Finally, Odysseus is home and after a long journey in which he shows no heroic actions and yet proves to be nothing but a villain, he once again proves throughout his actions that he is a villain. Odysseus goes through his life believing he is the best. However, it is true that Odysseus was kept as Calypsos captive for When escaping the cave he chose the wooliest ram for himself which shows selfishness. In the latter, however, some of his more ignoble traits are revealed: he is a braggart, he almost dishonorably uses poisoned arrows, and he shows conceit in his victory over the Cyclops. He tries to take shortcuts and as a result of this is men are killed and his boats destroyed. When Odysseus slaughters the Trojans, he starts to act like he was greater than any god. He loses his entire crew in the process, intentionally sacrificing some of them to Scylla for his own survival. In The Odyssey, Odysseus allows all of his men Odysseus has a large and gallant reputation to fulfil, but when he first makes an appearance in the book he is crying on Calypsos island. Dexter Morgan. All the little kids probably looked up to him but now kids don't even know his name. Odysseus also possesses the personal qualities of an epic hero. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. Though you still serve the public, Their strike of disgust enhances the self-fulfilling prophecy. During this time, did he bother to think of Penelope and how hurt she would feel? Kirke tells Odysseus not to fight Scylla, yet he chooses to anyway. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. Odysseus is very vengeful in this situation. Odysseus is finally home, on Ithaca, and is then helped by Athena and disguises himself as an old beggar. Aeneass epithet is pius, which does not have a precise translation but encompasses duty and patriotism to gods, country, and family. He put himself before his men because he wanted a gift from the cave owner. The Odyssey, by Homer, has a large range of stories in it. Lets just say he stabbed Poseidons son, had his crew turned into pigs, faced a six-headed monster and whirlpool, and that is to say the least. She was one of the only goddesses on his side. If a hero is viewed as a villain, A similar path is followed, Accompanied by a deception. WebOdysseus is an epic hero because he cares about his family, he is intelligent and he shows courage and because he shows determination. So if his gifts and talents are god's power then is he really a hero at all?, Certainly, people can argue both ways and support their arguments from evidence in the reading. Is Odysseus a hero or a villain? In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus earns the title of a true hero by conveying many qualities such as: determination, courage and leadership. Odysseus, during his quest, is forced to venture through a merciless Cyclops, angered Gods, deeply obstinate Goddesses, the underworld, and determined suitors that are after his wife Penelope. 13181950) Selwood, Fleet, GU51 4QT. An epic hero struggles and is overwhelmed with difficulties. When Circe captured Odysseuss men he was advised not to save them by his best man, Eurylochus, however Against this advice, Odysseus rushes to save his men from the enchantress (Homer 1125). The episode of the Sirens,(Book 12), is one example. WebFrom Villain to Hero explores the reception of Odysseus in philosophy, a subject that so far has been treated only in tangential or limited ways. Some historians have argued for years that he is a noble hero, and others say he is just a man trying to get home from many hardship and challenges, however Odysseus is the definition of a hero. Odysseus is described as a god-like man. Written about two thousand and seven hundred years earlier, the Odyssey is still influencing modern storytelling today. Odysseus is not a hero because he lets his pride make most of his decisions, which gets him into difficult situations. He is consistently seen to display piety and is perhaps more closely aligned with our ideals of a modern hero in his selfless motivations, comparable to a superhero like Hawkeye whose duty to family trumps all. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. While Odysseus does demonstrate some qualities that are not heroic, he is still defined as a hero because of his better, more heroic qualities in which he is far superior in than any other man. Achilles, Odysseus, and Aeneas are undoubtedly heroes but they would all certainly feel out of place in a superhero movie of today! Finally, Odysseus is home and after a long journey in which he shows no heroic actions and yet proves to be nothing but a villain, he once again proves throughout his actions that he is a villain. A hero like this is not just found in modern society today, but in mythology as well. Odysseus consists of positive and negative characteristics that is shown in the text by Homer. Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness. Some men were killed by the Cyclops, a huge monster with one eye. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Odysseus Odysseus is not a hero because he was not a good leader. WebOdysseus is Not a Hero for the Modern Age Essay. He believes he is always right and will do what he thinks is right, like a villain. WebOdysseus is a villain because he is stubborn in Polyphemuss cave, disrespectful to the gods, and is unfaithful to his wife. Odysseus is able to see who is loyal and who is not and take his revenge with the suitors never knowing who, Odysseus is also disloyal to his wife who stayed faithful to him despite the circumstances. The hero that is portrayed in the Odyssey is a man named Odysseus. Odysseus has no reason to save his mens lives but for his own convenience. In Homers The Odyssey, Odysseus can be seen as a hero or villain based on his actions. Odysseus is a good hero because he is rational when times get tough. Odysseus says, Then he tore them apart and gobbled them up like a lion in the wilderness. All of Odysseuss men are killed by the end of the book. (For tales of his wanderings see Polyphemus, Aeolus, the Laestrygones, Circe, the Underworld, the Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, Lampetia & Phaethusa, Calypso, Leucothea .) Odysseus has some good traits, some bad flaws, and has been in some ugly situations, but overall he is a true