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The definition of a hero
The nature of the Hero and Heroism in the Odyssey
Define a hero
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Recommended: The definition of a hero
An Unconventional Hero
According to Greek mythology, a hero is one who values glory above life itself
and honorably dies in the battle during his prime period of his life. After the gods and
demi-god of Greece, heroes probably are the most admirable figures in society. However,
Odysseus seems to defy the conventional definition of a hero. He is overwhelmed with
tremendous obstacles and difficulty, often beyond that a normal man could endure but he
determines to stay alive rather than die young. Achilles states in Book 11 “I’d rather
be a hired hand back on earth…, | Than lord it over all these withered dead”(Odyssey
11.510-512). Achilles’ statement appears to solidify Odysseus’s determination to live and
enhance Odysseus’s right decision for not following the heroic conduct. Nevertheless,
Odysseus is the most reputable hero among the Achaeans in Ithaca. He is thus the
representative of an unconventional hero. In the Odyssey, a hero is perhaps one who
undergoes life with anguish and suffering but manages to stay alive using his quality of
intelligence and craftiness rather than relying on strength alone and die with great kleos
but in a young age.
Metis, a Greek term meaning cunning, intelligence, and proficiency with speech,
is demonstrated through Odysseus’s many exploits and presents him as a distinctive hero
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differing from others who simply use their brute strength to overcome their tasks. Books
9 to 12 are probably the most famous part of the Odyssey. The stories in these books are
recounted as fantasy and flashbacks by Odysseus to the Phaeacians. The wanderings of
Odysseus not only seem to give the readers knowledge about...
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...nderings through Book 9 to 12 without divine favors and
eloquent flow of words simply enhance the idea of metis inherent in this attribute.
Furthermore, Odysseus’s disguise emphasizes his identity as a different kind of a hero,
one who is willing to embrace the humiliation, but he appears to turn the humiliation
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imposed on him by his enemies as in the case of the suitors into a strategic defense
against them. His ability to maintain the disguise with his craftiness shows his control
over his impulse and over the feeling he has for other characters. Therefore, he gains
advantages over others and manipulates their foolishness into his personal exploit. Unlike
other heroes whose lives are brief, Odysseus, by his mastery of intelligence, outwits
almost every character in the narrative, will live to an old age.
Achilles, son of Thetis, also had divine blood flowing through his veins. He, however, was well aware of his mortality, as he chose a shortened lifespan full of glory over a longer, non-glorious life. "Alas, that you should be at once short of life and long of sorrow above your peers," exclaims his mother. (Butler, I). Despite accepting his mortality, Achilles, like Gilgamesh, was blessed with unequaled strength and skill as t...
The majority of those who read The Odyssey consider the protagonist of the story, Odysseus, a hero. On many occasions, however, Odysseus makes decisions beneficial to himself alone. For example, when Odysseus and his men find themselves on Polyphemus's island, Odysseus's actions are self-centered and at the expense of his men. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. Having his men by his side when he returns seems a trivial thing to him. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero.
struggles when faced with the fear of death and how he will do anything to avoid it. Yossarian’s
"Odyssey" is an epic story that has been a significant piece of literature since it was first composed and will remain so for ages to come. One of the reasons it has been so is because of the hero, Odysseus.
Thalmann, William G., The Odyssey : an epic of return. New York : Twayne Publishers. PA4167 .T45 1992
and flees the battle as well. He tries to rationalize his actions to himself by saying: Death
It was of extreme importance to a man during this time period to die in war and leave a memorable name in society. In the Spartan society even a mother was accustomed to the idea that her son had to die to be a “hero” or perhaps be remembered as one. In the Iliad and the Odyssey, Achilles mother...
The main character of the Odyssey, Odysseus the King of Ithaca is given a complex personality to an extent where it is hard to identify whether he is a true hero or not. True heroism is only achieved when a person achieves certain qualities that portray heroism. Odysseus is not a hero based on the standards of merciful, selfless, and gentle because of his actions of sacrificing his men, killing the suitors and being ruthless throughout the Odyssey. Along with many others qualities these three are helpful and necessary in a hero. A hero must be willing to do service for others and put the needs of others safety and protection before his own. Odysseus does not even come close to matching these qualities because he is a person, who only serves of himself, and he sacrifices his allies to achieve his goals and often he takes action ruthlessly.
The Trojan War veterans of The Odyssey succeeded in defeating their enemies on the battlefield. The end of combat did not mean relief from burdens for them. War is cruel, but in it these men see a glory they cannot find outside. Achilleus’ death in war is treated with ceremony and respect. Agamemnon, having survived that same war, dies a pitiful death and Klytaimestra “was so hard that her hands would not/ press shut [his] eyes and mouth though [he] was going to Hades” (XI, 425-426). Dying at home meant being denied even simple acts of dignity. Reflecting back on it Hades, Agamemnon characterizes the veteran’s struggles when he asks, “What pleasure was there for me when I had wound up the fighting?” (XXIV, 95).
This theme of death giving meaning to life is prevalent throughout the Odyssey. Hell is death, heaven is now, in life, in the field of time and action.
The hero is the man who fights for what he loves. A hero is someone who rises above circumstance to take back what is his or hers. A hero is a man who was favored by the gods. All of these qualities and more can be found in both Odysseus and Telemachus. Odysseus and Telemachus both showed many manifestations of a hero throughout the Odyssey. It was a journey of change and growth for both men. Out of this journey they returned with much wisdom and personal gain. Odysseus and Telemachus have truly walked the path of the hero’s journey.
Christopher Reeves says, “What makes Superman a hero is not that he has power, but that he has the wisdom and the maturity to use the power wisely.” What makes Odysseus a hero is not only his cunning ability, but his wisdom that he gains throughout his journey. In the Odyssey, Odysseus successfully completes a hero’s journey by completing 9 stages, amending his flaw of pride, and gaining the following wisdom: being cunning is better than being prideful.
Picture this: a hero of great legends who travels to the underworld and back to get directions to his home from a blind prophet. It sounds like quite an impossible journey, but that is exactly what makes Odysseus all the more fascinating. The Odyssey, an epic poem orally transmitted by Homer, a Greek poet who wrote The Iliad, had to contain some variety of attributes that Greeks valued in a person. That one embodiment of what the Greeks found intriguing in a character is Odysseus. Odysseus is known as what is called an epic hero. An epic hero is a protagonist of a story that represents the most important attributes of a civilization. Odysseus, being based in ancient Greece, is the embodiment of intelligence, loyalty, and strength.
Lawall, Sarah N. “The Odyssey.” The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 206-495. Print.
...f glory “Thus it is with good reason that the Iliad speaks of death as coming at ‘the right time’” (Solomon 449) Just like Achilles chose to die young for the glory and Hector knowing the fight between Achilles and him was his time to fight for his honor.