The Character Of Odysseus In The Odyssey

The Odyssey written by Homer highlights the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, in his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus is accredited with many strong traits including his nobility, smarts, and bravery. Having one tragic flaw, being his arrogance, was put to the test throughout his heroic journey. Homer stripped the protagonist of his arrogance as the story goes on, by giving him many challenges, giving dire consequences for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus’ journey was to reach his home as a humbled man. The hero’s journey can be used as a way to look at life’s morals. The reader is able to see the protagonist continue to make mistakes, because of his arrogance and continue to be punished by the gods. Once he overcame this, he is greatly awarded with the security of his home. This essay will analyze the arrogance of Odysseus along with his extraordinary traits, the molding of his identity, and his new found lesson of humility.

A Hero is someone who is looked up to by people, does things people remember them by and does things for other people. By today’s standards, odysseus is a hero. The reason why odysseus is a hero is because he is looked up to by many people, and he has done many things people remember him by. Throughout Odysseus’s journey him and his men encountered many things for people to remember them by and look up to them.

In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus' actions and decisions in books IX-XII has shown that even though he is extremely clever and courageous, the great tactician's selfishness and sense if hubris often stand in the way of his success. First of all, Odysseus is exceptionally brave, he has experienced more than any mortal man should and will never cower away from a challenge. For example, Odysseus led his men on a dangerous endeavor in blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus. Odysseus vividly recalls how the monster viciously killed two of his crew, "Then he [Polyphemus] dismembered them and made his meal / gaping and crunching like a mountain lion" (9.316-17). Realizing he would likely be killed, Odysseus rallied his crew and blinded the horrendous beast without fear.

Odysseus has a side to him that is very heroic and many people can look up to, in which he helps others without thinking of himself. When Odysseus helped save his men from Circe he was being selfless, and thus heroic. “I

The term “dynamic” is often used in literature to describe a character who changes drastically from one point in the story to another. When reading “The Odyssey” an epic poem by Homer, we see that our protagonist, Odysseus, changes throughout the course of the novel. This essay will argue how he changes, and also what changes him, such as his travels, his relationships, and how fate and the Greek gods affect and change him.

Many people could’ve done what Odysseus did and even could’ve done it better, faster, and easier. Some may believe that Odysseus is courageous. He demonstrates this courage when he steps up to fight the Cyclopes, or even when he was willing to travel to the underworld to save his men (pg. 397, lines 163-165). Although this example shows some courage, Odysseus obviously fears the gods and how they change the outcome of everything ( pg. 402, lines 35-40). Another quality that opponents believe Odysseus has is determination.

Throughout the many traits Odysseus has, his bravery is the most outstanding. Odysseus shows his bravery in the quote, “We lit a fire, burnt an offering, and took some cheese to eat, then sat in silence around the embers, waiting.” (Homer page 760 lines: 219-221) Odysseus was waiting for the cyclops. His bravery was shown when he broke into the cyclops home, took the cyclops food, and sat there and waited for him. Usually when you break into someone's home you do not give them an offering and take their stuff for them to find. In the next quote Odysseus shows even more bravery to go home and not fear the consequences if someone recognizes him. “... Odysseus, in his beggar disguise, finds his way to the heat of Eumclaus, his old and trusty swineherd.” (Homer page

He faced many tough challenges on his journey home, but he overcame them by not being scared in the face of danger. When their ship came upon Scylla and Charybdis he was ready to face the two monsters. He was willing to fight through Scylla and Charybdis to save him and his men, “I tied up my Cuirass and took two heavy spears and made my way up the foredeck- thinking to see her first from there.”  he was ready to fight through the incredibly terrifying monsters, which would have scared any other man away. (ll. 788-790) Even when all odds were stacked against him, he took on the challenge. He knew he was outnumbered, but still he continued and devised a plan of attack to take his house and wife back. In the end they won, “In blood and dust he saw that crowd all fallen, many and many slain.” Odysseus was a fearless hero he knew what he was up against and fought hard to defeat the odds. (ll. 1533-1534) There was a big possibility that he and his son wouldn't make it out alive but with his bravery and cunning planning he took back his home from the

This main character is a hero that has all the elements of an epic hero. He has supernatural abilities, he faces many magical being such as monsters or sorceresses, and he is tested in multiple ways to exhibit his abilities. His name is Odysseus. Odysseus encounters many obstacles on the way home. He gets passed every obstacle he has came across so far.

