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The odyssey character analysis essay
The odyssey character analysis essay
The hero's journey summary
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Fictional heroes in literature are characters that embark on grueling, mind-altering journeys even though they receive no personal gain from these missions. Heroes overcome difficult challenges and resist temptations while also learning important life lessons and acquiring an enlightened perspective. The epic poem The Odyssey by Homer chronicles the great hero Odysseus’s return trip to Ithaka. His long and demanding voyage to his homeland leaves Odysseus a changed man. However, many argue whether Odysseus truly earns the title of “hero.” There is evidence for both sides of this argument. Because of his cleverness, his undying bravery and his ability to learn from past mistakes, Odysseus proves himself a hero. Odysseus’s clever and cunning skills allow him to make it back to Ithaka after a demanding expedition. He creates well thought-out plans to destroy obstacles in his path. When Odysseus and his men are trapped in the dwelling of Polyphemos, the Kyklops, he devises a plan to escape, knowing full well that utilizing his brains over the giant’s brawn will be the only way to make it out alive. Here Odysseus not only shows he is clever but also displays selflessness by put his men before himself. After returning home, Odysseus still have one more challenge to conquer: the suitors. With his son, Telemakhos, Odysseus is able to kill the suitors despite the uneven numbers. This is due to his carefully strategy that required sharp wits and enormous patience. Odysseus also proves he is not easily fooled by not immediately revealing his true identity to strangers. He knows that it is wise to keep his identity a secret. The beggar Odysseus is a great example of this deception. Odysseus returns to Ithaka a beggar so that the... ... middle of paper ... ... Hades, Odysseus gets right to work on properly burying Elpenor’s body. Previously, he had disregarded his fallen comrade’s body and left it there to rot. After realizing he was wrong, he does his best to rectify the situation. Towards the end of the poem, Odysseus makes plans to make his huge sacrifice to Poseidon for he did much to anger the great sea god in the past. Through fatal mistakes, Odysseus is able to learn important lessons and change his ways. Learning from past mistakes, displaying superior courage and having unmatched wits are the reasons Odysseus can be considered a hero. He endures difficult challenges and temptations to return to his kingdom, where chaos has overtaken. Along the way, he understands the true power of the gods and gains humility. Like a true hero, Odysseus is able to change for the better and sacrifices himself for others.
As seen throughout The Odyssey, a hero is perceived as a person who achieves great success never before seen and whose legacy lives beyond their years. Since The Odyssey was written around the eighth century BCE, the people that we view as heros in present day tend to embody different traits than the heroes of that time. Even though the word, “hero” does not have one specific definition, a hero is generally categorized as someone who is idolized for their bravery and does anything necessary to defend their people. Although Odysseus embodies the Homeric ideals of heroism in that he accomplishes triumphs that others have not, his successes are the product of divine intervention and his actions were primarily selfish; therefore, he is not a true
Often through great literature, there is an epic hero. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the journey of one man’s journey home from the Trojan War. The protagonist of the epic poem Odysseus is often regarded as a great hero. However, Odysseus is not quite the glorious soldier that people often see him as. Odysseus shows that he is an antihero through his pride, disloyalty, and bloodthirstiness.
In this paper, I will argue that although the surface meaning of this passage is the slaughter of the suitors by Odysseus and his men, the deeper meaning of the passage is the
For a character to be an epic hero, he must possess four characteristics. These four characteristics include the following: (1) he must be high born, (2) the hero must have human weaknesses, (3) he must be brave,and 4) he must be clever. In The Odyssey, Homer’s character Odysseus was an epic hero because he possessed all four of the characteristics.
...nd deceit, he respected and honored the gods, and he respected his crew as well. Odysseus proved himself a great man by becoming humble but still retaining the amazing qualities that he already had. Overall, Odysseus was a great man capable of many things. He would put his own life on the line to save someone else’s. Putting one’s life on the line to save someone else’s the ultimate sacrifice. It is one that not many people are willing to make. People in this world are selfish and do not want to give of themselves for others. Though Odysseus starts out this way, he certainly did not end up this way. By the end of the epic poem, Odysseus is the picture perfect person. Everyone hopes to achieve this status; by some it has already been done. As a result, the world becomes a better place, and with progressions such as these, it is becoming better every second.
The definition of a hero is unique for every individual; however there are several regulations that majority of individuals can agree on. A hero must exhibit traits such as humility, kindness, and courage. Once the candidate expresses hubris, displays cruelty, or retreats from a formidable challenge, he cannot be considered a hero. Lastly, a hero candidate must overcome challenges that defy the odds. He must deliver a gift to society that benefits society as a whole; such gifts can be freedom, liberty, or hope. Odysseus in The Odyssey, by Homer, fulfilled these requirements and rightfully earned the title of a hero. Odysseus is well deserving of the title hero because he has put the needs of others before his own, shown signs of courage in the face of adversity, and displays humility by ridding himself of his hubris.
