is odysseus a hero or villain

Odysseus is sailing away from Cyclops Island and he is teasing Polyphemus about escaping. Odysseus consists of positive and negative characteristics that is shown in the text by Homer. He returns to the fight purely for the selfish reason of avenging Patroclus death, rather than for the noble cause of Greek victory. Another example of Odysseuss ignorance toward people is when Eurylochus tells him not to go onto Kirkes island because he knows the crew would be turned into swine. While he was extremely driven by one goal, getting back home to his family, he performed some not-so heroic deeds on his quest and once he arrived back in Ithaca. The quintessential hero of the Iliad is Achilles, aristos achaion (the best of the Greeks), who is the most esteemed warrior in Homeric epic. He earns the respect of his men during the Trojan War by making good sound decisions and caring about the welfare of his men. One strong archetype in the Odyssey is the hero archetype. Odysseus was a legendary hero in Greek mythology. (19.542-43). Homers Odyssey is about an epic hero named Odysseus and his quest home. With Michelles humanitarian work and benevolent attitude, she helps those in need while trying to better society. When they get there they see a giantess who then calls her husband. To homer and the other people of early Greece he probably was a hero. Largely, the problems with understanding the moral position of Odysseus stem from his immense experience and cleverness, which make him at once mortal and fantastic. Odysseus was also very arrogant to think that he could get past the Sirens. The trojans didn't know Odysseus and his men were inside the big wooden horse, Odysseus and his men eventually came out and attacked the trojans and won the war. From Villain to Hero explores the reception of Odysseus in philosophy, a subject that so far has been treated only in tangential or limited ways. There are ups and downs to every situation, and through reading The Odyssey, readers can connect parallels between Odysseus experiences and lessons learned in their own life. Despite Odysseus' overconfident nature, Odysseus proves he is a hero by showing bravery and intelligence. He is consistently seen to display piety and is perhaps more closely aligned with our ideals of a modern hero in his selfless motivations, comparable to a superhero like Hawkeye whose duty to family trumps all. While traveling from Troy back to his home in Ithaka, King Odysseus overcomes daunting obstacles, and in doing so discovers his place in the world. Hes also a very famous archetype for The Hero. Some people question whether the main character, Odysseus, is a hero or not. Everyone thinks he is not a hero is he slept with circe there is a reason why that is not a strong reason that he is not a hero. Odysseus comments that his crew tried to calm him down and get him to stop talking, but he. Odysseus is perhaps more closely paralleled to a modern-day hero like Batman or Iron Man. During his journey Odysseus used what he has learned from is mistakes to return home and kill the suitors of his wife. Odysseus cheats on his wife more than once; it was not a simple lapse in judgment. Some men were killed by the Cyclops, a huge monster with one eye. He was also clever and dedicated to all his plans and ideas to conquer creatures and return home. He is not a hero, however, when his These statues usually period pieces from Italian or French masters such as Donatello or Praxiteles were always sculpting realistic visions of the Gods such as Hermes. Athena, however, aided him when he arrived to his homeland. Although he is brave and sometimes smart, so is a villain. If Odysseus took the cheese and left, his men would not have had to dealt with Polyphemus. People describe them as brave, daring, and trustworthy. He may have super hero qualities such as extreme strength and cleverness but he doesnt embody them the way one should. Odysseus tends to use strategy over strength to be a hero when it comes to challenges. In Homers Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero. In this case, he is a hero in this story because, Cited: Homer. You don't always have to save a person's life. Dont married people promise to be faithful, no matter what? In addition to saving lives a hero should be humble, Odysseus does not fit that description, his hubris is as big as the moon. This allows readers to truly see Odysseus other side. Ed. Written about two thousand and seven hundred years earlier, the Odyssey is still influencing modern storytelling today. Odysseus rashness comes into play again when the ship rolls past the Sirens and Odysseus demands that he listens to their song. WebOdysseus may be considered a hero because he is high born, a brave fighter, an intelligent trickster, and one who earns favor from the gods. This shows that he is selfish because he doesn't care about the nurse. Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness. He was also loyal to his men. Odysseus is a hero because all he wants to do is go home and protect his family. Finally, Odysseus is home and after a long journey in which he shows no heroic actions and yet proves to be nothing but a villain, he once again proves throughout his actions that he is a villain. In another place in the book, six of Odysseuss best men are killed by the six headed beast Scylla. Odysseus is a good hero because he is rational when times get tough. The Greeks valued strength in battle, brutality, and vengeance as ideals that a hero should uphold. Most of these mistakes could have been fixed by Odysseus making better decisions throughout his journey. He is consistently referred to with the epithet a man of many ways (compared to the swift-footed Achilles), demonstrating that Odysseus heroism is due to mental rather than physical strength. Humans make mistakes, and seeing Odysseus failures humanizes him and makes him more realistic. It states in the book, Athena touched him with her wand and covered him with wrinkles. Athena made the plan to defeat the suitors and helped disguise Odysseus. He told her not to tell anyone who he really is. Even though they disobey him constantly, Odysseus is still loyal to them. During his quest to return home, he encounters many supernatural forces that show both his heroic, and not so heroic actions. WebOdysseus is an epic hero because he cares about his family, he is intelligent and he shows courage and because he shows determination. Peter Simon. A hero accepts who he is as an individual, but strives to change himself for the better. Odysseus then has many hardships upon which he overcomes through his intelligence and wit. WebOdysseus was a legendary hero in Greek mythology, king of the island of Ithaca and the main protagonist of Homer's epic, the Odyssey.. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness. Through The Meadowlands and The Penelopiad, Circe and Penelope showed their strong opinions of this hero through their, Archetypes are evident in all kinds of classic literature, but Homers The Odyssey reveals archetypes in heroes, villains, and a journey. Odysseus defies the suitors and wins his wife and kingdom back. The first archetype this essay will be explaining, Ancient Greek civilizations and their morals. The first archetype i 'll be explaining is the hero, characteristics of a hero, sage, and villain. thinks of himself as a hero. This shows that Odysseus had mounted Circes bed and that he had a affair with Circe. Odysseus says, Then he tore them apart and gobbled them up like a lion in the wilderness. All of Odysseuss men are killed by the end of the book. One reason for this claim is odysseus is smart, brave, and kind and another reason is he wants to go home and protect his family. The hero that is portrayed in the Odyssey is a man named Odysseus. In the main character this realism must be found in his character, in Odyessues's case there is a great lack of actual muscular heroic action. Odysseus appears to be heroic but looking closer this rash decision was selfish. The episode of the Sirens,(Book 12), is one example. One of these plans was his ingenious idea to trick Polyphemos, which shows he is a hero by saving countless lives. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Odysseus is not a hero because he constantly puts his men in danger and makes decisions without thinking. ro \hir- ()\ Noun a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal Literary Devices Like most epic heroes, Odysseus has been mostly harmed by the gods. Many times in the epic he manipulates others, commits foolish acts and is full of hubris. Joseph Campbell once said, A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. True heroes are those who do something for others rather for themselves, Odysseus doesnt exactly show this trait in The Odyssey. Odysseus presents himself as a strong leader throughout this epic poem, but the characteristic that appeared the most is his encouraging, Odysseus, son of Laertes, king of Ithaca is not what most would call a hero, he cheats, he steals, and he lies, none of which happen to be ideal qualities. