Significance Of Odysseus Being A Hero

Swoosh! The sound of a cape fluttering in the wind fills the heads of those who imagine a hero (or perhaps the connotative meaning – a superhero). Superpowers and evil villains may bode well in a comic book for children, but the figure of a hero is not wholly represented by this image. In reality, a hero might be a loyal individual; someone who is dedicated to serving others. American art, music, and literature vary the way in which they portray a hero. Sometimes one may see a headline of a school teacher making a difference in his or her community, and other times an action-packed film may characterize the protagonist as a handsome, masculine, and self-loving individual wearing a flashy costume. Heroes are only relevant in modern American
Greek epic poet Homer contrived the character Odysseus in a fashion that further supports the claim that a hero is not founded on pride or supernatural abilities. Being a brave warrior, Odysseus led the expedition against the Trojans. The editors of Encyclopedia Britannica write about his character in the Iliad saying, “…Odysseus appears as the man best suited to cope with crises in personal relations among the Greeks, and he plays a leading part in achieving the reconciliation between Agamemnon and Achilles,” (“Odysseus”). Prevailing in times of need, leaders such as Odysseus paint the true picture of a hero. The example used above takes the argument a step further, too. Even after that courageous feat, Odysseus continued to help others by rescuing comrades at the land of Lotus-Eaters and from Circe (“Odysseus”). Surely, a decade spent putting others before himself symbolizes the true nature of a hero. The stories of Odysseus and Beowulf may be fictional tales told in ancient times, but their significance to the development of a hero is not
During times that are not necessarily reflective of harm or crisis, ‘heroes’ flaunt their abilities by carrying out extraneous work, expecting gratitude or a reward in return. This ideology is not that of a hero even if the individual manages to do something good. Another Greek character named Perseus is the epitome of said ideology. Because King Polydectes wanted to marry Danae, the mother of Perseus, Polydectes had a desire to inhibit Perseus from intervening (“Perseus and Medusa”). Challenged by a king, Perseus felt obliged to act. James Weigel, Jr., addresses this aspect of Greek heroism saying, “One feature common to these stories is that each hero is obligated to some king when he performs his greatest acts,” (Weigel). Medusa may have been evil and a threat to other people, but Perseus’s reason for killing her was founded on anti-heroic beliefs. Like Perseus, individuals in present times are compelled to do something extraordinary to heighten their ego or to fulfill their sense of