The Greek Hero Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

In my eyes a hero is a person who shows courage, is humble, does not give up, and is someone everybody can relate to. The protagonist in “The Odyssey” by Homer, Odysseus is a hero because although he is emotional throughout the book and lets his emotions take over his actions, he displays immense courage and perseveres through his journey and hardships.

In The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, a man named Odysseus tries to get home to Ithaca after several years away from home. He runs into many gods and goddesses in his lengthy journey home, and they prevent Odysseus from returning to Ithaca. Along his journey, all of his men end up dying, but Odysseus survives. Even though Odysseus is an epic hero and an archetype of manhood with many qualities, he has several flaws also.

There was a man who was willing to risk his whole life through many difficult obstacles just to return to his family and home. Odysseus is his name and he is indeed a hard working man. During this long heroic journey, Odysseus traveled for a long time and has faced many common archetypes. This novel was during the Greek era where they idolized Xenia. The Greeks admired Xenia is where people have to respect and treat their house guests respectfully.

In order for one to become a hero, one not only must have strength and bravery, but care and love for others. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus shows a sense of genuine emotion rather than his usual courageous voice. Odysseus unexpectedly faces the ghost of his mother and breaks down, while learning that putting out a sense of care and emotion is a significant trait to becoming a true heroic man. First starting his journey, Odysseus’s only traits are bravery and courage. Before entering the Land of the Dead, the hero takes more than needed pride in himself when he shouts, “‘Hear me- / Poseidon, god of the sea-blue mane who rocks the earth! /

Have you always read books where the main character is usually the hero of the story? What if I told you that in the book The Odyssey the main character isn’t the hero. As a matter of fact, there is no specific hero in the The Odyssey. Although Odysseus is the main character of the story, he is definitely not the hero. Odysseus has acquired some qualities of being the hero, but have acquired numerous of qualities of not being one. First of all, Odysseus has shown quite a few time of where he showed no respect towards others. In addition, how can he be considered a hero when he killed a mass of people. Lastly, he has been unfaithful towards his wife Penelope. Overall, Odysseus have proven that he isn’t a hero through his traits that appeared throughout the story.

In almost every Epic Journey story, the main character, the hero, faces many obstacles. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus, the main character, encounters a twenty-year journey. In this journey, Odysseus comes across Zeus’ son, a Cyclopes and he has trouble dealing with his own pride getting himself in trouble. Many real life lessons can be taught through Odysseus’s voyage. Odysseus’s journey teaches people that life does not come easy, the whole time he is fighting at sea. Another lesson people can take in from The Odyssey is when Odysseus is fighting off suitors that want to marry his wife, Penelope; the readers can understand that giving up certainly does not result in success.

Homer’s, The Odyssey, is an epic story about a hero named Odysseus using his courage, intelligence, and charm throughout his extraordinary journey. As the king of Ithica, Odysseus and his soldiers egress from the belly of a wooden Trojan horse and slay the town of Troy. Ten years of battling, traveling, and hiding, Odysseus and his men conquer Troy, which leads to the ten-year excursion finding his way home. Unlike many heroes, he is mortal and does not have supernatural powers such as being able to fly; therefore, the God’s gambit his journey, especially Athena. The trip that should have taken a few months, turned into ten years as he kept getting enticed into traps and tossed from shore to shore. Because he is mortal, he gets lured into human weaknesses, but his courage, intelligence, and charm help eliminate some of these problems.

“You can't relate to a superhero, to a superman, but you can identify with a real man who in times of crisis draws forth some extraordinary quality from within himself and triumphs but only after a struggle.” This very strong analysis of a hero by Timothy Dalton, shedding light to the idea that a heroic character who can seem immensely powerful are very hard to relate with, but share similar struggles. To put it in perspective, a superhero often struggles to overcome obstacles and their distinct traits. Likewise, throughout Odysseus’ journey in The Odyssey, Odysseus’ proves himself as an epic hero through his clever thinking, fearless attitude, and prideful behavior.

The definition of a hero changes so much as time passes. A hero can be a regular everyday person or a billionaire who is trying to do their best by the people. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is the main, heroic character that goes through a long journey to get back to his wife and son. He makes a wrong decision along the way but he is still considered a hero. Knowing the differences between what a hero should and shouldn't be, can change your whole perspective on who deserves to be a hero.

One of the challenges Odysseus faces on his journey back to Ithaca is the land of the Lotus Eaters. The Lotus Eaters showing “no will to do us harm” (489) offers Odysseus and his men a sweet honeyed plant. Who ever ate the Lotus became “forgetful of their homeland” (489) and “longed to stay forever” (489). Odysseus and his men need to overcome the temptations of staying there eating Lotus any time they want. They have to fight the internal battle of giving in to the sweet honeyed plant and instead they need to stay strong and support each other. Seeing his men losing desire to return home because of this dangerous honeyed plant, Odysseus knows he has to do something fast before all hope of returning to Ithaca is lost. Taking action into his

Odysseus is on an adventurous journey home. Due to the gods being angered by the Battle of Troy, they send hardships to Odysseus and his men on his way home to Ithaca. He faces gods, goddesses, and monsters like the cyclops, Aeolus, Athena, and many more. Odysseus’ men fall, but he survives to retake his kingdom and his wife.

Hercules. Perseus. Achilles. Aeneas. Jason. Daedalus. Greece’s heroes. Legends. One name is missing from the list of Greek Mythology's greatest. Odysseus. In the exhilarating tale, The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus shows his worthiness of a king and hero time and time again. Throughout twenty-four books Odysseus takes on many challenges such as the Trojan War, Cyclops, Calypso, Circe, the suitors and Poseidon. Odysseus is the king of Ithaca who was called upon to help the Greeks win the Trojan War. After ten years and outsmarting the people of Troy, he angered Poseidon, so Poseidon did all in his power to make sure that it Odysseus never made it home. When all the other gods see what Poseidon is doing, they help Odysseus come home after ten years

In this story I get left behind I guess. Isolated from the rest of humanity, with only the occasional god to drop by. I don’t understand how the world could be so stupid. How they could believe a man who is known for his tricks and his lies.

“That Odysseus is going to feel my wrath someday. I can’t believe he had the nerve to poke my eye out. I treated him well by eating him last, and this is how he repays me!” Polyphemus was still in much pain from the accident. Now he could only see out of one eye, and his cave was coated in blood and dirt.

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.