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is quite the legend known to people, whether you are high up in the sky with Zeus, or deep in the ocean with Poseidon, everyone knows Odysseus. WebOdysseus, Hero or Villain? However, it is true that Odysseus was kept as Calypsos captive for Is Odysseus a hero or a villain? Odysseus has these qualities and more. Is Odysseus a hero or a villain? Odysseus had come up with a plan for his men during the war. The hero's journey is about self-discovery and self-development. The mighty Odysseus is many, many things but he is no hero in my eyes. Odysseus said, comrades riven in agony/ shrieking out my name // angler poised on a jutting rock // gasping out their lives. WebOdysseus is a villain because he is stubborn in Polyphemuss cave, disrespectful to the gods, and is unfaithful to his wife. There is many thing that can support this claim. This allows readers to truly see Odysseus other side. The simple acts of heroism are often overlooked-thats very clear to me not only in war but in peace (source 2). He does not deserve the credit for his getting home from the war at all. Odysseus was also a prominent character in another Homeric epic, the Iliad. Heroes are supposed to be rational, faithful, and honest, whereas, Penelope spent twenty years waiting for Odysseus to return home. Odysseus has no reason to save his mens lives but for his own convenience. Odysseus may be an epic hero, but he is far from a true one., The general populous has hailed Odysseus as the epitome of the epic hero for several centuries, but to the modern reader, he comes off as anything but. I chose these three archetypes because I recognized them the most while we were reading the Odyssey. 2765. For example, when Odysseus and his men approach the giant he offers him liquor to wash down your scraps of men (Homer 991). First off, Odysseus had to leave his family to go to Troy. Due to the fact that hes very noble and brave (and in an epic poem), that makes him an epic hero. Kalypso, Odysseus only cares about himself and his personal benefits, like a villain. The rest of his crew that wasnt under Circes spell would have been lost if Odysseus died because they rely so heavily on him. wait until the sender of the message realises that the Athenian tragedians also engaged in the vilification of Odysseus and he is far from the hero, neither the protagonist or the morally correct one, in several of the most moving pieces of the golden age of Athenian literature Odysseus is the villain in SO many stories. However most myths are in this way, there doesn't seem to be many relatable things in these stories but the overral moral connects to the reader making the myth more realistic. Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness. He leads his followers into lousy situations where many people were hurt. In Greek literature, Odysseus is known as a hero, but that statement is often contested. Take a deeper look into the definition of a hero and explore a character analysis of epic hero characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. Updated: 12/14/2021 If I asked you to think of your hero, who would it be? The president? A sports legend? Batman? An epic hero struggles and is overwhelmed with difficulties. Odysseus is in between. Odysseus left Calypsos Island and began his journey back home. Homer said, But Odysseus shot his right hand out, clutching the nurses throat. Superman, for example, is considered a hero because despite not having any personal stakes in Earth as he is a superpowered alien he consistently tries to save the world and the people living in it. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. Odysseus doesnt deserve the title of a hero because he made bad decisions that affected his crew poorly, Athena did almost all of the work in getting him home, and he cheated on his wife multiple times throughout his journey home. Odysseus says, Then he tore them apart and gobbled them up like a lion in the wilderness Some men were killed by the Cyclops, a huge monster with one eye. He makes another smart decision in choosing to go through Skylla instead of Kharybdis because only six of his crew members die instead of the whole crew. In the epic poetry, The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus exhibits his arrogance, foolishness, and his lack of leadership in which it leads to him going home by himself. Need a custom essay on the same He was known for his defining What makes someone a hero? He takes the punishment of Antinous and the other suitors without saying a word and is able to see those who have invaded his house. These characteristics impact the characters day to day, or in the books case, the quests. The majority of those who read The Odyssey consider the protagonist of the story, Odysseus, a hero. He leads his followers into lousy situations where many people were hurt. When on the beach in Phaeacia he confidently stalked as a mountain lion exultant in his power strides through wind and rain and his eyes blaze and he charges sheep or oxen or chases wild deer , and when he sees Nausicaa He launched in at once, endearing, sly and suave . He does not have any supernatural abilities unlike Achilles who is the son of a goddess and so has superhuman strength and speed. A hero to me is supposed to save lives. A prime example of this is when Odysseus receives advice from Kirke about Scylla. Well known heroes do not kill people with no sympathy or mercy. In the Odyssey, Homer values the characteristics hospitality and cunning, but he