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Attaining knowledge through experience
Attaining knowledge through experience
Perseverance the characteristic of a hero
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Man learns through experience, and the spiritual path is full of different kinds of experiences. He will encounter many difficulties and obstacles, and they are the very experiences he needs to encourage and complete the cleansing process. - Sai Baba. Everyone will have to encounter a time where they will go through a difficult point in their life and take on the many experiences and consequences of their actions to achieve the results they want. In the life’s journey of Theseus he undergoes many challenging and laborious tasks that help him turn him into the hero he is now known of. Theseus was able to take what he learned and gained from experiences such as bravery, endurance, a vast amount of knowledge, compassion and to accept the help
His tenacity and courageous self surprisingly is recognized at the beginning of his journey when he is finally powerful enough to lift the rock and retrieve the sandals and sword his father had left for him and headed towards Athens, but instead of taking the easy way, chose the route with adventure and danger. From this someone can tell that Theseus is an adventurous, risk taking person with a strong quality of bravery. He not only has to travel for a longer time, but has to face many tough competitors along the way. After defeating the man-eating bull and others, one can tell that Theseus is not only brave, but is very strong and still has the strength to keep going on even after the all frightening monstrous opponents and the ones that still have yet to come. Others would get traumatized by such a task and never again try to carry out the same type of assignment, but Theseus was different and instead took what he gained from the experience and turned it into something he can use in the future which increased his bravery and the vision his mindset is
Greek mythology is a beloved part of literature that has given humans thousands of stories to tell. From stories about deadly quests, powerful deities, to the even more famed aspect of Greek Mythology, its epic heroes. One of the many authors who took inspiration from Greek Mythology, and will serve as reference for this paper, is Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. 1988. The most well known epic heroes from Greek Mythology which Edith Hamilton writes about in her book are Hercules, Jason, Perseus, and Theseus, but the debate lies in which of these heroes is the best. To which the answer is, Theseus is the better epic hero because he possessed superior strength, intelligence, and courage, he was the most just from all other heroes,
One of Odysseus’ traits is bravery. One example of Odysseus’ bravery is when he injures a Cyclops that is 5 times his size, “I drew it from the coals and my four fellows/ gave me a hand, lugging it near the Cyclops/ as more than natural force nerved them, straight forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it/ deep in his crater eye. 329-332” This quote shows how brave Odysseus and his men are to face the Cyclops. Odysseus was intelligent to think about this idea, but he was brave for actually following through and doing it. Odysseus was also brave for fighting Penelope’s suitors even when he was outnumbered, “Now shrugging off his rags the wiliest fighter of the islands/ leapt and stood on the broad doorsill, his own bow in his hand/ he poured out at his feet a rain of arrows from the quiver/ and spoke to the c...
Bravery shines through Odysseus and there are several accounts where he proves how much is within him. One case would be when he visited the land of the dead. Odysseus had to travel to a place where spirits go before they pass on to the underworld. Odysseus continued to go through with the ritual even though he was terrified of the spirits. Another time that he shows his courage is when he crossed paths with a Cyclops, which is a giant man with one eye who possesses an abundant amount of strength. When the men were trapped by the Cyclops, Odysseus continued to smart off to it by saying, "But you are mad, unbearable, a bloody monster! After this will any other traveler come to see you?" He knew the Cyclops could have crushed him any second. The fact that he still continued to sail across the sea knowing Poseidon was out to get him was very courageous. When he finally arrived home to Ithaca, he and his son, Telemachus, had to fight a houseful of suitors.He still fought them without mercy, although he was outnumbered. While there are several more accounts when Odysseus proved to be courageous, he also shows a great deal of responsibility.
It was very difficult to find a way out. Theseus was in search of the bull also known as the Minotaur which meant it was half bull, half human and doing so he succeeded in the task by murdering the Minotaur and also finding a way out of the labyrinth thanks to the help of Ariadne. Theseus quest of fighting the Minotaur was completed. He went out of his own way to kill a monster that was terrorizing the people of Athens. Theseus was just like any other hero; having ups and downs. Theseus was going through a difficult time. He had went to visit the Underworld only to be tricked by Hades and sit in a chair. The chair was named The Chair of Forgetfulness (Hamilton 219). Theseus stayed in this chair for long while and were not able to arise from it. Hercules who came to the rescue and removed Theseus from the chair, only to see him grow as a god and to show him that he could get up and be a better hero and reflect on his decisions in life. Theseus was not only seeking glory and fame for his accomplishments he also seemed a love life. He married a women named Phaedra, who was Ariadne’s sister. Theseus was humble “A strong affection grew up at once between father and son (220). Theseus is brave for getting up and continuing his life and not giving up, he has a heart and loves his son. Theseus is the better hero because not only does he help his community he also has a heart and loves his family and seeks to do greater. He knows right from wrong and makes mistakes but he sticks to his decision and does not go back on
In The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Richard Lattimore, several themes are made evident, conceived by the nature of the time period, and customs of the Greek people. These molded and shaped the actual flow of events and outcomes of the poem. Beliefs of this characteristic were represented by the sheer reverence towards the gods and the humanities the Greek society exhibited, and are both deeply rooted within the story.
Odysseus intelligence and ability to inspire his men was heroic, because he inspired his men. He inspired them by making them brave and to keep rowing towards Scylla. Odysseus was also very intelligent that made him and his whole men brave. He wasn’t afraid of anything even if he knew danger was around but nothing would stop Odysseus.
