Odysseus Love Of Kleos In Homer's The Odyssey

Homer’s novel “The Odyssey,” and Yannis Ritsos well crafted poem which alludes to “The Odyssey,” Penelope’s Despair, both depict the same overarching theme: Even if a bond of love is shared, the choices and experiences made during a time of separation, can alter the feelings that the lover has of you, therefore ultimately breaking the bond of love. Homer’s “Odyssey” takes us on an adventure where our main character, Odysseus, has to defeat all odds at an extreme voyage home, to his wife Penelope and son Telemachus, from The Trojan War. Through this journey, many conflicts arise over the troubles with loyalty of love. Ristos’ skilled craft directly alludes to Homer’s adventure as he too paints the same theme. Homer begins the novel by explaining how Odysseus was at attempt in voyage home after the Trojan war, but his journey was permeated with obstacles concocted by Poseidon. Homer writes, “Odysseus, but makes him a wanderer from his native land. But come, let us who are here all take thought of his return, that he may come home; and Poseidon will let go his anger, for he will in no wise be able, against all the immortal gods and in their despite, to contend alone.” (Homer 75-80) This quote shows us how burdensome it was for Odysseus to make it home. Seeing this we can imagine how hard it must have been for Penelope and Telemachus due to the twenty year situation and how it negatively impacted their relationships. Ristos shows this tough idea when she writes of when Odysseus returned home, “Was it for him, then, that she'd used up twenty years, twenty years of waiting and dreaming, for this miserable blood-soaked, white-bearded man?” The reader can see how this scene is written in a negative lense by many of the keywords which correlate to the theme. “Miserable blood-soaked, white bearded man” all have a direct relation in identifying the negative side of this theme. The” miserable shows the negative state in which Odysseus is in upon his return, the “blood-soaked” shows how he had just murdered, gruesomely, the suitors, and finally the “white bearded” shows how Odysseus had aged. All these three aspects of this quote are characteristics of how Odysseus has negatively physically transformed. Through this

He is stricken with hunger and longs for nourishment, but he is able to triumph over this temptation by remaining mentally strong: “One day I withdrew to the interior / to pray the gods in solitude, for hope / that one might show me some way of salvation” (XII, 426 – 428). Instead of giving in to temptation, Odysseus heroically prays to the gods. In addition to physical and emotional challenges, Odysseus faces intellectual challenges, and is able to overcome these challenges with quick thinking. Odysseus must utilize his cunning wit when he devises a plan to surprise the suitors in an attack, and hide their weapons: “I / shall signal to you, nodding: at that point / round up all armor, lances, gear of war / left in our hall, and stow the lot away” (XVI, 335 – 338). This challenge tests Odysseus as a tactician, and he is able to succeed with intellectual valor. Odysseus encounters a mental challenge when he is on the Land of the Kyklopes. He quickly tells Polyphemos that his name is “Nohbdy”, and then once the Polyphemos is stabbed, the other Kyklopes think that “Nohbdy” hurt him. Then, Odysseus and his men are able to escape on the underside of sheep. Odysseus bravely risks the lives of his men and himself. Odysseus overcomes all these challenges, using his physical, emotional, and intellectual abilities. The courage he displays in each of these instances makes him more heroic.

In the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplified strong leadership and outstanding noble qualities. Like Achilles, Odysseus carried some flaws at the beginning of the story. A strong case can be made that his biggest flaw as a character was pride as it caused him unnecessary risks that only delayed his journey and possibly endangered his men. This is evidently shown when Odysseus and his crew wander around in Polyphemos ' cave. After the confrontation with the Polyphemos, Odysseus and his men escaped by stabbing Polyphemos’ in the eye while he was asleep. Once Odysseus and his men were safe on board on their ship, Odysseus took it upon himself to reveal his true identity and proceeded to taunt Polyphemos. At

The Odyssey of Homer is filled with various adventures, sought-after revenge, and harmful temptations. The war hero, Odysseus, traveled for three years, always trying to achieve his homecoming. In Odysseus’ fourth year, Zeus destroyed his ship, as well as his companions, while they were out at sea. After these losses, Odysseus alone was washed up onto the island of a nymph, Kalypso. She took him into her palace and came to love him. After time, she desired to make Odysseus her husband, offering to make him immortal as well. Yet, Odysseus declines her offer of immortality. After years of fighting in battle, then years of suffering following the war, his noble rejection seems remarkable. Homer’s readers are forced to wonder, why does

Odysseus displays a praiseworthy hero in more than one way. Again, he uses strategy over strength every time he lands upon a new island. Once Odysseus lands on new, unknown lands, he does not run to the king and queen telling them his name and entire life story. He knows that bragging and being rude will not get him very far. When he enters King Alcinous’s castle, the first thing he says to the queen is, “I come to beg you for mercy” (7. 184). He knows that by saying this they will have sympathy

