Comparing Odysseus, Penelope, And Telemachus In The Odyssey

Written by Homer, The Odyssey tells of a journey about a hero named Odysseus, who is desperately trying to return home to Ithaca after being forced to go to war. After being gone for 20 years, Odysseus arrives home with countless suitors attempting to marry his wife Penelope. On his journey, he goes through various encounters. During these encounters, he displays several qualities of a hero. For instance, Odysseus’ intelligence, cleverness, human weakness, and braveness make him a hero.

Imagine you’re on a ship in the deep dark sea attempting to find your way home, but instead, you discover yourself farther and farther from your loved ones. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus faces the hardship of this exact scenario. In a time of hardship, personalities are revealed, ranging from heroic to cowardice. A hero is someone who is valued by his intelligence and confidence, allowing him to be a leader. Odysseus is a hero because his leadership is valued by his shipmates, his intelligence was exemplary when a plan was needed, and his confidence was indisputable when theirs was uncertain.

However, the definition of a hero and what constitutes a heroic act has been a topic of debate. In the context of the ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey, the protagonist Odysseus is often hailed as a hero. But do his actions truly fit the definition of heroism? In this essay, I will explore what constitutes a heroic act and whether Odysseus acts heroically in The Odyssey. I will also draw parallels from the song "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler and the short story "The Most Dangerous Game"

The epic poem, The Odyssey, performed by Homer, expresses views about what a hero means to the author through a constructed Greek myth. Homer utilizes different styles of literary devices to portray his explanation on what a hero means to him through three different characters: Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus. The book takes place on an Island in Greece, specifically, the protagonist’s wanderings cover the Aegean and surrounding seas. The story eventually ends in Ithaca, in northwestern Greece. Telemachus travels from Ithaca to southern Greece around 700 B.C. As the book goes on, these three characters develop heroic qualities as people who put themselves in front of others, use wit rather than brute force, and the develop strong familial values.

Throughout history, tales of great heros, gruesome monsters, beautiful enchantresses, and mighty gods have been told. One such tale that is very important to the greeks is the Odyssey. The main character, “Odysseus, was very important to the greeks because he was relatable to the greeks because he was a mortal man who relied not on superhuman strength, but the power of his own mind” (Mr. Carroll). Although clever, Odysseus has many flaws, and because he was greedy, arrogant, and he lets his crew die, Odysseus is not a hero.

Homer’s The Odyssey is very much an epic tale of a man’s heroic quest. The protagonist, Odysseus, is a cunning, brave, strong, and tenacious character who is given the title of a hero. This “hero”, however, does not always show characteristics of a hero, which leads many to believe that Odysseus, is not a true hero after all. In fact, Odysseus cheats on his wife multiple times, is willing to sacrifice his men in order to get home, and slaughters all his maids even though he did not have to. In The Odyssey, Homer attempts to create a complex portrait of a hero, but fails at his attempt when making Odysseus unforgiving, self absorbed, and a philanderer.

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic poem about a hero’s perilous ten-year journey home with twelve ships and hundreds of men. During this voyage, however, Odysseus and his men face the wrath of Poseidon, the wiles of Circe and the Sirens, and the peril of the monsters Scylla and Charybdis. In the end, Odysseus loses everything except his determination to return home to his beloved wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus. Even though he experiences many difficult challenges, Odysseus is a hero who exemplifies the Greek cultural values of bravery, wit, and loyalty.

    Most people think of a hero as a strong, superior, good-looking person that could never make a mistake. However, in a story called The Odyssey, a connection to real life reveals imperfections to be common in heroes. Each person has their low points and highlights, regardless of their “rank”. The author and epic poet, Homer, exemplifies our main character, Odysseus, to take on this idea of a hero throughout his writing. The time period took place in Ancient Greece, allowing Greek culture to relate to the poem. Different aspects of such culture and history may have influenced the works and creativity of Homer as well. A major point includes The Trojan War because it focuses in on Odysseus’ journey to bring Helen back home by devising a plan to destroy warriors in the city. Acknowledge this factor when reading The Odyssey, for not only evidence of heroism, but also other major points of archetypes, in which the device reflects the insights of readers in modern time and what is seen from Ancient Greek culture.

Heroes are portrayed as perfect, flawless beings with the strength of the boldest and the heart of the noblest, yet heroes are merely regular men made immortal. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.” In the epic poem, The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus is a young man who is faced with a painstaking quest to return to his homeland Ithaca, but along the way meets many foes and obstacles. Through his quests, he is realized not to be just a hero, but a man with many faults and hardships in his life, who in his journey, like any other man, realizes many important lessons. In The Odyssey, Homer employs multiple literary devices to demonstrate different themes that occur in his renowned epic poem.

All three characters possess qualities that are admired by heroes. Odysseus, the protagonist of “The Odyssey”, is known for his intelligence, cunning, and bravery. He displays resourcefulness and quick thinking throughout his journey, overcoming numerous challenges. Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, demonstrates her heroism through her unwavering loyalty, strength, and resilience. Despite the suitors' advances, she remains faithful to her husband and maintains her integrity.

Across the ages, heroes have been a prevalent theme. Even if the way heroes are defined changes, they still exist as role models for society. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus exists as the tale’s hero, yet he is a relatable character as he has many flaws that hinder his success. Despite Odysseus’ fatal flaws, he remains a strong heroic figure regardless of the circumstances due to his leadership, cunning, and resilience. Leadership is one of Odysseus’ most admirable traits, particularly when he guides his crew to escape the cave of the cyclops Polyphemus.

In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus and I display the hero’s journey in our departures, trials, and results, showing intelligence, perseverance, and loyalty. Odysseus showed heroism because of his trials. In many of his struggles, he shows how he uses his judgment and intellect in order to remove himself or his crew from harm’s way.

The story “The Odyssey” describes the eventful travel of the warrior Odysseus, who is also the king of Ithaca, after a war known as the “Trojan War”. Odysseus performed many heroic actions during his travel. Odysseus also performed some unheroic deeds, but he is only a human being, he also makes mistakes. A true hero never gives up and uses everything he can to overcome any trials or hardships he must face.

The novel, The Odyssey, is not only about Odysseus’ travels back to Ithaca after the Trojan War but it is also about Telemachus’ journey into manhood. Telemachus becoming a man is displayed in many ways. Him maturing and becoming a man is shown through his own thoughts and ideas. It is also shown through his ability to compromise and strategize. Lasty, him willing to stand up for what he believes in displays his journey into

Brielle Butts Mr. Asaro English 9A Period C 27 March 2024 Odysseus From The Odyssey Is Not A True Hero A hero is a person who has extraordinary courage and helps people. In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, there is a hero named Odysseus who survives crazy missions and is admired for his bravery. In the article, Odysseus Deconstructed- Crossing the Threshold into Critical Thinking by Emily Nicole Howell, she teaches her students about Odysseus.