One faces enormous challenges throughout life. In the famous saying, “Life isn’t about how many times an individual falls, but rather how he picks himself up,” its obvious obstacles make up his character. This applies to Odyssey who follows a hero’s journey. Several times he fails and goes through rough patches. But, in the end he is able to return to his home above all. Odysseus works through challenges to become a hero earning this status by his perseverance, humility, and cleverness.
Dr. Joseph Campbell penned an interesting book A Hero with a Thousand Faces. In that book, he explained how a hero goes through steps or stages in just about every story, myth, or religion known to man. After recently reading and discussing The Odyssey by Homer it is quite obvious that the protagonist Odysseus followed the stages of a hero outlined by Campbell. This essay will not dispute the issue of Odysseus being a hero, but it will turn critical eye on whether or not Odysseus is an effective leader. Unlike another character out of the battles of ancient Troy like Achilles. Odysseus is not a demigod, and he is not purely a soldier. He is a king and a family man along with being a military leader. This paper takes the stance that Odysseus should be considered an effective leader. Those who would disagree with this assertion point to the problem of Odysseus not telling
Theseus was a very important Greek hero who combined strength, power and wisdom. He was also the mythical founder of Athens, Greece. In comparison to Oedipus, they were very much similar. Theseus and Oedipus were both faced with hardships as adolescents and adulthood as well and they were both unknowingly born into royalty. Not only is Theseus a hero in his own realm of mythology, but he is also a hero in this story. From the moment he learned of Oedipus and Antigone’s presence, he had been nothing less than kind and
George F. Kennan, an American political scientist and historian, once said, “Heroism is endurance for one moment more” (BrainyQuote). That means that perseverance even in the darkest hour is what qualifies someone as a true hero. With that in mind, it is difficult to refute the fact that Odysseus is a hero by both modern standards and a hero in Greek mythology. This Greek war leader, who spent 20 years away from home taking on challenge after challenge, surely pressed on through every moment in which his heroism was tested. Everything he did was for his men, the soldiers that at times questioned his leadership, only to find out that he was correct all along. While he had moments in which his pride overshadowed him, that was simply his confidence showing through, one of the very virtues that kept him alive. If he had not been a confident leader, perhaps his crew would have had trouble following his brilliant schemes. Odysseus was a clever man who always knew how to get out of a sticky situation. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus repeatedly proves his worth as a hero by evading trouble with his cleverness, persevering through the trials he faces, and overall acting as a loyal shepherd to his flock of men.
Why is Odysseus such a great warrior? Well, he is a great warrior because he is willing to risk his life to make it back and to keep his people safe. No matter what the problem is, no matter who or what he has to go against. He knows exactly how to approach and take care of the issue. Even if Odysseus is far from home and battling for his life or battling terrible creatures, his heart is set to one place. Ithaca, and he has his mind set that he will make it back, no matter how rough things will get and he is a hundred-percent determined to bring himself and his men back to Ithaca. Stuck,trapped, or tired. He is determined to make it back safely. And even though Odysseus is not a hero who can fly or has supernatural powers, he is still human who is Capable of making mistakes or making decisions that are not always the smartest, And super hero or not,He is a warrior who fought day through night and never once had the thought of giving up. Being a hero means being better than you were yesterday, meaning growing stronger from the mistakes, and pushing limits to the furthest. Odysseus is a great hero by noble-birth because he smart about what he does, and he will travel over vast areas if it means it will lead him towards home.
The idea of a true hero is varied from person to person, because each viewpoint has a different idea of the personality that makes one a hero. There have been many fiction and non-fiction heroes that show different character traits, which influence people’s definitions of a hero. However, each person’s unique thought about a hero still focuses about one central idea: a hero must prove himself in order to earn his heroic status. This is the cornerstone of all the opinions about heroes because heroes have to show their heroism in order to become who they are in the end. At the beginning they are inexperienced, ordinary people who go on their adventures, and face their fears and weaknesses, but they develop greatly throughout these journeys. After comprehending what true heroism is and following it only then will they become heroes even though each of them has different traits. In the epic poem The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus gains the title of hero during his journey back to Ithaka, from Troy, by proving to be one. It is through his characteristics and experiences that he becomes the well developed man at the end of the book. In truth, because of his confidence, loyalty, and difficult struggles, Odysseus becomes a genuine hero to the people he defended.
Theseus first displays his heroic nature when he was seven years old. Hercules came home and took of his lion’s skin. Convincing as it looks, Theseus friends ran away. “Theseus quickly grabbed an axe and fiercely attacked it” (244). Theseus was ready to risk his life at the age of seven. Theseus friends were terrified but Theseus showed them that he was fearless. Many thrive to obtain the characteristic of fearless and are willing to do anything to achieve the title. Perseus announces that he has no family wealth for the king but Perseus can offer his service. “I would even kill the terrible Gorgon Medusa”(200). Perseus behead the mortal Gorgon with one slice of his sharp sickle. Perseus risked his life just to prove his loyalty and courage. Theseus is a number of heroic things such as strong, selfless etc. Most importantly he is fearless and continuously is able to display it through his actions. Theseus courageously and fearlessly volunteered himself to kill the Minotaur just like how he killed Marathon. This shows that he’s not afraid to kill anyone. He was admired by many, including the Athenians due to his courage and honour. Theseus was known to defeat extremely difficult
...old age or barriers, he will always strive to fulfill his goals. The experiences of Odysseus and Ulysses are tributes to the power of the human spirit; one can achieve much if they are determined.
cunning of Odysseus is mentioned more than his courage , it was his courage that