Human weaknesses can still prevail through even the strongest men you may think of; examples of this are shown in this epic. Odysseus consists of positive and negative characteristics that is shown in the text by Homer. Now, is Odysseus a villain? 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. However, Odysseus displays certain characteristics that seem to only hold weight in an ancient definition of a hero. The old soldier in despair: He has spent ten years (seven of them as Calypsos not entirely unwillingly captive) trying to get home (652, summary). He leads his followers into lousy situations where many people were hurt. Odysseus consists of positive and negative characteristics that is shown in the text by Homer. Odysseus then has many hardships upon which he overcomes through his intelligence and wit. 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. Odysseus is truly a heroic figure because he demonstrates courage, improves his character, and wins the support of the gods. Another way in which Odysseus shows he is a villain is when he finally reunites with his wife Penelope and reacts with rage when she tests him. On many occasions, however, Odysseus makes decisions beneficial to himself alone. Odysseus is not a hero because he lets his pride make most of his decisions, which gets him into difficult situations. He is intelligent, yet boastful. He may have super hero qualities such as extreme strength and cleverness but he doesnt embody them the way one should. protagonist Also this shows that he cheated on his wife Penelope, he also never told her about it. Many would argue that Odysseus is more of a villain nowadays, for every instance of his wiliness or feats of strength there are several of venality, vice, cruelty, or selfishness. Why is Odysseus 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. Odysseus is able to see who is loyal and who is not and take his revenge with the suitors never knowing who. The rest of his crew that wasnt under Circes spell would have been lost if Odysseus died because they rely so heavily on him. Homers Iliad and Odyssey are defining and seminal works that have an enduring legacy on literature, art, and society in both the modern and ancient world. Though you still serve the public, Their strike of disgust enhances the self-fulfilling prophecy. WebOdysseus is a villain because he is stubborn in Polytheisms cave, disrespectful to the gods, and is unfaithful to his wife. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. This allows readers to truly see Odysseus other side. Odysseus goes through his life believing he is the best. In many cases he only saves himself, he is selfish, and he isnt humble. In a way, Odysseus is a hero with strength, wits, and cunning who dominates the largest beasts the planet has to offer. They tied me up, then, plumb amidships, back to the mast, lashed to the mast and took themselves again to rowing (Homer 1134). This is what underpins a modern-day hero, and it drastically differs from the ancient perceptions of heroism. Homer said, But Odysseus shot his right hand out, clutching the nurses throat. During his long and perilous journey home Odysseus shows many heroic qualities that help save his men from many dangerous situations. He is not a selfish hero: instead, his drive is to his people and to found a new city that will eventually become Rome. He knew he was a villain and somehow still got away with. He knew he was a villain and somehow still got away with, In the Odyssey, Odysseus is a hero because he is a selfless leader. Through The Meadowlands and The Penelopiad, Circe and Penelope showed their strong opinions of this hero through their, Archetypes are evident in all kinds of classic literature, but Homers The Odyssey reveals archetypes in heroes, villains, and a journey. They can do many small acts of heroism and never become acknowledged as a hero, yet when they do something horrendous they are labeled as a villain. WebOdysseus ( The Odyssey) Gilgamesh ( Epic of Gilgamesh) Beowulf ( Beowulf) Character interviews are another great way to get to know your hero especially a dark and complex anti-hero. Some people question whether the main character, Odysseus, is a hero or not. Odysseus is finally home, on Ithaca, and is then helped by Athena and disguises himself as an old beggar. One form of selfishness Odysseys shows is adultery. The son of Laertes and Anticlea, The Odyssey, by Homer, has a large range of stories in it. The Odyssey Project - Is Odysseus a Hero In fact, he puts the duty he has towards his people before his own needs, which is demonstrated when he leaves Dido behind in Carthage as he knows that it is his destiny to found a new city in Italy. This shows that Odysseus had mounted Circes bed and that he had a affair with Circe. 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. Athena, however, aided him when he arrived to his homeland. The hero that is portrayed in the Odyssey is a man named Odysseus. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero. These are the hero archetype, the monster or villain archetype, and the hero's journey archetype. At first his wife did not recognize him which filled him with rage even though he should be happy that his loyal wife wants to make. This allows readers to truly see Odysseus other side. One of the many situations Odysseus survives is his encounter with Skylla. On Ithaca Odysseus never brags to the suitors and is able to enter his house with the Antinous and the other suitors knowing his real identity. WebOdysseus inherits many character traits that make a good hero, but the ones that truly outshine the rest are how Odysseus is very rational and has a very sharp intellect. Athena found him to be so winning, so worldly wise, so self possessed! . Is Odysseus a Hero WebOdysseus, Hero or Villain? Dont married people promise to be faithful, no matter what? Of course he did, he just didnt care. For example, when Odysseus and his men approach the giant he offers him liquor to wash down your scraps of men (Homer 991). He is confident and cunning,, Having superb and honorable characteristics establishes one a hero. Odysseus is a hero because he is a courageous leader, a quick thinker and a modest man. 