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Martin Luther King Jr And Odysseus Comparison

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Modern hero Martin Luther King Jr. and ancient hero Odysseus share many of the same characteristics. Although the exact specifications of a hero evolve over time, the virtues that describe a hero remain largely the same. In his lifetime, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the single bravest people on Earth. He risked everything, his family, his livelihood, to fight for equal rights for African Americans. Hateful letters and threats were common to receive in the afternoon post, and he even had a brick thrown through a window in his home. Martin Luther King Jr. himself explains, "like anybody I would like to live a long life . . . but I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will . . . [even though] I may not …show more content…

Along his journey, he encountered a vicious Cyclops, a scheming witch, and tempting mermaids, yet overcame them all because of his courageous choices. For example, when "the others had all disappeared . . . Odysseus himself went to explore" (Rouse 5). Although he was facing the unknown, he did not shy away. Instead, he did the opposite, knowing the only way to succeed was if he risked his life and explored the shadows. These heroes' bravery rooted in another common trait: determination. Rather than cowering meekly when choices and actions became more difficult, they hardened their resolve and methodically tackled each problem. Martin Luther King Jr.'s circumstances forced him to be extremely determined because he was one of the first people to lead a charge against the white supremacy of Washington D.C. He was often fiercely opposed, yet his beliefs were so strong that he was always able to brush off his cynics. These naysayers, however, placed King under a significant amount of …show more content…

Unlike the warrior Odysseus, Martin Luther King Jr. fervently practiced and advocated for peaceful protest over violent riots. King himself explains “peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding . . . hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that” (peacealliance.org). The traditional hero wields a bloody sword, but the modern world often requires people the likes of King, who stand up for their beliefs, but still respect their opponents. Ancient heroes would have been regarded as weak for this same behavior. Society has not remained stagnant for the last thousand years, so it is only natural that the definition of a hero has changed, too. Greece’s Odysseus was the opposite of Martin Luther King Jr. when it came to peace; his blade bore the blood of many man and beast because of his involvement in the Trojan War and his penchant for adventure. Instead of talking to his enemies, he found it easier to defeat them through force. For example, while in the Cyclops’ cave, “he took the olive sapling, and buried under the ashes; and when it was red hot . . . [he] pushed the point hard into the eye of the Cyclops” (Rouse 3). While King saw violence as a distasteful, sinful act, Odysseus saw it as just another part of success. He did not have the pacifist attitude of heroes today,

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