Homer’s Odyssey has been a well-known story that has been passed down for generations. The story that Homer is telling conveys some valuable historical information representative of the ancient Greeks of his time. One such thread that can be traced throughout the ancient Greek world is on the subject of human conduct. The best way to examine the human conduct portrayed in the Odyssey, one must examine the characteristics of the individual. As such, two examples of the good and bad role models of human conduct can be seen in Odysseus and Telemachus. Odysseus is the main character of the Odyssey, who spends the majority of the plot returning home from the Trojan War. He can be seen as exhibiting both good and bad characteristics. The qualities …show more content…
This is most prominently demonstrated in his pride. Although not a bad trait to show, his pride tends to result in a rather negative outcome—mostly in catastrophic events that leave him either stranded on an island or suffering casualties amongst his ship’s crew. His pride is conveyed when he brags about his archery skills (VIII.252-3; VIII.254) as well as in how he escaped the Cyclops (XII.229-230). These instances convey a justifiable pride; however, such instances get Odysseus in trouble when this pride becomes rather stubborn, effecting his better …show more content…
Assuming Odysseus to exhibit more good than bad, let’s consider Odysseus to be a good role model of human conduct. The other character, that can be examined in the role of human conduct, would be Odysseus’s son—Telemachus. Telemachus undergoes a development of character throughout The Odyssey. Telemachus portrays both good and bad qualities of human conduct. The qualities that can be seen as good are in his hospitality to strangers. “…he glimpsed Athena now and straight to the perch he went, mortified that a guest might still be standing at the doors” (I.139-141). Telemachus can be seen as a man with good manners. However, Telemachus can also convey the bad aspects of human conduct. In handling the suitors at Ithaca, in Book XXII, Telemachus can be seen as rather indecisive. “’My fault, father,’ the cool clear prince replied, ‘the blame’s all mine. That snug door to the vault, I left it ajar—they’ve kept a better watch than I” (XXII.162-4). His overthinking and subsequent hesitation led to this poor outcome, demonstrating how he is not necessarily the “good”
“The world is full of wonders, but nothing is more wonderful than man.” This quote shows that the Greeks valued themselves, but also their intellect in which they know that the world about them is great. The Greeks valued beauty, art, intellect, honor, and truth; the list is long. Some of these values are shown through the story of the Odyssey, which tells of the adventures of Odysseus and his family. In order to understand Greek values and how they are portrayed in Greek society, one must examine how some values are portrayed in the Odyssey: hospitality, intellect, and beauty.
Odysseus' values and character traits serve as a paradigm of the ideal Homeric Greek man. The "god-like Odysseus" is crafty, valiant, wise, and eloquent. He gains much of his knowledge through travel, the meeting of different cultures and peoples and learns from suffering and mistakes. He is an aristocrat and a warrior of all warriors. We first learn of many of these traits in Homer's Iliad. Agamemnon, the commander of the Greek army always calls on Odysseus for assignments that required someone cunning and brilliant. Agamemnon sends Odysseus to ask Achilles to return to the army and sends him with Diomedes into the Trojan camp to attain information. Odysseus has to be sly and quick so the Trojans do not catch him. Homer describes them as "two lions stalking through the carnage and the corpses."(Book X, Line 297) However, these traits and Odysseus' ability are constantly challenged by the temptation of women. In the Odyssey, myriad examples of such temptation reflect the importance of gender and the role of women. Odysseus' numerous interactions with women make this influence clear.
The Odyssey, by Homer, has withstood the test of time. For centuries, The Odyssey has been read to be studied, and also read to be enjoyed. This great book can be acknowledged as superior art for multiple reasons; The Odyssey is written with superior craftsmanship, it perfectly exhibits Greek literary tradition, and it holds pleasing aesthetic value. However, perhaps the principal criteria that this book meets for being superior art is that it explores numerous complexities of human nature. The first people that read The Odyssey, and the countless individuals that have poured over it in modern days can benefit from reading this inexhaustible epic because it delves into fascinating truths about humanity including family relationships, pride,
Many times throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus reveals many character traits, good and bad. On his journey back home to Ithaca, Odysseus uses these traits to his advantage, or to send you a bad vibe. However, I believe that the good outweighs the bad, and that Odysseus is an admirable person. Throughout his journey, Odysseus shows many instances of cleverness, strength, and bravery.
The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer, has many characters, but the main character is Odysseus, king of Ithaca and hero of the Trojan War. Odysseus is a strong character and is protected by the Greek goddess, Athena. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus, great journey home from the Trojan Was, but he makes many decisions that many people today consider unjust or unethical.(Encyclopedia Britannica) He makes these decisions all in the effort to get home, and in self defense. That is why Odysseus’ actions make him a primarily moral and ethical driven character, rather than a political and power driven character.
