Odysseus: A Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

In The Odyssey, Odysseus decides that him and his crew should stay and see who owns the cave. As Odysseus says, “I wanted to see the owner himself.”(p.77). If Odysseus would have just left none of his men would have been killed. This shows Odysseus is not a hero because he let his pride get the better of him and stayed in the cave. Also in the Odyssey, Odysseus expects food and gifts from almost everyone he meets. This is one of the reasons Polyphemus gets upset with Odysseus.

Odysseus believed he was in the right when killing the suitors “You dogs! You never imagined I'd return from Troy- so cocksure that you bled my house to death, ravished my serving-women- wooed my wife behind my back while I was still alive!” (Homer 22: 37-40). Odysseus was dead set on killing the suitors since the beginning. He even told them “. . . all your necks are in the noose-your doom is sealed” (22: 43), illustrating how he would kill them as to avenge his wife and his honor. In doing so he was perceived as a hero by the most prevalent male figures in Ithaca, displaying an excellent example of Kleos, “fame through having great honor and virtue. Earned pride.”

While being taunted by the suitors Odysseus kept his composure, the best choice for protecting his family. Odysseus also sees some of the servants sneak off to have sex with the suitors. He “was stirred by this, and much he pondered in the division of mind and spirit, whether to spring on them and kill each one, or rather to let them lie this one more time with the insolent suitors, for the last and latest time; but the heart was growling within him".(homer,20,9-13) The personification of his growling heart depicts how very angry Odysseus is. He could have unveiled himself then and attempted to kill the suitors and punish them, as well as prove his strength. Instead he waits for a better moment so that he does not risk the lives of his son and wife only to demonstrate his superiority, a mistake he made previously when calling out his name to the cyclops. Odysseus also realizes more about himself while on the journey. He makes the realization that he is no god, only a mere mortal whose imperfect decisions can often put other people at risk. Odysseus and his crew had been trapped by the cyclops due to his own

Odysseus did not tell his men to be afraid, he kept this as a secret so the men did not know what happened until it was over. They did not brace themselves. Odysseus did this in his best interest, not in his men’s. Odysseus overall was unfair to his

One of the 4 epic hero traits that Odysseus has, is that he has a plethora of exemplary attributes. For instance, Odysseus is able to “bored (bore) that great eye socket” with an olive tree, suggesting the extent of Odysseus’ formidable might. In addition, Odysseus is also able to “strike and strike again” at the suitors while they “moaned at death”. This emphasizes the power and strength that Odysseus held. Moreover, when Eurykleia tells Penelope that if she had seen Odysseus it would have made “your (her) heart grow hot”, because Odysseus was like “a lion splashed with mire and blood”, it emphasizes Ancient Greek values of strength. Another exemplary attribute that Odysseus possesses is his contemplative and strategic mind. This can be illustrated when Odysseus cleverly uses the Kyklopes’ rams and “slung (slings) a man under… to ride there safely” (IX

In The Suitors Odysseus comes back from his journey to find an abundance of suitors in his home trying to take his wife who has been continuously loyal through the 10 years he was away. Shortly after Odysseus returns, Penelope retrieves his bow out of the storeroom and reports that she will wed the suitor who can string it and afterward shoot an arrow through a line of twelve axes. All of the suitors fail to do and then Odysseus with ease, strings the bow and sends an arrow and completes the task , shooting the arrow through all twelve axes. Odysseus then grabs another arrow and proceeds to shoot a second arrow through the throat of Antinous, and the killing of the suitors commenced. Odysseus actions were justified because all of the suitors got what they deserved trying to take his women and all else that belonged to him, the severity of the punishment was rather high but was what seemed fit to an man seeing others trying to take what is his.

According to both Greek and Homeric values humans should have reason, but very often they express passion, which leads to contradictory emotions and obstacles in life. Odysseus, a man with a complex life, struggles with many internal, personal contradictions that have a collective impact on his decisions throughout his existence. The most important contradictions Odysseus faces are loyalty and betrayal; humility and hubris; and wisdom and folly,

In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus goes through many challenges on his way home from Troy; he is fated with hardships as a consequence of blinding Poseidon's son. Some say that he is a true hero by being able to conquer his difficulties and make it back to Ithaka after 20 years away however, he may only have made it home due to the help of Athena. Odysseus would not be the “hero” he is depicted as without Athena because without her goddess abilities he does not demonstrate motivation, humility, or virtuosity. He never helps further himself within his own journey making his success more a victory for Athena. First, Odysseus is not self motivated and does not attempt to further his journey home.

