Odysseus a hero? The only heroes I know are Superman, Batman, and Ironman. How can someone as normal as Odysseus be compared to someone as strong as Batman? The truth is Odysseus, raider of cities, is in fact an archetypal hero.
The four characteristics Odysseus exemplified to make himself a hero are: bravery, faithfulness, intelligence, and determination. First off, Odysseus was a very brave person. Even though and underdog, Odysseus never backed down. His first act of bravery was his ability to face the mighty Trojan army. He was selected to join the war and refused. So the Greeks put his baby Telemachus in front of a plow.
He quickly stopped it and accepted the challenge being the brave person he was. ” But the ‘draft board’ was smarter than Odysseus. They threw his baby Telemachus in front of his oncoming plow. ”(David Adams Leeming 643) Another act of bravery on Odysseus’ part, was taunting the massive Cyclops Polyphemus. ”O Cyclops! Would you feast on my companions? Puny, am I, in a caveman’s hands? How do you like the beating that we gave you, you damned cannibal? ”(Homer 476) The last act of Odysseus’ bravery was his willingness to go to the underworld.
There Odysseus met Thebes. Thebes requested that Odysseus let him taste blood.Odysseus, the brave man that he was, cut himself to please Thebes.
“At this I stepped aside, and in the scabbard let the long sword ring home to the pommel silver as he bent down to taste the somber blood. ”(Homer 615) Odysseus, as brave as he was, was also faithful. His first act was his ability to leave Calypso. He said he had to get home. In the process Odysseus gave up eternal life. “If you could see it all, before you go all the adversity you face at sea-you would stay here, and guard this house, and be immortal. ”(Homer 104) As with Calypso, Circe also fell to the faithful Odysseus.
Circe was the goddess of lust.It is told that Circe was the most beautiful woman for miles. Again, Odysseus pleads to go home. ” Odysseus and his men beg Circe to help them return home. ”(Homer ) The final way Odysseus was faithful was he fought all of the suitors for Penelope and Telemachus.
He wanted to serve his duty as a father and save Telemachus. Instead of letting the suitors steal his wife Odysseus fought more that a hundred men. “Although Odyseeus is ready to reclaim his rightful kingdom, he must first confront more than a hundred hostile suitors.
”(Homer ) He faced off for his wife and defeated all of the suitors.Odysseus, you’ve probably already guessed is a very determined person. He never thought about giving up on home. “Yet, it is true, each day Odysseus long for home, long for the sight of home. ”(Homer 117) He also wanted to see his son. In the 20 years Telemachus was alive, Odysseus hadn’t seen him one. Telemachus was born shortly after Odysseus left for Troy.
Although his determination was greater than ever, It didn’t stop the obstacles in his way from appearing. One of the obstacles that really tested his determination was Scyclla. Scyclla was a three-headed serpent that lived between a strait. As we sailed toward Scyclla I said nothing, as we could do nothing. ”(Homer 791) Scyclla proved no match for the small boat as the boat and some of Odysseus’ warriors were diminished. Still, Odysseus trudged on. Last, Odysseus was intelligent.
He first tricked the Cyclops into thinking his name was nohbdy. This way the Cyclops would tell his friends that nohbdy was there when he attacked. “Remember the gift you promised me and I shall tell you. My name is Nohbdy. ”(Homer 360) The Cyclops believed him because he was drunk and was eventually defeated by him. He also fooled the Trojans.The Trojans believed the horse that Odysseus made was a gift that the greeks surrendered. When, in fact, the the Greeks were hiding in it.
The Trojans partied and when everyone was sleep, the Greeks went in and slit everyone’s throat. Last he had his friends move all the suitors weapons. The suitor’s died from the strength of Odysseus and their lack of weapons. Overall, Odysseus was a strong and powerful hero. He was: brave, faithful, intelligent, and determined. These four things make Odysseus an archetypal hero. He preserved and won the battle.
Now, only now may Odysseus rest at home.