“So there you go-heroes are everyday, common people. Most of what they do goes unheralded, unappreciated. And that ironically is heroism: not to be recognized” (Stone 1) is a quote from Oliver Stone’s article, titled, “Where I Find my Heroes.” In this article, Stone is pointing to the fact that most heroes appear around us everyday. Although heroes are in every book, movie, or other media, those fictional heroes show the same overall traits as everyday people that make them a hero. A hero is someone who demonstrates traits of being selfless, courageous, and determined in situations and towards others. One important characteristic that defines a hero is being selfless towards others. There are two characters in The Odyssey that demonstrate …show more content…
An example of someone who demonstrates the trait of being courageous is Jackie Robinson, who is mentioned in Hank Aaron's article, titled “Jackie Robinson.” In this article, Aaron says, “Somehow, though, Jackie had the strength to suppress his instincts, to sacrifice his pride for his people’s. It was an incredible act of selflessness that brought the races closer together...” (Aaron 1). This quote shows that Jackie Robinson wanted what was best for the whole entire African-American community. He was courageous in the fact that with all the scrutiny and harsh criticism that he suffered throughout his work, he never backed down and continued onwards to achieve his community’s goal. Along with Jackie Robinson, Odysseus also demonstrates the trait of being selfless when his crew encounters the Cyclops. When this happens he says, “Come with me when I give the word, hoist it [the flaming staff] onto my shoulder, then push from behind. I’ll aim it into the soul of that creature’s life” (Armitage 93). In this scene, Odysseus didn’t cower in fear in a frightening situation. He was courageous in how he protected himself and his crew by stabbing the Cyclops’s eye, which allowed them to escape. Persevering in situations, where fear is the only other thought, perfectly shows courage in a
He states “as for myself I took my twelve best fighters and went ahead”. This shows his bravery in the face of death. Odysseus did not back down from the fight and he was not scared to put himself in danger just like Martin Luther King Jr was not afraid to put himself in
expressed bravery as they lead their respective causes. Odysseus had to be brave to overcome the challenges on his journey home, and Martin Luther King Jr. had to be brave so he could lead the civil rights movement. When Odysseus fought the Cyclops, he had to summon courage in order to defeat him. During the fight against the Cyclops, Odysseus made a large spear and ordered his shipmates to “hoist [their] stake and grind it into his eye” (Fagles IX. 372). If not for this act of sudden bravery, Odysseus and his men would not have been able to escape the Cyclops.
Heroes, as shown in literature, often undertake the most difficult tasks and place themselves in mortal danger in order to bring back, for themselves and their societies, both knowledge and treasure. Their stories follow “Hero Journey.” The Odyssey, as the epic story of the hero Odysseus, follows closely the complete cycle of a Hero Journey, both as a physical and as a psychological undertaking. The Hero Journey, used as a framework for both Odysseus’ physical and mental journeys, serves to bind the two together. Each of Odysseus’s physical difficulties can be viewed as a metaphor for a psychological hardship that he must overcome, and by overcoming these hardships, Odysseus matures—achieving a more complete understanding of himself and
Odysseus can be viewed as brave throughout the story because of many acts of courage he shows. Odysseus has showed us that even in tough times like the time he was trapped in the Cyclops's cave, Odysseus can still show his leadership skills. Successfully leading his team out of the cave Odysseus is also shown other leadership skills. Odysseus has shown that even in tough times he can still prevail and make a decision to help benefit the team. While on the ocean Odysseus made a decision others may not
Odysseus shows bravery because he says he will make the trip back home alone if his men are scared. For example odysseus says “I’ll make the crossings in my own ship, with my own company” (pg 1213 line 71-72). This shows bravery because he says he will go back out into the ocean even though he just got back from being out there. If he wasn't brave he wouldn't go back out onto the ocean because he just was blown off course by the oceans wind. When odysseus stabs the cyclopes in the eye that shows bravery (pg 1219 line 288-295).
