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Heroism Essay : What Is Odysseus A Hero?

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Heroism in modern society is defined as someone who displays bravery, strength, and victory, but I think that a hero should possess stronger qualities than that. I think a hero should be able to willingly sacrifice something for someone they don’t even know or sacrifice their life to help someone in need, something some ordinary person wouldn't do. Odysseus is a hero because he defends his home, tries his hardest to keep his crew alive, and does everything he needs to do to keep himself alive.
Some people believe that Odysseus is not a hero because while he is trying to do everything he needs to do to keep his crew alive he is also just causing a bunch of chaos, no matter where he goes and they believe that heroes are supposed to fix chaos not cause it. “The hero brings order to chaos and rights perceived wrongs” (Sophon Shadraconis 1). While I do believe that he did cause heaps of unnecessary chaos while trying his hardest to keep his crew alive, I strongly believe that the chaos he had created had great intentions of keeping the ones who were loyal to him safe and doing whatever he needed to do in order to accomplish that. Occasionally in order to turn chaos into order you must create the chaos. “...find out which of them must endure with me to take up the great beam and spin it in the Cyclops’ eye when sweet sleep had come over him.” (Homer 9.331-33) Even though Odysseus was creating an enormous amount of chaos with Polyphemus: Poseidon’s son, he had strong intentions with the chaos he had brought. He was just trying to get him and his crew out safely and every once in awhile one has to suffer so that others can be pleased. He may be causing a bunch of chaos, but it was to keep the people safe that were loyal to him.
Odysseus while he did try his hardest to keep his crew alive, he also tried really hard to keep himself alive. “...one who can endure without despair even the disfavor of the gods and can by strength of will and the guidance of reason eventually triumph against unbelievable odds.” (“The Study Club…”115). Odysseus was suffering the loss of his family, but even though they are still alive it doesn’t feel like it to him anymore, but he pushed through it and did everything he could to keep himself

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