Is Odysseus a hero? Although Odysseus was a great person, he was also very selfish. A lot of people believe Odysseus is a hero, but in closer examination, it shows Odysseus does not deserve that title. In the book The Odyssey, it shows how much his actions make him far from a hero. I can understand why many people think he's a hero because he did many good things, but the amount of bad things he did shows he's not a hero. One big reason I believe Odysseus is not a hero is his actions. While he was on his journey back home to Ithaca, he showed a sense of entitlement. This shows how the way he treats others like his own crewmembers. In book 9 Odysseus blinded the Cyclops and he says his true identity, which leads to many hardships for him and his crewmembers. “Cyclops, you asked my name, and I will tell you: give me afterwards a guest gift as you promised" (book 9). A real hero would show wisdom, rather than showing how big of an ego he has. …show more content…
Instead of trying to overcome challenges, he resorts to cheating and being dishonest. For example, he pretends to be a beggar when he comes back home to Ithaca to see the loyalty of his wife Penelope, and the people in his home. This shows manipulation and not trusting the people that have been faithful to him while he was gone for so long. "(I will) clothe thee in a ragged garment, such that one would shudder to see a man clad therein." book 17. Odysseus wanted to see his wife's loyalty to him when Odysseus slept with 2 other women while he was gone. A hero would trust his people, but Odysseus falls way too far in that
After establishing ways Odysseus is not a hero, let us discuss ways he is. Odysseus was a hero in some ways, one including how he outsmarted the Cyclops. When Odysseus stabbed his eye, he had previously told Polyphemus that his name was “Nobody”. When Polyphemus cried out for help, he screamed “Nobody, Nobody’s tricked me. Nobody’s ruined me!” Making it sound like nobody has has hurt him.
Throughout the epic poem, Odysseus has displayed many useful skills and has used trickery to get out of difficult situations. Odysseus is a leader, he is physically strong, smart and good at cunning. As Odysseus tries to get back home to Ithaca he encounters many hardships and finds ways to overcome them. Although Odysseus has proven himself to be courageous and intelligent, I do not believe that qualifies him to be called as a hero. Odysseus is a great leader but in my opinion, he is not a hero.
The majority of those who read The Odyssey consider the protagonist of the story, Odysseus, a hero. On many occasions, however, Odysseus makes decisions beneficial to himself alone. For example, when Odysseus and his men find themselves on Polyphemus's island, Odysseus's actions are self-centered and at the expense of his men. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. Having his men by his side when he returns seems a trivial thing to him. Odysseus could be considered a hero, but many of his actions say otherwise. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero.
In the book The Odyssey, the main character is Odysseus. Odysseus performs many heroic acts throughout the story, but also some bad things as well. The question is, in the end, is Odysseus a hero? One of his many acts of heroism was when he and his men were on the Cyclops island. He disguised his men as sheep so that they could get through the cave without harm because the Cyclops were blind.
The first reason Odysseus was not a hero is because he does not have a good heart. Odysseus tied each of his men to the belly of one of the giant sheep. Odysseus called out to Polyphemus, laughing at him and telling him that his name was not "Nobody.” Odysseus is very disrespectful to his men. After his crewmembers died in service, he mocked him, even in their death, he shows them no respect.
Should Odysseus, the protagonist of the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, be referred to as a hero? The Odyssey pieces together the long journey of the valorous and heroic Odysseus and answers the question of whether he is a hero or not. The heroic characteristics of Odysseus, being persistent, having leadership qualities, and being loyal, evidentially prove his label as a hero. To get started, Odysseus’s main quality that puts him over the top as a hero is his ability to be persistent and never give up. Odysseus fought through every obstacle on his journey.
Odysseus is a hero in many people's eyes,but was he truly a hero. A hero might be a person who cares for other people helping them through their strife,but if you really read the actions and cruelty that Odysseus did throughout his voyage,Odysseus is not an example of a hero. In the book The Odyssey written by Homer,Odysseus was disloyal to his wife and son by leaving them for a War. He stole other people’s possessions and harmed the women on Ismarus island. He betrayed his men that led to their demise on Cyclops island.
Odysseus is the Perfect Hero When you think of a hero? you may imagine a firefighter running into a burning building or a police officer protecting child. In the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus was brave, strong and selfless. Odysseus is a perfect hero.
Odysseus is not a hero because he is dishonest, selfish, and greedy. Those are not respectable qualities of a hero, or of anyone who is note-worthy. Odysseus is not a hero. For instance, he proves not to be a hero because of his actions throughout the story. He is dishonest, selfish, and greedy.
My reasoning as to why Odysseus is a hero is because when Odysseus interferes with the lotus eaters. The crow of Odysseus eats the Lotus Eaters (plant that does not want you leave the island) then causing Odysseus to tie them to the ship so they do not stay and not come home. This shows remarks as to why Odysseus is a hero as he did not need to tie them to the ship, but instead could of just left them on the island Djerba.
First, an example of his unfaithfulness to his wife is when on the island of Kirke he was told to sleep with the evil witch, and he automatically did it without even asking questions. He could have threatened to kill Kirke or reason with her, but no he took his favorite way out, sleeping with her. Another time Odysseus was unfaithful to his wife was while on the island of Kylpso he willingly slept with her countless times over his seven year captivity on the island. Penelope, Odysseus' faithful wife, never cheated on him once during his 20 year absence in Ithaka. A time he is unfaithful to the Gods is when he receives the ride home from the Phaeakians he did not pry or sacrifice anything to Poseidon before his trip if he would have done this he could have saved the lives of the Phaeakians sailors, who were killed by Poseidon. Finally, Odysseus was unfaithful to the Gods when he does not except Polyphemos sincere apology and says, “ Kyklops, if any mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son whose home’s on Ithaka!” (IX 548-552). Which shows disrespect to the Gods by not
Odysseus is a hero because he sacrifices himself many times to save his men. He put his life on the line for his men. For example, he stabbed the cyclops in the eye so they could escape. He also was thinking ahead and told the cyclops that his name was Nobhdy. He uses his cunning brain and good looks to get them out of situations. For example, he used his brain and looks when he offered to sleep with Circe in order for his men to rest. He did this because he knew his men needed to take a break and Circe hated them, so he helped them out and himself) by sleeping with Circe, something was in it for him too. He was also a hero when he came up the idea when they had to sail past the Sirens, he but beeswax in his men’s ears and had them tie
According to the idea that a hero is someone who is willing to risk their lives, Odysseus would be a hero. Though he is chivalrous, he doesn’t have the readers convinced. “They see Odysseus, the self-serving liar, the brutal murderer, the indulgent adulterer. He is everything that they detest” (Howell 3). The kids clearly have a strong viewpoint of how they see him and his bad traits outway the good.
Odysseus: Is He Really a Hero? Philip Zimbardo, a psychologist said, “I'm saying to be a hero it means you step across the line and are willing to make a sacrifice, so heroes always are making a sacrifice.” In The Odyssey, an epic poem written around 700 B.C. by Homer, a main character named Odysseus attempts to reach hero status. Odysseus does not have the heroic qualities that Zimbardo believes make a great hero. However, Odysseus is close to reaching hero status through his strong instincts, but his selfish and disloyal behavior prevents him from becoming a true hero.
Odysseus portrays himself as anything but a hero throughout Homer’s The Odyssey. Odysseus goes through his life believing he is the best. He has no regard for anyone’s feelings but his own, and he believes nothing and no one can harm him, not even the gods. Odysseus feels he is always the leader and no one can tell him otherwise. Odysseus should not be considered a hero because he portrays himself as a selfish man that failed his crew, and is controlled by his hubris.