Odysseus Hero Definition
What Defines a Hero Maya Angelou, an author, poet, and a civil rights activist once said: “I think a hero is any person really intend on making this a better place for all people.” But seeing as this poet says “any person,” that person can be of human or even superhuman characteristics so long as their deed is right. In this case, in Robert Fagel’s translation of The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is a king longing to return home after numerous years of war. Of his tales, there are points of hardship and times where he is greatly dignified. He displays acts of heroism even having exposed sides of him that are both weak and of great strengths. Do these man’s actions in these states of being human or superhuman really impact what defines him as a hero?
…show more content…
There are so many facts leaning to both sides that it is believed that both sorts can establish one as a hero. Throughout the story, Odysseus displays his possession of human qualities. At the beginning of the story, during the meal between the king and queen of Phaeacia, Odysseus and some other men, Odysseus says: “ ‘I’m nothing like the immortal gods who rule the skies, / either in build or breeding. I’m just a mortal man’ ” (7.244-45). Even the king Odysseus himself feels as though he is just a simple mortal, a human. He feels that he is indeed not godlike in any way, and therefore feels that he is one that is below. Additionally, when Circe tells Odysseus how to get around the obstacles he will face, she says: “ ‘Can’t you bow to the deathless gods themselves? / Scalla’s no mortal, she’s an immortal devastation’ ” (12.127-28). This is yet another example which shows how he is below the gods; he must bow before them and does not have control over the world around him; bending to its will. Odysseus also cannot handle devastation; he is this simple, weak being. Towards the end, when Odysseus and Athena speak of killing the suitors he, says: but still this worry haunts me, heart and soul— how can I get these shameless suitors in my clutches? Single-handed, braving an army camped inside There’s another worry, that haunts me even more.
What if I kill them—thanks to you and Zeus— how do I run from under their avengers? (20.40-45)
With this, one can say that he has fear, insecurities, and doubts himself, the same traits and qualities as humans do. Odysseus is clearly one who faces challenges in his life and in the world… He can’t do everything. With this evidence thus far, Odysseus is undoubtedly human and this seems to be who he is as he performs heroic acts… But he acts differently in other portions of the book… Throughout various other sections of this piece of literature, Odysseus shows superhuman characteristics as well. First off, when Odysseus comes before the king of Phaeacia, the Phaeacian king tells his people: “ ‘he looks like a deathless god!’ ” (8.15) To the king of Phaeacia, Odysseus is so great that he is compared to a god. Odysseus is seen as one who escapes death and is amazing to the eye. This begins hinting his possession of superhuman qualities. Next, when telling king Alcinous of his tales, Odysseus says:
Calypso the lustrous goddess tries to hold me back deep in her arching caverns, craving me for a husband.
So did Circe, holding me just as warmly in her
halls, the bewitching queen of Aeaea keen to have me too. (9.33-36)
Odysseus tells his tale in a way that make him look like he is desired by many, craved for by the gods even. He is looked up to as being above people and having high such standard to be seen as one of the divine gods himself. These women wish to make him immortal; he is worthy enough to be granted such great privilege. Near the end, at the swineherd’s hut, the goddess steps in: “Just at the shelter’s door she [stops], visible to Odysseus / but Telemachus [does] not see her, sense her there— / the gods don’t show themselves to every man alive” (16.180-82). Odysseus is such a great being; he is unlike the average man. This is an interesting example for it’s as though he has super powers, godly powers. Seeing the divine is a great addition to display his title as one with superhuman abilities. Odysseus’ manifest of superhuman traits is one of high stature. But are these the things that make him a hero? Being a hero probably has nothing to do with what one is at all, this great being or a part of something such as mankind. One can be heroic whether they have the advantages of supply or strength or not, as long as they have the urge to do good. None of these properties have anything to do with true heroism as long as one puts in any effort to make this a better place, although some things such as having strength as a superhuman or the sympathies of a human may aid one in their task to enhance this world. A hero isn’t based on who one is based on background and their amount of power, it’s just having this willingness to do anything good. Simply, Odysseus is recognized as someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to end with more positivity.
There are so many facts leaning to both sides that it is believed that both sorts can establish one as a hero. Throughout the story, Odysseus displays his possession of human qualities. At the beginning of the story, during the meal between the king and queen of Phaeacia, Odysseus and some other men, Odysseus says: “ ‘I’m nothing like the immortal gods who rule the skies, / either in build or breeding. I’m just a mortal man’ ” (7.244-45). Even the king Odysseus himself feels as though he is just a simple mortal, a human. He feels that he is indeed not godlike in any way, and therefore feels that he is one that is below. Additionally, when Circe tells Odysseus how to get around the obstacles he will face, she says: “ ‘Can’t you bow to the deathless gods themselves? / Scalla’s no mortal, she’s an immortal devastation’ ” (12.127-28). This is yet another example which shows how he is below the gods; he must bow before them and does not have control over the world around him; bending to its will. Odysseus also cannot handle devastation; he is this simple, weak being. Towards the end, when Odysseus and Athena speak of killing the suitors he, says: but still this worry haunts me, heart and soul— how can I get these shameless suitors in my clutches? Single-handed, braving an army camped inside There’s another worry, that haunts me even more.
What if I kill them—thanks to you and Zeus— how do I run from under their avengers? (20.40-45)
With this, one can say that he has fear, insecurities, and doubts himself, the same traits and qualities as humans do. Odysseus is clearly one who faces challenges in his life and in the world… He can’t do everything. With this evidence thus far, Odysseus is undoubtedly human and this seems to be who he is as he performs heroic acts… But he acts differently in other portions of the book… Throughout various other sections of this piece of literature, Odysseus shows superhuman characteristics as well. First off, when Odysseus comes before the king of Phaeacia, the Phaeacian king tells his people: “ ‘he looks like a deathless god!’ ” (8.15) To the king of Phaeacia, Odysseus is so great that he is compared to a god. Odysseus is seen as one who escapes death and is amazing to the eye. This begins hinting his possession of superhuman qualities. Next, when telling king Alcinous of his tales, Odysseus says:
Calypso the lustrous goddess tries to hold me back deep in her arching caverns, craving me for a husband.
So did Circe, holding me just as warmly in her
halls, the bewitching queen of Aeaea keen to have me too. (9.33-36)
Odysseus tells his tale in a way that make him look like he is desired by many, craved for by the gods even. He is looked up to as being above people and having high such standard to be seen as one of the divine gods himself. These women wish to make him immortal; he is worthy enough to be granted such great privilege. Near the end, at the swineherd’s hut, the goddess steps in: “Just at the shelter’s door she [stops], visible to Odysseus / but Telemachus [does] not see her, sense her there— / the gods don’t show themselves to every man alive” (16.180-82). Odysseus is such a great being; he is unlike the average man. This is an interesting example for it’s as though he has super powers, godly powers. Seeing the divine is a great addition to display his title as one with superhuman abilities. Odysseus’ manifest of superhuman traits is one of high stature. But are these the things that make him a hero? Being a hero probably has nothing to do with what one is at all, this great being or a part of something such as mankind. One can be heroic whether they have the advantages of supply or strength or not, as long as they have the urge to do good. None of these properties have anything to do with true heroism as long as one puts in any effort to make this a better place, although some things such as having strength as a superhuman or the sympathies of a human may aid one in their task to enhance this world. A hero isn’t based on who one is based on background and their amount of power, it’s just having this willingness to do anything good. Simply, Odysseus is recognized as someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to end with more positivity.