Examples Of Heroism In The Odyssey

In his epic, Odyssey, Homer reveals the monomyth of the hero named Odysseus faces by retelling his call to adventure, the many trials he must face, and his return to his family.
In order to brave the monomyth, or hero’s journey, one must become a hero by giving their all to the greater good at all costs. According to George Roche, “Real heroism requires courage. It entails peril or pain. Plainly, heroism also has a selfless quality. The hero's deed is ennobled not by courage alone, but by the call to duty or by service to others.” Jennifer Mcclinton-Temple states, “Being a hero is also a mental feat. It is the ability to be mentally tough and commit selfless acts toward others.” To complete a task a hero must have the willingness and mental capacity to do so. The departure, trials, and return of a hero on his journey are not only driven by the sheer force of heroic will to go on, but by a hero’s mental toughness as well.
Notably, the Odyssey is an epic that reveals heroic qualities in Odysseus as he fights off mythical creatures and his own countrymen on his return home from the Trojan War. According to Mark Dickson, “In the spiritual sense, Odysseus is a hero because he remains faithful and loyal to his wife and household. Although he

Homer writes about, “How Odysseus is first very angry with his captor Calypso, because when she says he can leave he thinks she is playing a trick and that the raft given will sink at sea” (Homer 5. 173-178). Odysseus has been captive for a while so he initially has trouble accepting the truth. Homer tells how, “Odysseus’ heart sang as he spread to the wind, as he spread to the wind, and he steered with the rudder, a mariner aboard his craft” (Homer 5. 269-271). Finally, Odysseus is free to start his adventure and his vigor and purpose are back up to full strength. Nothing will stop Odysseus from returning home