In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates the courage to face danger and adversity. When Odysseus and his men meet the Kyklops Polyphemos, they “felt a pressure in their hearts...but all the same, [Odysseus] spoke up in reply”(Homer 152). Even though everyone was astonishingly scared of the Kyklops and what may happen next, only Odysseus had the bravery to speak up to the Kyklops, even though he was scared himself. Much later, Kirke tells him of the two monsters Kharybdis and Skylla he is soon to face at sea and he listens to this, but exclaims, “Only instruct me...how if possible, can I pass Kharybdis, or fight off Skylla when she faces my crew?”(Homer 212). This exhibits Odysseus’ character as always desiring to find a way to conquer the problem even though the problem might seem out of his reach. After Odysseus and his men pass the monster Skylla, he tells to his men to keep on going and Eurylochus complains, “Are you flesh and blood Odysseus to endure more than a man

In the Odyssey, Odysseus is quite the legend known to people, whether you are high up in the sky with Zeus, or deep in the ocean with Poseidon, everyone knows Odysseus. In the epic poem, the Odyssey told by the one and only Homer, the brave, the godlike human, Odysseus is finding his way home after the big battle victory against the Trojans. This story is about his travels home and how he got caught up in other business. Let’s just say he stabbed Poseidon’s son, had his crew turned into pigs, faced a six-headed monster and whirlpool, and that is to say the least. He may as well be on America’s most wanted list with all the trouble he was causing. Even though Odysseus is a troublemaker, he has multiple great characteristics of a leader. Odysseus, when it comes to his crew and family, is confident, compassionate, wise, and always knows a way to get out of any problem.

Bravery was probably one of the traits Odysseus was known for best. Without his bravery, the story most-likely wouldn't have been as exciting and suspenseful as it was. One of the situations that displayed this trait was when they landed on the

Homer's epic tale The Odyssey is a story of the triumphs and downfalls that are in store for one warrior's long pillage home.  Odysseus, the hero from the Trojan wars, has led his people of Ithaca and other Achaean soldiers to victory and now wishes to return home to his wife and family of Ithaca.  Through his twenty year journey Odysseus is often tested not only of his physical strength, but his wits as well.  The many accomplishments he achieved earned him great status and recognition throughout ancient Greece.  The mistakes he made caused the deaths of many men.  Consequently, we as readers are able to see the many personas that Odysseus carries with him.

Not only does Odysseus demonstrate a strong sense of courage in his journeys to prove that he is a hero, but he also shows never-ending perseverance through the countless adversities berating him. Although much of Odysseus’ journey is guided and assisted by various gods, especially in tough situations, what he does is ultimately of his doing and free will, as demonstrated by his tenacity when coming across many hardships. An example of this is later on in Odysseus’ story, as he and his men sail away from the Island of Aeaea to complete their journey home to Ithaca, they encounter many obstacles. The sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis terrorize and put Odysseus’ men and journey into peril, as his crew is struck with the terrifying might of the sea monsters.

Ironically, Odysseus’ need for his own gains/earnings lead to many losses, whether they were mental roadblocks or physical casualties of not only his men but his loved ones back in Ithaka as well (for example, his mother who died of old age and stress over her dear son being gone for so long). According to Barry B. Powell, the ancient Greeks favor the type of man “who loses everything than the man who regains all”, which is actually really unusual but it fits perfectly with Odysseus’ character (Powell). Another instance that leads the ancient Greeks to calling Odysseus a hero is the fact that in the Odyssey he is viewed as a comic-typical hero wins and gets the girl. The ancient Greeks evidently like the intellectual man whom displays honor and intellectuality in their everyday life, and Odysseus is a clear title-holder for the position that they’ve been looking for to call their