Role Of Heroism In The Odyssey
What do you think makes a hero ideal? Bravery, admirable courage, wit, and a dose of good deeds. The Odyessy written by Homer has one such hero Odysseus that has his heroism often questioned. Odysseus has enough bad instances, but mostly he remains a hero that desperately seeks his home.
Odysseus has enough bad moments that question his heroism because of the bad decisions he takes for his crew and himself. On an unknown island that Odysseus and his crew landed (Circe's) he foolishly sends his men out regardless of the dangers that possibly might be. “I'd go back to shore and the swift ship first, feed the men, then send them out for scouting” (10. 169-170). It was wrong of Odysseus to put his men’s lives in danger. Putting his own safety above …show more content…
On being caught in the cave of the man-eating Cyclops Odysseus carefully hatches a plan to save themselves. "My name is Nobody: mother father and friends, everyone calls me Nobody” (9.399). He deceives the Cyclops into believing that his name is 'nobody' so that they have a safe exit. He makes an intellectual decision and finds a solution to the cannibalistic ordeal they were stuck in. Displaying his presence of mind in this tricky situation and bravely saving everyone's life is a true sign of a hero. Odysseus on seeing that his men stuck on the island of Circe’s regardlessly endangers his life to bring his men back.“I must be off, necessity drives me”(10.170). He depicts the spirit of teamwork and brings his men back rather than leaving him behind. Apart from his quick wit, he is also courageous that further supports him as a significant hero. Once more he has clear intentions as he stops Eurycleia from rejoicing on the bodies of the dead suitors after the slaughter. “Its unholy to glory over the bodies of dead”(23. 437). Despite the suitors staying at his home for twenty years and him killing them, he still shows respect to their dead bodies. The good morals of a man, shape him truly heroic as it does to Odysseus. As of his qualities, we can say that he is a hero to
Odysseus has enough bad moments that question his heroism because of the bad decisions he takes for his crew and himself. On an unknown island that Odysseus and his crew landed (Circe's) he foolishly sends his men out regardless of the dangers that possibly might be. “I'd go back to shore and the swift ship first, feed the men, then send them out for scouting” (10. 169-170). It was wrong of Odysseus to put his men’s lives in danger. Putting his own safety above …show more content…
On being caught in the cave of the man-eating Cyclops Odysseus carefully hatches a plan to save themselves. "My name is Nobody: mother father and friends, everyone calls me Nobody” (9.399). He deceives the Cyclops into believing that his name is 'nobody' so that they have a safe exit. He makes an intellectual decision and finds a solution to the cannibalistic ordeal they were stuck in. Displaying his presence of mind in this tricky situation and bravely saving everyone's life is a true sign of a hero. Odysseus on seeing that his men stuck on the island of Circe’s regardlessly endangers his life to bring his men back.“I must be off, necessity drives me”(10.170). He depicts the spirit of teamwork and brings his men back rather than leaving him behind. Apart from his quick wit, he is also courageous that further supports him as a significant hero. Once more he has clear intentions as he stops Eurycleia from rejoicing on the bodies of the dead suitors after the slaughter. “Its unholy to glory over the bodies of dead”(23. 437). Despite the suitors staying at his home for twenty years and him killing them, he still shows respect to their dead bodies. The good morals of a man, shape him truly heroic as it does to Odysseus. As of his qualities, we can say that he is a hero to