Odysseus As An Epic Hero In Homer's Odyssey
Odysseus suffered many problems on his journey home from the Battle of Troy. What did he suffer and how did this make him a better epic hero? Although Odysseus saves and ruins his crew's lives, he is showing the reader that he is wanting to get back to his home in Ithaca.
First of all, as Odysseus wins the Battle of Troy, he does not leave Troy immediately. He stays to show his victory by drinking wine. “Six benches were left empty in every ship / that evening when we pulled away from death.” (line 63-64) Although Odysseus faces the guilt for losing his men, he starts his journey for home. Odysseus shows that he has egotistical tendencies because, if he would not have stayed after the Trojan War to drink wine, he would not have lost six members of his crew. …show more content…
On his way home, Odysseus is faced with Sirens.
Wanting his crew to be safe, he covers their ears with beeswax so they do not hear the Sirens’ song. “They tied me up, then, plumb / amidships, back to the mast, lashed to the mast, / and took themselves again to rowing.” (lines 713-715) For his behavior and sacrifice, Odysseus is faced with the music of the Sirens. But, he is able to save the crew and himself from death. The characteristics that Odysseus shows are caring and cunning. The reason that he shows these is because he is willing to give the crewmembers beeswax to put into their ears. This act keeps them from hearing the Sirens’
song.
Finally, Odysseus is faced with a decision to either take the lives of Helios’ cattle and let all of his crew die, or spare the cattle and starve, but allow his crew members to live. “‘O Father Zeus and gods in bliss forever, punish Odysseus’ men! So overweening, Now they have killed my peaceful kine, my joy At morning when I climbed the sky of stars, And evening, when I bore westward from heaven. Restitution or penalty they shall pay- And pay in full-or I go down forever To light the dead men in the underworld.’” (lines 907-914)
As Helios speaks the quote, Zeus throws down a lightning bolt to destroy Odysseus’ ship and his crew members. As he loses his crewmates, he jumps safely toward a fig tree in order to save himself. While he waits for his ship, he finds out that all his crewmates have died. The characteristic that Odysseus shows here is selfishness. He knows that his crew will die if he kills the cow. However, he decides to kill the cow and save himself at the risk of losing his entire crew.
As Odysseus arrives home, he is faced with the fact that he has made mistakes, and has returned home with nothing. Being alone, he is filled with guilt because he could not stop his crew or himself from making the decision of breaking the prophecy.
First of all, as Odysseus wins the Battle of Troy, he does not leave Troy immediately. He stays to show his victory by drinking wine. “Six benches were left empty in every ship / that evening when we pulled away from death.” (line 63-64) Although Odysseus faces the guilt for losing his men, he starts his journey for home. Odysseus shows that he has egotistical tendencies because, if he would not have stayed after the Trojan War to drink wine, he would not have lost six members of his crew. …show more content…
On his way home, Odysseus is faced with Sirens.
Wanting his crew to be safe, he covers their ears with beeswax so they do not hear the Sirens’ song. “They tied me up, then, plumb / amidships, back to the mast, lashed to the mast, / and took themselves again to rowing.” (lines 713-715) For his behavior and sacrifice, Odysseus is faced with the music of the Sirens. But, he is able to save the crew and himself from death. The characteristics that Odysseus shows are caring and cunning. The reason that he shows these is because he is willing to give the crewmembers beeswax to put into their ears. This act keeps them from hearing the Sirens’
song.
Finally, Odysseus is faced with a decision to either take the lives of Helios’ cattle and let all of his crew die, or spare the cattle and starve, but allow his crew members to live. “‘O Father Zeus and gods in bliss forever, punish Odysseus’ men! So overweening, Now they have killed my peaceful kine, my joy At morning when I climbed the sky of stars, And evening, when I bore westward from heaven. Restitution or penalty they shall pay- And pay in full-or I go down forever To light the dead men in the underworld.’” (lines 907-914)
As Helios speaks the quote, Zeus throws down a lightning bolt to destroy Odysseus’ ship and his crew members. As he loses his crewmates, he jumps safely toward a fig tree in order to save himself. While he waits for his ship, he finds out that all his crewmates have died. The characteristic that Odysseus shows here is selfishness. He knows that his crew will die if he kills the cow. However, he decides to kill the cow and save himself at the risk of losing his entire crew.
As Odysseus arrives home, he is faced with the fact that he has made mistakes, and has returned home with nothing. Being alone, he is filled with guilt because he could not stop his crew or himself from making the decision of breaking the prophecy.