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. He plays with the lives of his men and he is punished for it. But although Odysseus makes the. In Greek literature, Odysseus is known as a hero, but that statement is often contested. Take a deeper look into the definition of a hero and explore a character analysis of epic hero characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. Updated: 12/14/2021 If I asked you to think of your hero, who would it be? The president? A sports legend? Batman? Is this not what a villain does? In The Odyssey, Odysseus allows all of his men to be killed. 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? A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, achievements, and noble qualities. 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. In conclusion, Odysseus throughout his actions proves to be not only veil but a villain. This led me to wonder, what characteristics qualify or disqualify someone, In Homer's The Odyssey, he portrays Odysseus, the hero of the story, as clever and brave. 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. Odysseus says, Then he tore them apart and gobbled them up like a lion in the wilderness 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. As Odysseus is about to kill the Cyclops, he remembers that he is trapped in a cave with a large boulder blocking the entrance that he and his men will not be able to move. 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. Odysseus portrays his selfishness right as the book begins and this shows how truly incompetent of an individual he is. The hero's journey is about self-discovery and self-development. He plays with the lives of his men and he is punished for it. She came up with a ruse so she could stall having to remarry: Ruses served my turnwith honor. So those are just a few instances in the story where he shows compassion for his comrades and truly cares about them. 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. Odysseus was a authentic persuasive speaker and genuinely intelligent. There are ups and downs to every situation, and through reading The Odyssey, readers can connect parallels between Odysseus experiences and lessons learned in their own life. 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. Odysseus is a hero because of his selfless attempts in saving his crew members, and his intelligence and cunningness in difficult situations. The Odyssey begins after the Trojan war had left Odysseus trapped, pointlessly seafaring for 10 years after angering Poseidon, the god of the sea. The trojans didn't know Odysseus and his men were inside the big wooden horse, Odysseus and his men eventually came out and attacked the trojans and won the war. And he was also cocky and arrogant with his overconfidence which caused tension between him, the Cyclops, and. Joseph Campbell once said, A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. True heroes are those who do something for others rather for themselves, Odysseus doesnt exactly show this trait in The Odyssey. With great power comes great responsibility this quote is used by many heros and odysseus obviously shows no responsibilities, so his power is simply bad, or evil . Odysseus is different from other heroes. Odysseus also used these qualities to aid and strived to prevent oodles of his men from dying throughout the Odyssey, which establishes Odysseus to be viewed as a modern day hero., Lizeth Marin Honors Introduction to Literature Period 3 18 April 2008 Odysseus: Hero or Villain? In my eyes he is a hero struggling to do the best he can but often finds things don't always go as planned. However, it is true that Odysseus was kept as Calypsos captive for An epic hero embodies several heroic traits such as; having superior or super-human strength; being intellectual and courageous; and being a strong and responsible leader. If a hero is reinforced as a hero, The innate nature of humanistic narcissism strengthens. The ancient idea vastly differs from what we think of as a hero today but there are parallels that are interesting to consider; ancient heroism still arguably impacts modern-day perception. One trait that Odysseus has is that he is very clever. The first archetype i 'll be explaining is the hero, characteristics of a hero, sage, and villain. First of all, Odysseus was very selfish during their journey back to Ithaca. Hero; Of course Odysseus. He didnt consider failing at all because he never stopped to think about his decision, he rashly makes a choice and is forced to suffer the. He has no regard for anyones feelings but his own, and he believes nothing and no one can harm him, not even the gods. This is not how I would describe Odysseus from the book The Odyssey by Homer, everyone always thought of Odysseus as the hero of the story, but he was quite the opposite. Of course, though, he never tells his loyal wife Penelope about his love affairs with Calypso and Circe. Therefore, Odysseus is not a hero. Odysseus had come up with a plan for his men during the war. The most heroic attribute of Odysseus was that he was smart. Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca and protagonist of Homers epic poem the Odyssey was recognized as a great hero of his time. The old soldier in despair: He has spent ten years (seven of them as Calypsos not entirely unwillingly captive) trying to get home (652, summary). These events lead to him losing crew members and putting them into dangerous situations, elongating his voyage home, and putting his integrity at risk. These events lead to him losing crew members and Although people make mistakes does that mean that they cannot be a hero? This is Walter White. I chose these three archetypes because I recognized them the most while we were reading the Odyssey. No person is perfect, and challenging the ideas of who a hero is reveals the illusion of perfection. Joseph Campbell once said, A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. True heroes are those who do something for others rather for themselves, Odysseus doesnt exactly show this trait in The Odyssey. This shows that he is selfish. 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. In this case, he is a hero in this story because, Cited: Homer. When Odysseus receives advice, even if it is helpful he tends to ignore it. Free Essay: Odysseus: Hero or Villain - 663 Words Achilles, Odysseus, and Aeneas are undoubtedly heroes but they would all certainly feel out of place in a superhero movie of today! This also shows that he is not a hero because he was mean because when the crew members were yelling his name he never saved them all he did was watch them die. The Odyssey is the perfect story for examples of archetypes seeing as it has so many of them. Odysseus represents what being a hero is actually all about. An epic hero is braver, stronger, and cleverer than an ordinary person. He tries to take shortcuts and as a result of this is men are killed and his boats destroyed. Because it contains so many and such striking adventures, some have called it an Everyone has their favorite super hero, whether it be Superman, Batman, or even Ironman. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Most of these mistakes could have been fixed by Odysseus making better decisions throughout his journey. Odysseus In The Odyssey, Odysseus allows all of his men Odysseus clearly believes that he is above the rules that most people in society chose to, Odysseus tends to make rash decisions and often finds it impossible to control his impulses. He does not have any supernatural abilities unlike Achilles who is the son of a goddess and so has superhuman strength and speed. The general picture that comes to mind when the word hero is said is the idea of Superman or Wonder Woman; however, a true hero is anyone who tries to make their world a better place. Although Odysseus does cheat on Penelope with Kalypso, he still remains loyal, and his love for her hardly wanes. On the island of Cicones,and with his encounter with Polyphemus, Odysseus learned that bragging can bring great misfortune. This story is about his travels home and how he got caught up in other business. First example is that he mounted Circes, a woman that helped Odysseus, bed. WebODYSSEUS AS A HERO Homer's Odyssey is one of the greatest of the world's hero tales. Odysseus again chooses to ignore the intelligent advice given by the gods, and finds out that hard way that Eurylochus was correct. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2009., I will be writing a essay of the book The Odyssey written by the person Homer. Odysseus is perhaps more closely paralleled to a modern-day hero like Batman or Iron Man. The epic hero is often of mixed, there are three archetypes that provide insights to Ancient Greek civilizations and their morals. Is Odysseus a hero or a villain? Odysseus might think he was performing a heroic action but in actuality he was performing an act of selfishness. Odysseuss inability to think through his rash decisions and recognize the right choice over the honorable and selfish one makes him unfit to be a, In conclusion Odysseus is a true hero even though he was thoughtless, selfish and deceitful. For generations, heroes have always fascinated people and people have strived to achieve certain qualities of their heroes. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero. Odysseus must battle the suitors that have taken his wife Penelope, and may soon kill his son Telemachus. When he landed on the island of Aiaia, he sleeps with Kirke. Odysseus may be leaderful, but he can be too curious. On this journey, he encounters many monsters, many ladies, and we see his good side and his bad side. The deaths of his men are the result of Odysseus weaknesses. Odysseus left Calypsos Island and began his journey back home. Odysseus, the Cyclops, and Penelope are specific examples of archetypes in this epic poem. Odysseus was also selfish when he sailed near the lands of Sirens.Steer wide; keep well to seaward; plug your oarsmens ears with beeswax kneaded soft(Homer 669-671). But Polyphemus shouted out to, Odysseus Defines an Epic Hero Odysseus is clever by doing this because he can predict that the liquor will make him fall asleep. Throughout his journey, he loses almost all of his men, but Odysseus finally arrives home, concluding his prolonged twenty-year voyage. Odysseus shows extremely inadequate leadership qualities throughout the story. Odysseus is not a hero because he constantly puts his men in danger and makes decisions without thinking. He is a hero because he saves his beloved wife from the suitors that yearn for her (the wife, Penelopes) hand as well as Odysseus thrown; he does this through a battle that ends, these three archetypes the hero, villain/monster, and the damsel in distress. The majority of those who read The Odyssey consider the protagonist of the story, Odysseus, a hero. In Homers The Odyssey, Odysseus can be seen as a hero or villain based on his actions. Is Odysseus a hero? He believes he is always right and will do what he thinks is right, like a villain. 