Having power, whether it is authority, physical, godlike, or monetary, plays an important role in many situations. In these myths, the individuals can be positively or negatively affected by this power. In the myth, Theseus, we can see how individuals with power, like Theseus himself, use their abilities responsibly to aid others. We also can see from the myth Adventure of Odysseus, Odysseus himself use his powers similarly however more responsibly then Theseus. Although some individuals in these myths let their power negatively affect them by letting them use it to hinder or deceive another person, other individuals with power let it affect them positively by using it to help and protect others.

Odysseus was justified in taking action against the suitors. Part of any justification of Odysseus's behavior resides in the dishonorable way that the suitors treat his home and its inhabitants. Homer shows honor as a critical aspect of Greek society. It is the reason why the war against {{T}}troy is fought. Honor is vitally important to the Homeric classical setting. It becomes evident that the suitors bring a sense of dishonor to odysseus's home. The fact that they overtake the residence without any regard for the man of the house itself is one example of dishonor. Additionally, the suitors vie for Penelope's hand in name only. the suitors are there for the prizes of Odysseus's home and show little in way of respect for the traditions and sense of decorum that Penelope displays.{{P}} penelope herself says as much in challenging the suitors to string Odysseus' bow.

Though Athena has disguised Odysseus as a beggar, Eumaeus warmly receives and nourishes him in the hut. He soon encounters Telemachus, who has returned from Pylos and Sparta despite the suitors’ ambush, and reveals to him his true identity. Odysseus and Telemachus devise a plan to murder the suitors in a massacre and regain power of Ithaca. When he comes to the palace the next day as a beggar still and gets abused by the suitors. The only person who recognizes him is the old nurse, Eurycleia who promises not to tell anyone. Penelope correctly suspects the beggar might be her long lost husband and holds an archery challenge for her hand in marriage that only Odysseus could complete. That have to string Odysseus’ bow, only Odysseus can do so, and shoot an arrow through a row of twelve axes. Every one of the suitors fails to string the bow, then Odysseus come up and completes the challenge and turns on the suitors and shoots them, after that he and Telemachus with the help of a few good servants kill all the suitors, showing none of them mercy.

Odysseus, An Epic Hero 
 Throughout Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, the hero Odysseus encounters many physical and mental challenges that he is forced to overcome. Because of his passion, drive, aid, and strength, Odysseus rises above malevolent humans and supernatural beings and continues on his journey to his beloved homeland. Odysseus fulfills the role of an epic hero because of his ability to defeat evil, his incredible strength in the face of terrible danger, and his assistance from gods and goddesses. 
 Odysseus often uses his wit, charm, and strength to defeat those creating evil. When Odysseus and his men are trapped in the cave

Aubrey Drake Graham, a Canadian, singer, actor, and song writer once said “Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” In other words, Drake cherishes the journey as it provides deeper insight to the destination by allowing for personal evolution and development. Similarly, in the classic piece of literature The Odyssey, the author, Homer creates a central theme that tends to demonstrate that the journey is more important than the destination as most of the epic is told as a flashback of the long-hard journey Odysseus traveled to reach home. Along Odysseus’ 20 year journey home, he is able to learn the crucial lessons of cleverness versus strength, perseverance against the pull of temptation, and the value of family.

If a high school curriculum only had one day to talk about Greco-Roman mythology, the story of the Greek hero named Odysseus should be taught. The story of Odysseus relates to human nature and holds a lot of symbolism. The story shows the reader that there are many things human beings face throughout their lifetime; such as growing up and the stages of life, human pride, and how emotions can affect your actions.

A lot of people think they can outsmart others in the time of computers, cell phones and Photo Shop but the real trick is outsmarting a one eyed giant in the years of 800-900bc. Odysseus had many traits the Greeks and Romans would find as admirable, he loved his family, he was cunning, smart and brave. His strength as an organized thinker helps keep him and his crew safe and alive.