hero. Athena, however, aided him when he arrived to his homeland. Odysseus tends to use strategy over strength to be a hero when it comes to challenges. When they get there they see a giantess who then calls her husband. Odysseus is difficult to identify as a hero because of his many vices. Another way in which Odysseus shows he is a villain is when he finally reunites with his wife. A hero is a person who is recognized or idealized for his or her outstanding achievements and noble qualities. The majority of those who read The Odyssey consider the protagonist of the story, Odysseus, a hero. That is why he began this trudge across lands in the first place; to be a hero. He also deeply cares about the welfare of his men on their return trip to Ithaka. Odysseus is not a hero because he was not a good leader. Another trait that ends up killing a number of his men is his lack of leadership skills, or rather the lack of respect and trust from his men. In The Odyssey, Odysseus allows all of his men to be killed. Odysseus is hard to classify because of his contradicting traits. Odysseus didnt tell his crew members that he knew people would be killed by the beast. When the men said Why not take these cheeses, Archetypes are characteristics or characters that can define a hero. Homer remains one of the most well-read texts even today. On many occasions, however, Odysseus makes decisions beneficial to himself alone. While Odysseus many adventures are very exciting, he spends a considerable amount of time cheating on his wife (with. He realizes and readily admits that opinions other than his own make complete sense yet he refuses to acknowledge them and ends up dragging others into danger Odysseus himself says My men came pressing round me pleading: Why not take these cheeses, and make a run for it? WebOdysseus is not a hero because he was not a good leader. Another decision Odysseus makes to survive is not eating the cattle of Helios while on Thrinikia, his crew members choice in eating the hallowed cows results in their death, but Odysseus knew the consequences and did not touch a cow. These are the hero archetype, the monster or villain archetype, and the hero's journey archetype. Of course not, but does not being a villain automatically make him a hero? WebOdysseus is a villain because he is stubborn in Polytheisms cave, disrespectful to the gods, and is unfaithful to his wife. There is many thing that can support this claim. When on the beach in Phaeacia he confidently stalked as a mountain lion exultant in his power strides through wind and rain and his eyes blaze and he charges sheep or oxen or chases wild deer , and when he sees Nausicaa He launched in at once, endearing, sly and suave . This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. Instead, he charms the people he meets and uses his wise words that cause them to help and pity him. Odysseus thinks he is being heroic and manly, but he is actually placing his life and that of the crews in danger all because he wants to hear the song of the sirens. So those are just a few instances in the story where he shows compassion for his comrades and truly cares about them. These events lead to him losing crew members and putting them into dangerous situations, elongating his voyage home, and putting his integrity at risk. Academus Education is an online learning platform providing free Classics Education to students through summer schools, articles and digital think tanks. Odysseus is perhaps more closely paralleled to a modern-day hero like Batman or Iron Man. Of course, though, he never tells his loyal wife Penelope about his love affairs with Calypso and Circe. Throughout the novel The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus continuously shows his personality of being an admirable hero to everyone by using strategy instead of strength. These statues usually period pieces from Italian or French masters such as Donatello or Praxiteles were always sculpting realistic visions of the Gods such as Hermes. In another place in the book, six of Odysseuss best men are killed by the six headed beast Scylla. In the novel, The Odyssey, Odysseus goes to war against the Trojans in hope to win. A hero takes many forms, such as an allegorical hero, a tragic hero, or an epic hero. Odysseus is a different type of hero to Achilles: his heroic qualities stem from his quick wit and clever tactics rather than brute strength in battle. While he is not a modern hero, he is a compelling character in the Odyssey, and the reader roots for him to achieve his goal of returning to Ithaca. Despite all of the suitors, Penelope stays loyal to Odysseus. One trait that Odysseus has is that he is very clever. One of these plans was his ingenious idea to trick Polyphemos, which shows he is a hero by saving countless lives. Then Odysseus threatened her. We say put out again on good salt water. Yet, I refused. His motivations are not due to his own honour or to take revenge, but for the greater good of the world itself. Heroism is a concept that has evolved and will continue to evolve over time since it depends heavily on the values which each society covets. Odysseus was not the hero, though. The mighty Odysseus is many, many things but he is no hero in my eyes. Odysseus, hes known as a war hero on his way back to his homeland, who ends up going on a ten year long journey due to unforeseen circumstances. He was a villain and there is no doubt about it. A prime example of this is when Odysseus receives advice from Kirke about Scylla. When trapped on Calypsos island he shows no attempt to escape and instead finds pleasure in being their. Odysseus portrays his selfishness right as the book begins and this shows how truly incompetent of an individual he is. But although Odysseus makes the. The archetype of heroism allows, most people, Odysseus is believed as a hero. The crew relies on their leader to be honest with them when it comes to situations such as these. The Iliad contains a multitude of these heroes, since the focus of the action is on the Trojan War and various characters stories within this narrative. He is brave, but also conceited. He is intelligent, yet boastful. Another way Odysseus' quick-decision skills helps him is when he chooses to leave the island of the Lotous-eaters, because he realized his whole crew would have fell under