The Hero’s Journey is made up of a series of landmarks in which any hero follows on their journey. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus, the main protagonist, follows through each step of this journey. His journey begins with his call to adventure. The start of his epic journey from Troy back home to Ithaca begins with his voyage to the Trojan War. Following when the war adjourned, Odysseus was called to lead his men home from the war which is the call to the journey that is explained in the epic. One of the most prominent parts of Odysseus’s journey is his Supernatural Aide or Mentors. There are many gods and goddesses whom offer their assistance to Odysseus along his journey. Following the start of Zeus’s curse on Odysseus in response to the
It didn't matter if odysseus was talking to his own or to a giant Cyclops, he always went into everything with certainty of himself. Not once was Odysseus doubtful of his own self. “ We felt a pressure on our heart, in dread of that deep rumble and that mighty man. But all the same I spoke up in reply” (pg 377) While facing a huge Cyclops, Odysseus said that, showing his confidence and bravery to step up and take lead while standing in front of the giant. Odysseus was always proud of himself, he walked into Circe’s palace after she had turned his men into pigs, without a care. Worrying wasn’t ever a thought in his head. Never was Odysseus uneasy about his name, he was always confident that he could tell it and mountains would be moved along with bridges being built for him. “If ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of the cities took your eye.” (pg 384) Automatically after that sentence, the Cyclops went into a fit, but Odysseus wasn’t scared, because now his name was known. He was confident that just that would protect
First, Odysseus shows bravery in many ways throughout The Odyssey. He shows bravery when he is with allies and friends, which is much easier to do than when one is by themselves. He shows this bravery when he goes to investigate the Kyklops’s cave, “I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer,” (IX, 248-249).
While he is trapped in the cave with the cyclops, he has to come up with a plan so he and his crew could escape. He tells his company,"/A man under each middle one to ride there safely, shielded left and right"(Homer 9.340). This takes an immense amount of bravery from Odysseus to tell his shipmates because he promised that they will all get out of the cave alive. Taking his huge risk might of have concluded in the death of his crew, but he and companions later on made it out harmless. When someone is audacious they are putting themselves at harm so they could protect others. When Odysseus and his crew are leaving the island, the cyclops is angered and yells. Odysseus loudly says,"/tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes's son whose home's on Ithaca"(9.418-419). Odysseus was extremely daring to say this because he now has given Polyphemus his true identity. Odysseus wants to tell the monster who stabbed him in the eye and that anyone who messes with his crew are going to be put into a bad shape. Odysseus displays the characteristics of an epic hero because he protects his crew while putting himself in harms making him very
Bravery was probably one of the traits Odysseus was known for best. Without his bravery, the story most-likely wouldn't have been as exciting and suspenseful as it was. One of the situations that displayed this trait was when they landed on the
Many think being a hero is having super powers, but on the contrary it's more than that. A hero is one who is distinguished for their courage and bravery, and looked upon for their great deeds. A hero like this is not just found in modern society today, but in mythology as well. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus earns the title of a true hero by conveying many qualities such as: determination, courage and leadership.
Being a legitimate hero is not all about having the extraordinary supernatural powers commonly seen on television. Heroes are people who aid others, often putting themselves at risk to do so. They made the decision to fight, not necessarily physically, for their values. Odysseus, the main character in The Odyssey, should be considered a hero. He put his own life in jeopardy to protect his men from the supernatural threats that they faced throughout their journey. Odysseus should be regarded as a hero because he is brave, clever, and cautious.
Odysseus embodies courage in that he has the ability to something that maybe considered frightening to another. Odysseus’s boldness comes at full force first when he fights along his men in the Trojan War, then it makes another appearance in the second act when he fights against a man eating Cyclops. Another great display of courage he portrays is when he takes his men into battle he leads them in strong fighting with them and not just standing idly by while each of them are picked off. Odysseus lead his men into battle, fought a Cyclops, and fought in the Trojan War, he was not frightened, but strong against his many ordeals.
Not only does Odysseus demonstrate a strong sense of courage in his journeys to prove that he is a hero, but he also shows never-ending perseverance through the countless adversities berating him. Although much of Odysseus’ journey is guided and assisted by various gods, especially in tough situations, what he does is ultimately of his doing and free will, as demonstrated by his tenacity when coming across many hardships. An example of this is later on in Odysseus’ story, as he and his men sail away from the Island of Aeaea to complete their journey home to Ithaca, they encounter many obstacles. The sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis terrorize and put Odysseus’ men and journey into peril, as his crew is struck with the terrifying might of the sea monsters.
Odysseus’ starts his speech by saying, ‘“We’re hardly strangers at meeting danger”’(Odyssey 12.226). This reassures and reminds the men of all the difficult trials that they have faced and conquered so far in their journey with Odysseus as their leader. He then proceeds to state that: ‘“This danger is no worse than what we faced when Cyclops penned us up in his cave with crushing force!”’(Odyssey 12.227-229) showing his confidence and proving that his wit and cunning can and has lead them safely out of danger before, even though his actions were responsible for getting them in to the dangerous situation in the first place. This is his Ethos which is his reputation and the characteristic’s that