to be offered more gifts (his men die as a result), these examples prove he is a person who does unethical things. Odysseus is not a hero because he is disloyal, selfish, and greedy.

When people think of a hero, they think of a tall, handsome, loyal, brave, and a type of man that could do no wrong. The “hero” that is portrayed in the Odyssey is a man named Odysseus. This “hero” may be tall and handsome, but he is often arrogant, disrespectful, conceited, and rude. Odysseus consists of positive and negative characteristics that is shown in the text by Homer. These characteristics impact the characters day to day, or in the book’s case, the quests. In the Odyssey, Homer values the characteristics hospitality and cunning, but he objects bad leadership.

A hero accepts who he is as an individual, but strives to change himself for the better. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, the main character Odysseus is a valiant king who embarks on a life-changing voyage. 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. Odysseus is truly a heroic figure because he demonstrates courage, improves his character, and wins the support of the gods.

Not all heros come in movies or little kid books. Some heros come from thousands of

As a final point, being brave, strong, and making a quick decisions was many kinds of being a hero and that’s what Odysseus had that make him a hero. Odysseus with his men going through a lot of challenges but in the end he is the only one survived and alive. With this in mind, the epic poem showed us how big the difference between the people 3,000 years ago and people in this generation. The author shows in the epic poem how whimsical the world 3,000 years ago and how powerful the gods in their maturity.

In the Greek literature of mythology, we have examined Odysseus. Students and scholars alike debate whether Odysseus was a true hero, as read in The Odyssey. There is much supporting evidence to prove all sides of the debate and opinions held of Odysseus. It is of my opinion that Odysseus is a hero in his homeland, his family, the Greek people, and for us to learn from to this day. Odysseus had encompassed three many qualities that I believe made him a hero. He embodied, mental strength, physical strength, and spiritual strength. I would like to advocate for why Odysseus was a hero.

Ten years after the fall of Troy, Odysseus a great hero has yet to return to his home in Ithaca. It begins with Athena and Poseidon who helped the Greeks during the Trojan War. Athena turned against the Greeks and convinces Poseidon to do the same. The Greeks are hit by storms on the way home and many ships are destroyed and the fleet is scattered. The war and his distress at sea keep Odysseus away from Ithaca for twenty years.

In the beginning, he was asked to fight for his country and win back Helen. He left his kingdom and his family and sailed to Troy. Known for his intellect and strategy, he defeated Troy by coming up with the idea to offer a “gift” of a gigantic wooden horse to Troy. When the army accepted it, Odysseus and his men popped out and slaughtered all of Troy, winning the battle for Greece. “Oh man! You can't count how many good things Odysseus has done for the Greeks, a real leader in council and in battle....” (Iliad 2.294-6) This proves that Odysseus is a hero because a hero would not have gotten the main goal done. The Greek army could not have defeated Troy without his skills. No one else would’ve come up with such an unanticipated strategy. Though defeating Troy is not the only evidence of heroism. Odysseus also had the strength of

Homer’s The Odyssey is very much an epic tale of a man’s heroic quest. The protagonist, Odysseus, is a cunning, brave, strong, and tenacious character who is given the title of a hero. This “hero”, however, does not always show characteristics of a hero, which leads many to believe that Odysseus, is not a true hero after all. In fact, Odysseus cheats on his wife multiple times, is willing to sacrifice his men in order to get home, and slaughters all his maids even though he did not have to. In The Odyssey, Homer attempts to create a complex portrait of a hero, but fails at his attempt when making Odysseus unforgiving, self absorbed, and a philanderer.

A Homeric epic hero is considered to be above a normal human being. The traits of a typical epic hero are strength, loyalty, courage, and intelligence. In fact, the Macmillan Dictionary for Students defines a hero as "one who is admired and looked up to for valor, achievements, and noble qualities" (483). Odysseus fulfills all of the requirements for an epic hero and more. He demonstrates his ability to be an articulate speaker, and his poise aids him on his journey. His endless curiosity has gotten him into dilemmas, while his superb displays of strength and cunningness have helped both him and his crew escape danger. His arrogance sets him back, but his loyalty is what drives him forward on his long and treacherous expedition. In the

In life, humans are faced with a multitude of different kinds of problems and challenges. Throughout all of life, these moments have always taught young kids, adults, and even elders different life lessons and values. In The Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, battles several different obstacles throughout his journey. He learns about many different values, life lessons, and even rediscovers and reinvents himself. To an audience member in ancient Greece, one could learn of the important values just by listening to these stories.

Not everyone is perfect. Even the Gods have flaws. Odysseus, as he is shown by Homer is a epic hero, but as it appears to evidence in the book and movie the real hero is Penelope.

The Odyssey, A Tale of Wonder Has the world ever seemed fascinating and strange, at the same time?Here’s the story, of Odysseus but briefly, on the island of Ithaca, Odysseus is petitioned to go to Troy and defeat the Trojans, and accordingly, a certain god got mad at Odysseus and wasn’t going to allow Odysseus to go home, at least for the time being. Well in Homer’s timeless epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus of Ithaca is the hero. But, what is a hero? In this case Odysseus’s heroic qualities can be described as being, loyal to his country, loyal to his family, and loyal to his gods.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far, away a legend once lived. The legendary one went by the name of Odysseus. He was a brave, strong, and determined man, and in many of his people’s eyes he was seen as a hero. He ran into some obstacles on his journey, and he had to make some tough decisions too. Odysseus goes through these hardships as he try to make it home safe. His first encounter was with a giant, and this changed everything for Odysseus and his men.