the curse if he had stayed there. In Homers The Odyssey, Odysseus proves he is not a hero because he is arrogant, secretive, and unfaithful; resulting for readers to believe that every action has an consequence. With the help of the gods he can survive things most men couldnt., I think Odysseus fits the title of a hero very well. The simple acts of heroism are often overlooked-thats very clear to me not only in war but in peace (source 2). Even when Odysseus was thought to be dead, she still puts up with the suitors behavior and refuses to remarry. WebOdysseus has the defining character traits of a Homeric leader: strength, courage, nobility, a thirst for glory, and confidence in his authority. Evidence proves that, Odysseus has no reason to save his mens lives but for his own convenience. Is Odysseus, the main character of Homers The Odyssey, really an epic hero? (12.270-75). He leads his men into trouble, kills the suitors and maidservants without mercy, and betrays loyal wife. In the Odyssey, Homer values the characteristics hospitality and cunning, but he objects bad leadership. In homer's Odyssey the main character Odysseus is a person who only tries to help himself. Everyone has their favorite super hero, whether it be Superman, Batman, or even Ironman. Anyone who puts themselves before others not for recognition or an award, but because it is the right thing to do, is a true hero. Diomedes, Odysseus, Ajax, and even Hector are all examples of Homeric heroes: they win kleos (glory) in battle by defeating their enemies in killing sprees which display their aristeia (battle excellence) the ability to defeat the enemy is what epitomises a Homeric hero. An epic hero is braver, stronger, and cleverer than an ordinary person. He is consistently referred to with the epithet a man of many ways (compared to the swift-footed Achilles), demonstrating that Odysseus heroism is due to mental rather than physical strength. In Homers sword from my hip I went along his flank to stab him where the midriff, There is yet one more difference between Odysseus and the other two heroes which may help to find the reason why his tale does not end, Lizeth Marin Honors Introduction to Literature Period 3 18 April 2008 Odysseus: Hero or Villain? During Odysseuss journey it becomes evident that Odysseus is a hero like the legends say, he meets all the criterias of being a hero such as being brave, smart, fighting against evil, and protecting others from danger. 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. A hero is someone who is revered for his or her exceptional achievements and bravery. The defining characteristics of Odysseus in classical literature are interpreted in wildly different ways by different authors: he is portrayed as a hero in Homers The Odysseus was a authentic persuasive speaker and genuinely intelligent. Odysseus is a hero because of his selfless attempts in saving his crew members, and his intelligence and cunningness in difficult situations. Evidence proves that. He does not have any supernatural abilities unlike Achilles who is the son of a goddess and so has superhuman strength and speed. Odysseus knows how loyal his crew is to him so, if one of them was to untie him they could have all ended up dead. Odysseus said then, at last , I mounted circes gorgeous bed. (Homer 10.386). To homer and the other people of early Greece he probably was a hero. First of all, Odysseus was very selfish during their journey back to Ithaca. Odysseus was probably think that if he and his army defeated Troy than they would have any more trouble with anyone, but, April 2008 Odysseus: Hero or Villain? Some are very strong, some are very smart, some are very rich that they can afford to create gadgets to make them do unnatural things, like Batman and Iron Man. He has the qualities of being a hero in some situations but also has flaws which make him seem less of a hero at times. These reasons alone leaves me, and should leave you, to believe that Odysseus is not heroic. A hero is one who is distinguished for their courage and bravery, and looked upon for their great deeds. Odysseus is thought of as a hero in the physical and spiritual sense because of his bravery while facing the many dangers of creatures, goddesses, and many other things for almost 20 years trying to get home to his wife and son. Odysseus might think he was performing a heroic action but in actuality he was performing an act of selfishness. He was known for his defining Odysseus represents what being a hero is actually all about. In myths and stories especially, heroes tend to have supernatural capabilities in one form or another, such as superhuman strength, intellect, or even magical abilities. 1. He is unfaithful to Penelope many times throughout the book. On a website posted by teachers at Harker Heights High, an epic hero is someone who embodies the values of a particular society. Odysseus is another prominent example of a Homeric hero. Third example is that when the nurce, Eurcilia bathed Odysseus when he was wearing a disguise, she found a scar on him that he got years ago. Odysseus should not be considered a hero because he portrays himself as a selfish man that failed his crew, and is controlled by his hubris. What heroic qualities does Odysseus show? The hero: In the plays The Odyssey, Oedipus Rex, and Antigone the heroes face torturous journeys that put their will power to the test. On almost any page you turn to in the epic, you can find some act of greed or foolishness coming from Odysseus. These characteristics impact the characters day to day, or in the books case, the quests. This is what underpins a modern-day hero, and it drastically differs from the ancient perceptions of heroism. What makes someone a hero? He makes Odysseus look brave and heroic. He also showed great Athleticism which was very important and highly regarded. Human weaknesses can still prevail through even the strongest men you may think of; examples of this are shown in this epic. Such as next a reasons why Odysseus is not a hero is because he was the cause why his own mother died., If one were to walk methodically through an art gallery viewing the lovely artworks of the past you'd have to really stop and notice those of the Renaissance. Reflection, Pages 9 (2149 words) Views.
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