Essay On The Journey Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

The Journey of Odysseus Homer, a blind poet, wrote a book called The Odyssey. He set the book in Greece from Troy to Ithaca in 800 BC. The opening scene stress how Odysseus, the main character, trying to get back home to his family but struggles with all the obstacles thrown his way. Athena, the main supporter of Odysseus and the goddess that helps him through war and getting home, talks to her father, Zeus, into cooperating with Odysseus going home throughout the book. Zeus hasn’t always appreciated Odysseus because of his brother, Pisodine. Pisodine, the biggest antagonist of Odysseus, wants him to suffer traveling back home to his family. Telemachus, another character and Odysseus’ son, hasn’t ever met his father and has heard all these things
about him but since the war he doesn’t really know him. Odysseus’ characteristics, nerver cowardly and admired for great events, resemble to the characteristics of a hero and throughout the book he shows and proves it.
Odysseus proves his first characteristic of never cowardly, throughout the book. When Odysseus and his crew washed up onto Polyphemus island and trapped in his cave. Odysseus thought of how to escape and lead his men back home. He first got the one eyed giant drunk which made him black out. Odysseus then sharpened a stick and stabbed it into Polyphemus only eye. Odysseus didn’t want to kill him because he has the ability to move the boulder that had trapped Odysseus and his men in the cave. Odysseus’ action not only made people see his braveness and courageous it showed how incredibly smart and wise the war made him. When it comes to thinking things through and doing the best thing for his people no matter how dangerous Odysseus will do it. Another event that happened that reveals his courageousness when he battled Circe and forced her to change his men back to humans. Circe a half woman half bird turned his crewman into pigs. Odysseus battled Circe making her change them back into humans so they could continue their voyage home. These actions and events the book has shown proves that Odysseus has one characteristic, never cowardly, of a hero.
Admired for great achievements is the second characteristic shown by Odysseus.
When Odysseus first met Alcinous and his family they asked about himself. When Odysseus told them his name they all cheered and honored him. They had a huge feast to celebrate being in the presence of the great warrior that ended the Trojan War. Athena supporting Odysseus in the war shows the admiration of others that he receives. This relates to his role by showing how people react to his action and his amazing accomplishments. They give him presents and help him reach his home because they know about everything going on revolving Odysseus. In conclusion, Odysseus shows another characteristic of a hero. Odysseus’ characteristics, nerver cowardly and admired for great events, resemble to the characteristics of a hero. He shows throughout the book that he has these and proves it. Odysseus gains the first characteristic, never cowardly, and shows how he uses it to help him get home. Odysseus gains the second characteristic, admired for great achievements, as well throughout the book. This helps him in many different ways from gaining supplies to simply making a friend. Odysseus the true hero contains all these characteristics and many
more.