Realism versus Perfection:
Throughout history, different cultures have created heroes as representations of the ideals that these cultures value. Often times these heroes have very little or no flaws, such is the case with the Hindu hero Rama. On the other hand, some heroes have many virtuous attributes to them, while still containing flaws, creating a more realistic and achievable hero, such as with Odysseus. Both of these heroes represent the principles that were valued from their respective cultures of origin; therefore, the heroes themselves are representations of the society during the time of their (the heroes) creation. These heroes serve as guides to how the people of their respective cultures try to lead their lives, which makes Perfect heroes problematic for people who try to follow their actions.
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Although Odysseus and Rama are similar in the fact that they are both heroes who long to reunite with their respective wives, the differences between them are clear. Odysseus is a very flawed character, which allows modern readers to relate to him easier than Rama, who is nearly perfect in every aspect, and serves more as an idealization of how to behave in Hindu culture, rather than a realistic and relatable hero. Despite their differences, both heroes share a common journey. Odysseus’s journey takes place after the war, with Odysseus choosing to fight in the war for ten years, voluntarily leaving his family behind. Likewise, Rama chose to accept his fourteen-year exile out of respect to his father, despite his family and community begging him to stay and rule as king. However, Odysseus causes the prolonging of his return home, due to his arrogance after outsmarting Polyphemus, whereas Ravana kidnapping Sita prolonged and increased the difficulty of Rama’s exile. Another similarity between the two stems from the divine forces that helped them along their journeys. Rama, being a reincarnation of the god Vishnu, has a
Lastly, Odysseus is an epic hero is that Odysseus was born from royalty and had supernatural help on his quest. Odysseus, like any other, has many fantastic qualities and a handful of flaws. He had self- control and turned away from nectar that would make him forget everything about his dear home. He was brave and often got himself and his friends out of trouble. Odysseus, in all his bravery and courage, had flaws.
There are many legendary epic stories have been passed on from generation to generation in the Greek culture. Even though each story has different outcomes, every epic character has certain features in common. Odysseus in The Odyssesy and Oedipus in Oedipus the King are great examples of epic heroes with a variety of similarities. Odysseus and Oedipus are similar in which they both god-like men who are considered heroes because of their cautious ways and relentless tenacity. On the other hand, Odysseus and Oedipus also demonstrate their crude habits with their hubris behavior throughout their own prophecy. In addition to the similarities, the powerful gods play a significant role which drastically affects
Reading through Beowulf I began to compare it to the last great epic I read, Homer’s Odyssey. While the Odyssey and Beowulf are each examples of both historic and modern ideas of heroism, the acts of Beowulf’s hero seem to fit better within its context.
Odysseus's voyage had to be completed before saving his people, while Moses' exodus and his people's salvation were simultaneous. In either case, the journey is vital to the hero in order for him to undergo a personal transformation into the legendary hero they became.
The term hero is can mean many different things in just as many different cultures. For example, modern day Americans would refer to a hero as someone who sacrifices oneself in order to protect and save others. While this current definition of hero is similar to that of the past, the first generation of heroes certainly had their differences. Two unique examples of these heroes are Gilgamesh and Rama. Gilgamesh was the king of Uruk in the Middle East who ruled as a tyrant, while Rama was the king Ayodhya who ruled with compassion. While these two individuals are clearly heroes, they couldn’t be more dissimilar.
What gives a person heroic quality? From a more modern lens, heroes are known for their bravery, responsibility, and courage. As for earlier times like ancient Greek, heroes were portrayed as god-like, full of intelligence and boldness. The Odyssey describes the ten-year long journey of epic hero Odysseus. In it he faces countless trials and tribulations: coming face-to-face with an entire clan of hungry giant cannibals, fighting a Cyclops and angering Poseidon, god of earthquakes and the sea while he was at it; and then facing the riled-up Poseidon himself.
Throughout the history of epic literature, heroes have been an integral part of many different cultures. Some of these heroes are fierce and powerful, renowned for their skill in battle, while some others and clever and cunning, able to talk their way out of any difficult situation. These traits usually emphasize the values of the cultural from which the hero came, and depending on the culture,traits viewed as heroic may drastically differ. Although there exists a plethora of traits any one hero may have, there are three core characteristic that, in my opinion, a hero must have to be considered a hero: the courage to face hardships, the willingness to make major self-sacrifices for the benefit of others, and most importantly, the dedication to do what it takes to reach their goal.