One of the most common aspects of a true hero such as Odysseus is the possession of the willingness and self-control that is required to endure both physical and mental hardships. Moreover, some even go to say that it is this willingness and self-control that truly defines ones heroism (Ames 4). The rational behind this statement lies in the observations that not only must a true hero overcome their desires completely (Ames 4), but suffering in general provides opportunity for human distinction (Ames 2-3). If Odysseus proves that he has been able to overcome his desires and endured massive amounts of suffering, he can be classified as a hero.
Odysseus is not a hero based on the standards of merciful, selfless, and gentle. His actions against Polyphemus, the Suitors, and his men truly show that he is in fact the opposite of a hero. The actions he takes to return home safely and to get back his throne are very cruel and show signs that he lacks the nobility of being called a hero, or a king, or a warrior. He has shown that he powerful, destructive, and ruthless and these are qualities that a hero must not have. Odysseus, the mighty King of Ithaca is not a hero because he is not selfless, gentle, or merciful.
With its life changing and gut twisting plot, Homer’s the Odyssey sets the standards for all epic poems. By embodying ideas, cultural values and fearlessly defeating obstacles that attempt to hinder him in his quest, Odysseus is portrayed as the original epic hero. He is headstrong and wants to be known by everyone and changes from a pompous, egoistical man to a considerate leader who, as his journey went on realizes family is more important than fame.
He also was very cunning and liked to play games with the enemy. In Book 9 Odysseus wanted to mess with the Cyclops, and see how powerful he was. Odysseus’s men just told him not to mess with Cyclops but instead, steal some of his things, and leave. Odysseus objected and wanted more action to occur. Stated in the story, “...how sound that was! Yet I refused. I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer no pretty sight, it turned out, for my friends” (Homer 376). Odysseus let his trait of arrogance take over, and almost risked the lives of all of his men, including himself. But after everything, he still saved the majority of the men and got them out. This shows how sly Odysseus was. He had a plan from the beginning and may have failed a little, but int he ends got what he wanted and succeeded.
...-evaluation and corrected himself by turning his life around so that he could be fully aware of what it means to be a hero. Even though he has different traits from different heroic people he still succeeded in proving himself, like all heroes do. Now he truly understands his place in the world, his purpose, and what he must do in the future as the main hero of his household. Journeys like Odysseus’s would influence people to think about a hero in a complete opposite way than stories about pure-hearted knights in shining armor because it shows a person’s mistakes and how he handles or copes with them while maturing overtime. Even though different traits can describe who is or who is not a hero Odysseus is beyond doubt a well-developed hero.
This is evident during his encounter with the cyclops. Odysseus finds an empty cave filled with livestock and dairy products. Not knowing that this cave belongs to the Cyclops Polyphemus, Odysseus waits there for the owner to return expecting that he will receive gifts. Polyphemus traps Odysseus and his men in the cave and begins to eat them. By getting Polyphemus drunk and stabbing him in the eye, Odysseus and his men are able to escape. When Odysseus reaches his ship, he tells the Cyclops his actual identity. “If every any one asks you who put out your ugly eye, tell him your blinder was Odysseus, the conqueror of Tory, the son of Laertes, whose address is in Ithaca” (Homer 110)! Odysseus wants to ensure that people will know he is the one who blinded Polyphemus and in this series of events, his main character flaw shows. His lack of humility seems unheroic but Odysseus does learn from his mistakes and completes the hero’s
The epic poem The Odyssey, written by Homer, centers around the main protagonist Odysseus and his long journey back home. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, returns home after defeating the Trojans in a ten year war. On his way back, he angers Poseidon, god of the sea, by blinding his son, Polyphemus the Cyclops. Due to Odysseus’ actions, Poseidon refuses to let Odysseus reach home, and Odysseus and his crew are forced to go through a series of obstacles throughout the epic. Through this adversity, Odysseus must show his heroic attributions in order to survive. Homer portrays Odysseus as a hero by giving him characteristics such as: craftiness, loyalty, and bravery.
Odysseus’ story has been re-told, passed on, and admired for generations on end. This story not only shows a story of doing what you think is right, but it also show the story of one of the worlds most known hero. Odysseus is a strong hero, showing strength, courage, and weakness, which are all traits of many other heroes. Not only does he have these traits, but he is able to understand what is right for the whole group. He makes sacrifices that may be saddening and cause a loss, but help in the long run. But most memorable is the amount of cunning and wit he showed throughout the story, a reminder of all the epic things he did.