This gives him the title as chosen one. His intention was to get home to Ithaca but he remarks with over prideful insults towards the gods. This low point results in punishment from the gods to face some of the worlds monsters. Through it all, he receives aid from those who think he can amount to more. He receives news of home from his grieving mother, and his prophecy from Tiresias. “For not to everyone will gods appear.” (pg.294) The only reason why Odysseus was able to survive through the quests was because Athena’s fondness for him. She covers him with a disguise when he finally returns home so that he may win his last battle. His restoration came with absence of pride and ego from all the horrors he has perceived. Although he had to fix his character, Odysseus is still known as a hero not only because of his cleverness but also how he fixed 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

The victory of Odysseus and his son Telemakhos over the suitors is credited to Odysseus’s cleverness and cunning nature. Yet Odysseus would not have made it home, and Telemakhos wouldn’t have become confident, more mature, and better at speaking his mind if it wasn’t for the intervention of a higher power. The gods and goddess in The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, provided disguise, strength, and advice. Without their hand in the matter Odysseus would have not made it home and Telemakhos would not have matured or learned of his father and Greek customs. Odysseus faces many challenges that he wouldn’t have overcome if it wasn’t for the help of the gods.

As they are sailing away, Odysseus shouts, “Kyklops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laërtês’ son, whose home’s on Ithaka!” (Fitzgerald 160). What Odysseus chooses to do is he reveals his name to the Kyklops after what he had done to him, without thinking what the possible outcome and consequence could be, only to show his Hubris by heroic behavior and selfishness. Odysseus’ self confidence is high and leads him and his men into difficult situations that wouldn't arise if he chose to be more humble because Homer then makes sure all Hubris actions are brought down by the gods and makes Kyklops pray to his father, who happens to be a god of sea- Poseidon, to punish Odysseus. Therefore, the sea god ensures that Odysseus will face the difficulties and his journey will be full of hardship for the rest of his voyage home. Hubris proves again that due to pride, Odysseus' journey is made even harder while it is extended to 20

Odysseus has a sense of hubris that leads to adversity and causes him harm, he also has humility; however, the lack of balance between these emotions takes Odysseus through many tough obstacles. When Odysseus tricks Polyphemos, he does it logically, and he uses his mind and reason; however, his hubris comes out when he feels the need to expose his true identity thus leading to his difficulty to return to Ithaka and future problems. Odysseus’s men beg him to stop harassing the beast, but Odysseus has one other plan in mind when he says, “Kyklops / … Odysseus raider of cities, took your eye: / Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaka!” (Homer 160). This provoking of Polyphemos that Odysseus displays is a cause for the pain Ithaka is going though, as well as personal and direct grieving directed at Odysseus and his immediate

During his journey Odysseus used what he has learned from is mistakes to return home and kill the suitors of his wife. On the island of Cicones,and with his encounter with Polyphemus, Odysseus learned that bragging can bring great misfortune. On Ithaca Odysseus never brags to the suitors and is able to enter his house with the Antinous and the other suitors knowing his real identity. 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 able to see who is loyal and who is not and take his revenge with the suitors never knowing who

However, Odysseus is able to resist his desires and return home. He rejects Kalypso’s offer of immortality and is able to keep his identity a secret when he finally returns home to Ithaka. Odysseus is able to withstand his desire for kleos and is eventually even willing to give it up in exchange for his family and kingdom. It is only then that Odysseus is able to

Throughout Greek history and mythology, the greatest of heroes and gods have been driven by the desire to be great to have kleos. For them, there was no greater honor than being remembered for their own accomplishment. This is what every Greek hero strove for throughout their epic whether that be Achilles, Odysseus, or others. For them, they would rather die young with renown and glory than live a long life without kleos. Their life was dedicated to making themselves the greatest and most glorified they could be. Most often, the way in which they died determined the amount of kleos they were given. However, once they reached the end of life, many found their struggle for kleos by way of personal gain did not earn them what they truly desired.

Every time he gets himself into a bad situation he manages to escape and pull himself out, this is the clever side of Odysseus. Because Odysseus is so cocky he believes that he can do whatever he pleases which always lands him in a different kind of trouble. After everything that Odysseus has done and even after losing men he brags about his experiences to the Phaeacians. It is clear that Odysseus wants his name to be known and he wants to be known for doing great things. Odysseus has a lot of pride which can be a good thing but also his downfall.

Curiosity distracts Odysseus, and makes him self centered and oblivious to what is best for the entire crew; his selfish behavior costs the lives of two of his crew members to the cyclops alone. Odysseus wanting to always show his strength is