Odysseus As A Hero In Book 10 Of The Odyssey
Odysseus was no hero and his words and actions clearly show. Book 1 of the Odyssey starts with “Sing in the, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending”. Introducing Odysseus as “a man skilled in all ways of contending” shows Homer, author of the Odyssey clearly wanted Odysseus to be seen as a hero. After all, they were both Greek, and the Greeks held a lot of pride they needed to protect. This makes me believe that the story behind The Odyssey was twisted so that the reader was forced to see from the perspective the author wanted. The Odyssey portrays Odysseus’s men as thugs. In book 10 of The Odyssey they come across an island where Circe lives. Odysseus sends his crew men to check the place out. From
my what we have read in the past, I think a hero would have gone himself instead of sending his men. When he goes to help his men, he is helped by the Gods. They give him a way to protect him from Circe’s magic, and tell him that he has to sleep with Circe. I’m pretty sure that Odysseus didn’t have to sleep with Circe, and if he did, he is still unfaithful to his wife who hasn’t strayed even though most people believe that Odysseus is dead at the time.
Circe is not the only time that Odysseus cheats on his wife. After the war, Odysseus spends seven years on an island with Calypso. Book 5 of The Odyssey, says that the reason that he slept with Calypso if because she asked him to. If given the choice, Odysseus shouldn't sleep with another women. He loves Penelope and wants to get back to her. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus trying to get home from the war to his wife, family, house, and life he had before he left.
Odysseus did have some heroic traits. He was smart and he had a lot of pride, but he didn’t do what was right. His poor judgment led him and his crewmates to bad places and he gets the title of a hero for getting him and the people around him out of the trouble he caused. Odysseus got lucky. He had the most of the Gods on his side and men that he could throw in front of himself. Heroes are people that throw themselves in front of others. Odysseus should not be called a hero if he didn’t deserve it.
my what we have read in the past, I think a hero would have gone himself instead of sending his men. When he goes to help his men, he is helped by the Gods. They give him a way to protect him from Circe’s magic, and tell him that he has to sleep with Circe. I’m pretty sure that Odysseus didn’t have to sleep with Circe, and if he did, he is still unfaithful to his wife who hasn’t strayed even though most people believe that Odysseus is dead at the time.
Circe is not the only time that Odysseus cheats on his wife. After the war, Odysseus spends seven years on an island with Calypso. Book 5 of The Odyssey, says that the reason that he slept with Calypso if because she asked him to. If given the choice, Odysseus shouldn't sleep with another women. He loves Penelope and wants to get back to her. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus trying to get home from the war to his wife, family, house, and life he had before he left.
Odysseus did have some heroic traits. He was smart and he had a lot of pride, but he didn’t do what was right. His poor judgment led him and his crewmates to bad places and he gets the title of a hero for getting him and the people around him out of the trouble he caused. Odysseus got lucky. He had the most of the Gods on his side and men that he could throw in front of himself. Heroes are people that throw themselves in front of others. Odysseus should not be called a hero if he didn’t deserve it.