In ancient Greece, one would fall into one of the two major classes: civilized and uncivilized. In order to fall into the class of civilized, one must abide by Ancient Greek expectations and societal norms; disregard of these rules would defines one as uncivilized. One’s class would then decide not only their way of living but also their perspective image and worth. In ancient Greece, civilization was important to the Greeks to prove their nation was gaining power and flourishing. Anyone whom displayed uncivilized behavior was labeled as barbaros; consequently diminishing their worth to the nation. In Homer’s The Odyssey, the epic exemplified the elements of civilized and uncivilized behavior though views of residency, societal customs, and traditions of hospitality.
In The Odyssey, Homer, or more so, the characters, often referred to Odysseus as the ‘Great Odysseus’. In the text, it is obvious to see that Odysseus demonstrates arrogance, charisma, over-confidence, and pride. Odysseus and his m...
Homer's two central heroes, Odysseus and Achilles, are in many ways differing manifestations of the same themes. While Achilles' character is almost utterly consistent in his rage, pride, and near divinity, Odysseus' character is difficult to pin down to a single moral; though perhaps more human than Achilles, he remains more difficult to understand. Nevertheless, both heroes are defined not by their appearances, nor by the impressions they leave upon the minds of those around them, nor even so much by the words they speak, but almost entirely by their actions. Action is what drives the plot of both the Iliad and the Odyssey, and action is what holds the characters together. In this respect, the theme of humanity is revealed in both Odysseus and Achilles: man is a combination of his will, his actions, and his relationship to the divine. This blend allows Homer to divulge all that is human in his characters, and all that is a vehicle for the idyllic aspects of ancient Greek society. Accordingly, the apparent inconsistencies in the characterization of Odysseus can be accounted for by his spiritual distance from the god-like Achilles; Achilles is more coherent because he is the son of a god. This is not to say that Achilles is not at times petty or unimaginative, but that his standards of action are merely more continuous through time. Nevertheless, both of Homer's heroes embody important and admirable facets of ancient Greek culture, though they fracture in the ways they are represented.
Throughout the story entitled The Odyssey by Homer, we learn much about the main character, Odysseus, including his flaws and perfections. Through his prolonged and adventurous journey, we are able to see the true Odysseus and his many qualities. Odysseus is cunning, courageous and determined, and these qualities help to show that Odysseus is a true, Greek hero.
Odysseus is a heroic man, he is the reason many people are still alive. He is constantly fighting with cleverness, heroism and, bravery. This will help him to succeed in his journey home to his wife Penelope and son Telemachus.
Odysseus, the main character in “The Odyssey,” had many tales of adventure and his character was shown greatly in the decisions he made. With the help of the important relationships he made, Odysseus was able to return home to his wife. Some of the important characteristics that Odysseus showed in his journey was his wisdom, his leadership, and his important relationship with Athena.
The reader first finds the character of Telemachus sitting among the suitors in his father’s palace. This seemingly unimportant detail yields information regarding his temperament. The suitors, whom Homer portrays as malicious usurpers, continue to take advantage of Telemachus’ hospitality. Instead of defending his home, his mother, and his belongings from these men, Telemachus numbers among them. This lack of assertiveness displays his frailty and his helplessness given the overwhelming circumstances. At this point, Athena, disguised as Odysseus’ old friend Mentes, visits Telemachus in order to “inspire his heart with courage” (I.105). The two share a meal and engage in a lengthy conversation. The goddess discusses how Telemachus should handle the troublesome suitors and suggests a journey to try to ascertain the whereabouts of Odysseus. The conversation appears to immediately galvanize the young man’s resolve. In fact, immediately after her departure, he summons the courage to confront the suitors, demanding that they are to leave his house at once. The assertiveness that Telemachus displays in this instance is a dramatic departure from ...
Traits can be embodied in a number of ways: to make one villainous, heroic, and even admirable. Certain characteristics can make an individual more admirable, depending on the society. This was the case in Homer’s fictional epic poem, “The Odyssey,” in which one can see how the ancient Greeks’ preferred some traits over others. The character traits that were most admired in ancient Greece were, intelligence, loyalty, and pride/reputation because
Homer’s literature served as a moral messenger to the people of ancient Greece. The Odyssey by Homer demonstrates the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, and his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus was a great, wise, noble, and well respected war hero to his people. Odysseus had one tragic flaw that was demonstrated by his actions throughout the book. The author Homer continued to strip Odysseus of his arrogance throughout the story, by throwing challenges his way, making him pay for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus journey also to reach his home a more humble man. Reading Odysseus’ journey also served as a way to look at morals. The
In Homer’s, The Odyssey, Odysseus’ personal qualities enable him to survive his adventures and return home to his family. One quality, bravery, is shown through his encounters with Circe, the dead souls, and Scylla. The quality of self-discipline is shown through the adventures with the wooden horse, Nausicaa, and in disguise as a beggar. The quality of intelligence is shown through the encounters with the Sirens, the Cyclops, and the suitors. Odysseus’ personal qualities of bravery, self-discipline, and intelligence contribute to his survival at seas and his return to his family in Ithaca.