Homer's The Odyssey: A Hero In The Making

Odysseus: A Hero in the Making Homer is extremely clever in weaving the message that we often tell ourselves when undergoing hardships: that suffering ultimately makes us better people in the end. In The Odyssey, the main character and hero Odysseus undergoes a long voyage that tests his morals, character, and principles. Embarking on a journey home that takes about 20 years instead of a few weeks, Odysseus the hero is certainly not a man without his flaws and it is through his mistakes and errors that his voyage is prolonged. Despite his many imperfections, the hardships that Odysseus experiences help transform and mold him into the heroic figure we associate with today. In the beginning of Book 9, readers can get a good glimpse of Odysseus’s personality and how it affects his image of a likeable hero. When I think of a hero, I don’t only think of his actions; I think of his inner character as well. In his encounter with Polyphemus, Odysseus displays many qualities that we associate with modern heroes: determination, courage, and bravery, to name a few. However, in the end, Homer reminds us that Odysseus is anything but perfect. Odysseus is
In fact, in the Great Books video, one of the commentators describes Odysseus as “the only complete man in literature” because he possessed all of the great qualities of mankind, as well as ones that weren’t so great. Odysseus’ complex growth as a character resonates with me because of how realistic and credible it is, that even after the poem ends, I can believe that Odysseus still has the capability to become a better human being even after already being named hero, since we all know that change isn’t always absolute. Odysseus’ metamorphosis isn’t the drive for the poem, but it helps cement his identity as one of the greatest heroes of