odysseus the tragic hero essay

assumes the guise of Mentor because men were generally given more credibility in those days.  In a similar vein, Odysseus disguises himself as a homeless man in order to exude anonymity so that he can safely return to Ithaka where he

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an anti-hero is “a protagonist or notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities.” This term accurately describes the main character of 1984, Winston Smith, as one reads about his flaws, rebellious nature, and tragic downfall. Unlike the typical heroes of past stories, such as Odysseus from The Odyssey or Harry Potter, Winston is flawed and plain, similar to many modern anti-heroes. The author, George Orwell, created a character that

Pride as a Tragic Flaw or Heroic Trait In many modern works, such as Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, pride is tragic flaw, and the undoing of great heroes. However, in Homer’s The Iliad, It is not clear as to whether pride is a trait to loathe or to love. Substantial arguments can be made on both sides, since both the hero Achilleus who ultimately is a victor, and the hero Hektor, who eventually loses his life both posses a desire for honor and glory. Homer

their actions, mistakes and even blessings, has very direct impacts on the humans on the earth and the impacts are either positive or negative. Edith Hamilton, through her book ‘Mythology’, has revealed that one of the most important themes is that tragic characters have always been the instruments of suffering and even deaths of others. For instance, Hades brought suffering upon the goddess of harvest and nature by kidnapping her daughter, Persephone, just because he wanted a queen in the underworld

This such loyalty is shared with the acclaimed literary hero Beowulf, who ultimately offers his life in a fierce battle with the dragon for his people. The manner in which Gawain then faces the trials set forth by the Green Knight also demonstrates the strict moral code of sir Gawain; that of the chivalrous

and the poem ¨Penelope¨ by Dorothy Parker. Both Penelope and The Suitors ¨Penelope¨ by utilize the myth of Odysseus and Penelope. This mythology portrays the sorrow of penelope as she waits for her husband's return from ten years of war and ten years lost at sea. The mythology illustrates her undying love and faithfulness to Odysseus. “Penelope” by Dorothy Parker utilizes the myth of Odysseus and Penelope to convey her

conquer a feat thus similar, his name can be passed on and he will be immortal” (Van der Valk 63). In Homer's Odyssey, the ultimate goal of fame and fortune entices Odysseus to disregard his morals by using cunning and trickery for lying and killing others, to ensure his homecoming to Ithaka. First of all, Odysseus is deemed a hero in the eyes of the Achaians.  His intelligent mind renders him a heroic figure among his people.  Although he has killed many people, his actions are deemed justifiable

characteristics in which readers may identify with him. Throughout the poem, Satan is not only a tragic hero but also the key character that drives the plot and portrays many flawed human qualities. As an angel fallen from the high esteem of God and a possessor of hubris that leads to his downfall, he represents a tragic hero but also a character in which readers may identify with. Following the standards of classic tragic heroes, Satan is a determined leader with an extreme amount of hubris. He knows that

victims of the Trojan War, the tragedy is obvious; the War ended in genocide and total cultural destruction. But such a war, burnt into legend, should have left the victors far better off; and yet, the Greek heroes only suffer because of it. They die tragic, dishonourable deaths; their households are left in ruin; their families are torn apart. From both modern and classical perspectives, the Trojan War is a tragedy, a “harrowing destruction of life” (Euripides, Andromache, 291). The victory is pyrrhic

Oedipus to another tragic hero Charles Ying Mr. de Groof Grade 12 Literature October 19, 2015   In Aristotle’s Poetics, Aristotle gave definition of tragedy as well as a tragic hero. He defined the tragic hero as a man whose misfortunes were coming through his own mistakes, also known as hamartia, not through evils or external conflicts (Aristotle’s Tragic Terms). Ancient Greek tragic heroes were fated by the gods, and experienced their downfalls in different ways. Two classic tragic heroes are Oedipus