Odysseus As A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

A scarce character in today’s world, someone who makes the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good of society without the need for recognition. The type of person whose moral compass triumphs all and uses this gift to change things for the better. A nurse who dedicates his or her life to the wellbeing of others, surrounded by the sick and dying while still managing to keep a smile on their face is the true definition of a hero. These are the people who do courageous things like saving lives not for the recognition, but purely just to help others. So many characteristics are needed to make up a person capable of being heroic, and the character Odysseus does not possess any of them. In his eyes, he considers himself a hero but the characteristics

His selfishness is shown in every action he takes. He values his life more than those of his crew and puts his needs before theirs. Instead of acting like the hero he claims to be, Odysseus makes his men do the tasks that could potentially be life threatening. When landing on the new and mysterious Aeaean Island Odysseus opts out of exploring the dangerous new land and instead he says that, “ soon enough this seemed the better plan: I’d go back to shore and the swift ship first, feed the men, then send them out for scouting” (Homer 235). These men meet their misfortune and get turned into pigs by Circe and all Odysseus can feel is relief for his selfishness. He would rather risk his crew’s life and send them into the unknown instead of acting like a true leader and volunteering to be the one who leads the exploration into the island. The self-centered man believes he is the most important and valuable life on the ship because he thinks he can bring everyone home and instead it is the opposite, he is the reason the curse was made which led to the death of his crew. His goal was to get home, but Odysseus was in no hurry as long as he was having a good time. Instead of taking every second to rush back to his growing son and faithful wife, he decides to delay the trip for time for himself. He spends a unfaithful year sleeping with Circe, feasting, and drinking heady wine without the thought of home until his crewmates say, “High time you thought of your own home at last, if it really is your fate to make it back alive” (Homer 245). This suggests the so called family man would have stayed even longer if not persuaded by his crew to leave, as he only thought of his wellbeing and happiness and not that of his family or that of the crew yearning for home. Odysseus has to be reminded to think of something other than himself, as he always puts his safety