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. Some men were killed by the Cyclops, a huge monster with one eye. He stayed faithful to his homeland, Calypso promised Odysseus immortality if he were to stay on her island with her forever, yet he refused the offer and still longed for home. Many times in the epic he manipulates others, commits foolish acts and is full of hubris. Some people question whether the main character, Odysseus, is a hero or not. He is unfaithful to Penelope many times throughout the book. Homers Odyssey is about an epic hero named Odysseus and his quest home. Ed. On Ithaca Odysseus never brags to the suitors and is able to enter his house with the Antinous and the other suitors knowing his real identity. 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. Odysseus: Hero or Villain Essay - 650 Words | Bartleby 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. 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 Superman, for example, is considered a hero because despite not having any personal stakes in Earth as he is a superpowered alien he consistently tries to save the world and the people living in it. 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. (XIX, lines 163-190) Penelope is experiencing so much pressure from the suitors and her family, but she still refuses to succumb and does not cheat on. Then to top it all off Odysseus if unfaithful, untrustworthy, disrespectful, and greedy. In another place in the book Odysseus leads his ships to the land of the Laestrygonians. However, he is also a villain; he intrudes and assaults helpless creatures and also he returns home expecting his wife Penelope not to have cheated on him while he was gone. He then spends the majority of the epic poem sitting in his tent while the war rages on and the Greeks begin to lose without him. He has no regard for anyones feelings but his own, and he believes nothing and no one can harm him, not even the gods. Well drive the kids and lambs aboard. The Odyssey. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: Shorter Second Edition. If a hero is viewed as a villain, A similar path is followed, Accompanied by a deception. 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. In another place in the book, six of Odysseuss best men are killed by the six headed beast Scylla. Odysseuss first situation was with Kalypso. 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. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. It states in the book, Athena touched him with her wand and covered him with wrinkles. Athena made the plan to defeat the suitors and helped disguise Odysseus. Odysseus was not the hero, though. Odysseus, man of exceptional wit, bravery, and intelligence, epic hero The Odyssey written by Homer, is nothing short of extraordinary. The only life Odysseus saved was his own. When the men said Why not take these cheeses, Archetypes are characteristics or characters that can define a hero. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. He was known for his defining With Michelles humanitarian work and benevolent attitude, she helps those in need while trying to better society. Do you consider Odysseus as a hero Why or why not? He not only slays all of the suitors but also the slave girls who slept with them, an act of violence that is morally abhorrent by modern standards. So Athena is the real. He takes much conceited pride in Odysseus is considered an epic herofor his role as King of Ithaca, his participation in the war, and his journey home. Although they shouldn't commit them often only when it is absolutely necessary. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus is rational when dealing with many situations. The superheroes we idealise today are heroes because of their selflessness and commitment to helping others rather than personal motivations. An epic hero is on a quest of self discovery, war or some sort of goal. When Odysseus slaughters the Trojans, he starts to act like he was greater than any god. Crying is often seen as a weakness in a man, but this makes Odysseus more endearing as it reveals the labour of his love. The episode of the Sirens,(Book 12), is one example. Is Odysseus A Hero Or A Villain Analysis | ipl.org Despite multiple pleas to return to fighting, he continually refuses until his companion Patroclus is killed by Hector. The hero: In the plays The Odyssey, Oedipus Rex, and Antigone the heroes face torturous journeys that put their will power to the test. This reveals Odysseus is a villain because he reacts as if he was innocent and some way being betrayed by his own wife. WebWhile Odysseuss identity as a warrior is often praised and celebrated in the poem, war itself is presented as a divisive force separating men from their families and causing misery Odysseus Hero Odysseus is not a hero because he killed a lot of men, whom he didn't know, to save his family. This hero may be tall and handsome, but he is often arrogant, disrespectful, conceited, and rude. They can be villains, scapegoats, damsels in distress, and the hero themself . Odysseus of Ithaka. There was one obstacle where they fell The Odyssey Project - Is Odysseus a Hero or a Villain? WebOdysseus has the defining character traits of a Homeric leader: strength, courage, nobility, a thirst for glory, and confidence in his authority. He was a villain and there is no doubt about it. When Odysseus is on the journey to Ithaka, he neglects to let his crew know how long they will be staying on each island.
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