Odysseus Character as Genuine Hero Essay examples

Odysseus was a very robust individual who was obligated to leave his kingdom of Ithaca to embark on a journey to fight the battles of Greek and win over Troy. To do this, he was required to leave behind his newborn son Telemachus, and his wife Penelope the Queen. The war lasted 10 years, and once the battle was over Odysseus and his fleet split and attempted to sail back to Ithaca. There, he was favored by Athena, goddess of handicrafts, learning, and the arts, and despised by Poseidon, god of the sea. His journey back home went off track and Odysseus eventually returned home after 20 years. Throughout the journey, Odysseus encountered many different situations in which he made some respectable choices, but the poorer ones landed him in a†¦show more content†¦Odysseus even went to the land of dead in order to get his men back from Circe, the goddess of magic, who turned all of Odysseus’ men into pigs. â€Å"She drugged it with wicked poisons to make them forget their homes, and when they had drunk she turned them into pigs by a stroke of her wand, and shut them up in her pigsties.† (Homer 120) The fact that he risked his life to save his men even after all the obstacles he encountered proves that Odysseus made difficult but respectable and considerate choices. There were many instances in which Odysseus made poor decisions throughout the expedition, but the worst one was after he landed in Poseidon’s son’s island and fed on Polyphemusin, the King of the Cyclops’ food. Soon after the incident, Odysseus and his crew were imprisoned in Polyphemusin’s lair as sustenance. â€Å"Rolled a huge stone to the mouth of the cave- so huge that two and twenty strong four- wheeled wagons would not be enough to draw it from its place against the doorway.† (Homer 106) Odysseus and his men waited until the Cyclops fell asleep, and once he did, they drove an axe into Cyclops’ eye and blinded Polyphemusin. (Homer 110 )† This infuriated Neptune, because Polyphemus was his son. Entering an unknown lair impacted Odysseus for a decade. â€Å"All the gods had now begun to pity him except Neptune, who still persecuted him without ceasing and would not let him get home.† (Homer 4) Neptune’s ongoing grudge resulted in Poseidon becoming focused adversaryShow MoreRelatedThe Types of Love Experiences in Homer’s The Odyssey1142 Words   |  5 Pagesepic hero Odysseus on his quest back from the Trojan War, and all the hardships he faces as a result of his decisions. Throughout the course of the book, love plays a large role, and is his fuel to return to Ithaka, his home. There are three types of love are presented in the epic; lust, which is purely sexual and lacks a deeper meaning, family love, such as that displayed between Odysseus and his men, colleagues and Telemakhos, and lastly there is true love, which is shown between Odysseus and PenelopeRead MoreEssay about The Charact er of Odysseus in Homers Odyssey1400 Words   |  6 PagesThe Character of Odysseus in The Odyssey Homers epic tale The Odyssey is a story of the triumphs and downfalls that are in store for one warriors long pillage home.   Odysseus, the hero from the Trojan wars, has led his people of Ithaca and other Achaean soldiers to victory and now wishes to return home to his wife and family of Ithaca.   Through his twenty year journey Odysseus is often tested not only of his physical strength, but his wits as well.   The many accomplishments he achieved earnedRead More Comparing the Hero in Sophocles Oedipus the King, Homers Odyssey, and Tans Joy Luck Club2133 Words   |  9 PagesHeros in Sophocles Oedipus the King, Homers Odyssey, and Tans Joy Luck Club      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In world literature, there are two types of archetypal protagonists, the mythic hero and the tragic hero. 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