Beowulf and Odysseus, two very different written epic heroes. Although, besides the fact that they were written into history at two different time periods, Beowulf and Odysseus aren’t all that different. They share a lot of the same values, beliefs, and hopes. Even if Beowulf didn’t have an affair...or two. The epic poems, Beowulf and The Odyssey, are both similar, but at the same time, they are completely different tales of two very differently similar flawed men.
A hero is described as a figure who is recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments. Joseph Campbell says all hero’s follow a certain path. First, they go through a separation, then an initiation. They go through an initiation to show their worth as a hero, then they return and are reintegrated with society after learning a lesson. Hero’s should also be relatable, which is why they often go through crisis and failures. Even though they contrast each other, Rama from the Ramayana and Gilgamesh from the Epic of Gilgamesh have similar archetypes of the hero.
Heroes are those who have gone above what the average person would do to ensure the welfare of others. Natural disasters, terrorism, poverty, and war are some of the many things that destroy and end people’s lives. Throughout history, many people have made a difference. However, as history progresses, what we consider to be socially normal changes along with our definition of a hero. In Ancient Greece, Theseus, Hercules, and Perseus were considered heroes, but today only Theseus and Perseus would be considered heroes because Hercules would be shunned by society.
A hero is something that society has formed an idea about the characteristic it should posses from history. Through the stories told from the past a hero is developed through their qualities and characteristics they value. When one views a hero from a different culture they can form an opinion on what matters to that culture. One will notice that through all these different heroes that they all share common features. In ancient Hebrew culture Moses represents a hero and for ancient Greek culture Odysseus represents heroic figures.
In The Odyssey and Ramayana, the authors depict the characters through the eyes of their culture and civilization. In both works, the representation of men and women reflects an ideal that was sought after at the time. Particularly, the texts focus on the relationships between the main characters and the religion, as well as the main character and their familial ties. In The Odyssey, there is Athena and Odysseus while in Ramayana, there is Rama and Sita. Both Athena and Sita represent the idealistic woman which base their actions and thoughts off of their emotions. Whereas Odysseus and Rama, their characters’ roles represent the ideal status of a male figure in the authors’ society and the man’s role between religion and the family.
One example from The Hero’s Journey article states “heroes have an altruistic spirit that urges him or her to act against evil and defend the greater good”. This quote is the ideal hero modern times view as. Odysseus goes through a journey, killing monsters, using trickery and acts as immortal. This description of him shows a common archetype and viewing of heroes in ancient Greek times. “Heroes are only mortals, ones that try their best to accomplish feats while fighting against internal and external forces,” found in the The Hero’s Journey, is another quote for a hero's archetype. (Harris,3) Odysseus is only a mortal given a task to accomplish while fighting monsters and facing great dangers. The title hero varies between different cultures, but all have a similarity. Ancient Greeks viewed heroes as immortal, massive, god-like, and known for killing using trickery, while modern times view heroes as muscular, immortal, saving people, and wearing capes when doing it. Lastly, a quote in the same article states “ A hero could not be heroic without something or one to overcome.”(Harris,15) A hero needs an obstacle in order to be an interesting hero. Odysseus must overcome all dangers throughout his journey home.
A true hero will go through immeasurable lengths to benefit not him or herself, but the people around them. Heroes are neither selfish nor uncaring. They seek every opportunity they get to help those in need. One must have also gone through the entire hero’s journey to be deemed a hero. He must start off naïve and inept and through his challenges, transform into someone worth calling a hero. Most importantly, a hero is not perfect. He must listen to other’s ideas and utilize them. However, in The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus disrespects his crew men and the gods’ advice, lets hubris interfere with his men’s lives, and is unfaithful to his wife Penelope.
Heroes are prevalent in everyone’s life. Whether someone’s hero is a living person or a fabled character from a movie, everybody has come into contact with some sort of hero. In fact, the concept of heroes has existed for hundreds of years, dating all the way back to Ancient Greece. Over time, heroes have drastically changed. As society has evolved, our heroes have evolved with it. Their goals and motivations have changed to coincide with the views of modern society. Modern day heroes have less selfish motives, better qualities, and are portrayed differently than ancient heroes.