objects bad leadership. Odysseuss first situation was with Kalypso. Then Odysseus threatened her. WebOdysseus is not a hero because he was not a good leader. War itself may also be considered an antagonist in the poem war is what separated Odysseus from his home, and he spends much of the poem battling the traumas he and his men suffered in the Trojan War. For instance, Odysseus says that Circes luxuries appealed to his and his mens battle-hardened spirits. The opening line of The Odyssey introduces Odysseus by his epithet, the man of twists and turns.. For generations people have been correct to honor the great Odysseus, for his actions along his adventures. These characteristics impact the characters day to day, or in the books case, the quests. All the little kids probably looked up to him but now kids don't even know his name. He often does things based purely on a feeling. Harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.(The Odyssey line 3). He makes Odysseus look brave and heroic. An epic hero embodies several heroic traits such as; having superior or super-human strength; being intellectual and courageous; and being a strong and responsible leader. In consequence he possibly endangers the rest of his crew from safely reaching home by endangering himself. When people think of a hero, they think of a tall, handsome, loyal, brave, and a type of man that could do no wrong. Odysseus from the Ancient Greek epic The Odyssey by Homer is often considered a hero, although he does not share the same characteristics that most people who are considered heroes in todays popular culture have. Being a hero originally means a brave person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.. Sometimes being a hero is difficult. Throughout the Odyssey Odysseus faces an internal battle between loyalty and betrayal in the presence of numerous temptations. Odysseus is not a hero because he was not humble or good at accepting the help that he received, and he also acted before synthesizing the consequences that he would face in the future. Some people question whether the main character, Odysseus, is a hero or not. However especially in the later books of the Aeneid which focus on war he is still seen accruing kleos by going on a killing spree, and partakes in considerable bloodshed and vengeance; notably, at the end of the Aeneid, he kills Turnus unnecessarily to seek revenge for the death of Pallas. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus makes mistakes that causes his men to be killed. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero. 1. When trapped on Calypsos island he shows no attempt to escape and instead finds pleasure in being their. Moving away from Homer, another hero of ancient epic is Aeneas from Virgils Aeneid. Heroism is a concept that changes over time as society changes, and the values that each society upholds determines who they view as a hero. When the men said Why not take these cheeses, Archetypes are characteristics or characters that can define a hero. Diomedes, Odysseus, Ajax, and even Hector are all examples of Homeric heroes: they win kleos (glory) in battle by defeating their enemies in killing sprees which display their aristeia (battle excellence) the ability to defeat the enemy is what epitomises a Homeric hero. 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. Odysseus is different from other heroes. Odysseus thinks he is being heroic and manly, but he is actually placing his life and that of the crews in danger all because he wants to hear the song of the sirens. WebIn Homers The Odyssey, Odysseus is considered the hero of the story. One of the many reasons I believe this is because he shows that he cares for his comrades. When Odysseus slaughters the Trojans, he starts to act like he was greater than any god. What a hero is a person that will give everything that they have to save another person from any harm. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus is rational when dealing with many situations. The main character is a man named Odysseus who displays hero characteristics throughout the book. He is brave, but also conceited.      Is Odysseus, the main character of Homers The Odyssey, really an epic hero? Having his men by his side when he returns seems a trivial thing to him. Due to the many unfaithful and self-centered decisions he makes in the story, Odysseus is not a hero. On Ithaca Odysseus never brags to the suitors and is able to enter his house with the Antinous and the other suitors knowing his real identity. He was a villain and there is no doubt about it. Odyessus is more wit then might and he actually applies this to his survival, however there is no doubt that these talents are given by the Goddess Athena who watches over his every move. In The Odyssey, Odysseus allows all of his men to be killed.

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