is odysseus a hero or villain

If Odysseus took the cheese and left, his men would not have had to dealt with Polyphemus. Odysseus says, Then he tore them apart and gobbled them up like a lion in the wilderness, Odysseus the main man The Captain is he really a hero or a villain? No person is perfect, and challenging the ideas of who a hero is reveals the illusion of perfection. Odysseuss actions may seem selfless and/or heroic however they are actually being mistaken for acts of selfishness. All depictions in Ancient Greece and Rome were truly to better enhance the world's view of the artistic human form. But, in his adventure home Odysseus is definitely not taking the responsibility of a hero among his men. Odysseuss inability to think through his rash decisions and recognize the right choice over the honorable and selfish one makes him unfit to be a, In conclusion Odysseus is a true hero even though he was thoughtless, selfish and deceitful. He leads his men into trouble, kills the suitors and maidservants without mercy, and betrays loyal wife. Harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.(The Odyssey line 3). 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. One of the motifs for which Homer has set the precedent is heroes: Homeric heroism is a concept that is widely discussed within scholarship. Odysseus :: The Trickster Hero - Greek Mythology A prime example of this is when Odysseus receives advice from Kirke about Scylla. In The Odyssey, Odysseus along with his men try to go back home to Ithaca but due to Odysseus nature, only he actually returns alive. Odysseus Many times in the epic he manipulates others, commits foolish acts and is full of hubris. He was known for his defining 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. However, three stories of his show specific archetype proficiently and repeatedly. They can be villains, scapegoats, damsels in distress, and the hero themself . He accomplishes many great events like that of defeating the Trojans, slaying the suitors and travelling to and back from Hades. Odysseus was a war hero, fighting against the Trojans as depicted in The Iliad. He led the raid once inside the walls of Troy and is also credited with the idea of the Trojan Horse. On his way home from war, Odysseus is taken on a long journey encountering mythical creatures and gods. The Greeks valued strength in battle, brutality, and vengeance as ideals that a hero should uphold. I chose these three archetypes because I recognized them the most while we were reading the Odyssey. Well, the definition of a hero is : a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities., What is an epic hero? Odysseus knows how loyal his crew is to him so, if one of them was to untie him they could have all ended up dead. He was also the king of Ithaca and the prime protagonist of Homer's epic, the Odyssey. Some people question whether the main character, Odysseus, is a hero or not. Odysseus, when it comes to his crew and family, is confident, compassionate, wise, and always knows a way to get out of any problem. Odysseus, the crafty ruler of Ithaca is not a hero because of his lack of many important heroic qualities. Another plan he implemented was to kill the suitors which is also a success because Odysseus and Telemakos themselves kill over a hundred men without an injury to themselves .Odysseus is a quick-thinker whose resourceful ideas save many lives. While Odysseus does demonstrate some qualities that are not heroic, he is still defined as a hero because of his better, more heroic qualities in which he is far superior in than any other man. Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness. Reflection, Pages 9 (2149 words) Views. THE STUDY CLUB - JSTOR WebFrom Villain to Hero explores the reception of Odysseus in philosophy, a subject that so far has been treated only in tangential or limited ways. The book The Odyssey written by Homer reveals a story of a true hero. This can be said for most of Odysseus's actions in the story, as his main objective is to reach his home. A hero takes many forms, such as an allegorical hero, a tragic hero, or an epic hero. Homer said, But Odysseus shot his right hand out, clutching the nurses throat. He loses his entire crew in the process, intentionally sacrificing some of them to Scylla for his own survival. Another decision Odysseus makes to survive is not eating the cattle of Helios while on Thrinikia, his crew members choice in eating the hallowed cows results in their death, but Odysseus knew the consequences and did not touch a cow. 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. In the epic poem, the Odyssey told by the one and only Homer, the brave, the godlike human, Odysseus is finding his way home after the big battle victory against the Trojans. There was one obstacle where they fell 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 . They can do many small acts of heroism and never become acknowledged as a hero, yet when they do something horrendous they are labeled as a villain. Having his men by his side when he returns seems a trivial thing to him. 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. Instead of beginning with fighting the Cyclops, he takes his time and sets up a plan. Kalypso, Odysseus only cares about himself and his personal benefits, like a villain. Due to the fact that hes very noble and brave (and in an epic poem), that makes him an epic hero. The old soldier in despair: He has spent ten years (seven of them as Calypsos not entirely unwillingly captive) trying to get home (652, summary). This allows readers to truly see Odysseus other side. You don't always have to save a person's life. He never gave up trying to get back home to Ithaca.Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire/ how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him/Odysseus, raider of lost cities, took your eye: Laertes son, whose homes on Ithaca. (1062)This shows that Odysseus is brave because he fights the. The Iliad contains a multitude of these heroes, since the focus of the action is on the Trojan War and various characters stories within this narrative. In Homers The Odyssey, Odysseus is an archetypal hero. When Odysseus receives advice, even if it is helpful he tends to ignore it. WebOdysseus ( The Odyssey) Gilgamesh ( Epic of Gilgamesh) Beowulf ( Beowulf) Character interviews are another great way to get to know your hero especially a dark and complex anti-hero. I wished to see the cave man, what he had to offerno pretty sight, it turned out for my friends. Six of Odysseus men are eaten because of his ridiculous folly. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is on a quest to return home to Ithaca after ten years of war in Troy. A hero is someone who is revered for his or her exceptional achievements and bravery. WebOdysseus is the spitting image of what an ancient Greek hero would be like but in todays society or just in general, Odysseus is not heroic. Odysseus is in between. Academus Education is an online learning platform providing free Classics Education to students through summer schools, articles and digital think tanks. In Homers Odysseus is difficult to identify as a hero because of his many vices. Why Is Odysseus Not Considered A Hero? - FAQS Clear In homer's Odyssey the main character Odysseus is a person who only tries to help himself. Is this not what a villain does? Perhaps not. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2009., I will be writing a essay of the book The Odyssey written by the person Homer. He tries to take shortcuts and as a result of this is men are killed and his boats destroyed. In myths and stories especially, heroes tend to have supernatural capabilities in one form or another, such as superhuman strength, intellect, or even magical abilities. The crew tries to get Odysseus to be quiet, but his ego gets in the way, and he tells Polyphemus his name; leading to Polyphemus cursing him and his men to make the journey home slow and painful. These events lead to him losing crew members and Having his men by his side when he returns seems a trivial thing to him. Odysseus is not a hero because he is selfish. 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 However, he has many traits that explain his clouded judgement. Odysseus could have left his men behind with Circe or the Lotus Eaters, but he. In the age of postmodernism, there are instances where a person can be both a hero and a villain. So Athena is the real. However, he is also a villain; he intrudes and assaults helpless creatures and also he returns home expecting his wife Penelope not to have cheated on him while he was gone. These traits and behaviors are not acceptable for anyone, especially a person considered to be and hailed as a hero. Crying is often seen as a weakness in a man, but this makes Odysseus more endearing as it reveals the labour of his love. Many would argue that Odysseus is more of a villain nowadays, for every instance of his wiliness or feats of strength there are Moving away from Homer, another hero of ancient epic is Aeneas from Virgils Aeneid. He has the qualities of being a hero in some situations but also has flaws which make him seem less of a hero at times. Achilles heroism stems from his excellence in battle and not necessarily his own personal virtues. One form of selfishness Odysseys shows is adultery. Is Odysseus a hero? Odysseus portrays his selfishness right as the book begins and this shows how truly incompetent of an individual he is. Another way in which Odysseus shows he is a villain is when he finally reunites with his wife. Dont married people promise to be faithful, no matter what? However, it is true that Odysseus was kept as Calypsos captive for He may as well be on Americas most wanted list with all the trouble he was causing. This is not how I would describe Odysseus from the book The Odyssey by Homer, everyone always thought of Odysseus as the hero of the story, but he was quite the opposite. Such as next a reasons why Odysseus is not a hero is because he was the cause why his own mother died., If one were to walk methodically through an art gallery viewing the lovely artworks of the past you'd have to really stop and notice those of the Renaissance. 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. Odysseuss first situation was with Kalypso. Odysseus is hard to classify because of his contradicting traits. He does not have any supernatural abilities unlike Achilles who is the son of a goddess and so has superhuman strength and speed. The first reasons why Odysseus is a hero is because he risks his life for crew multiple times throughout the story. Kirke tells Odysseus not to fight Scylla, yet he chooses to anyway. In conclusion, Odysseus throughout his actions proves to be not only veil but a villain. Odysseus, the Cyclops, and Penelope are specific examples of archetypes in this epic poem. During his quest to return home, he encounters many supernatural forces that show both his heroic, and not so heroic actions. Achilles is arrogant and selfish: he refuses to fight at the beginning of the Iliad as his honour has been slighted by Agamemnon stealing his war spoils, a captive girl named Briseis. In another place in the book Odysseus leads his ships to the land of the Laestrygonians. Homer remains one of the most well-read texts even today. One of the many situations Odysseus survives is his encounter with Skylla. 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 of Ithaka. In this case, he is a hero in this story because, Cited: Homer. Towards the begging of the story Odysseus and his men get trapped in a cave by a Cyclopes The Cyclops is eating his men so Odysseus decides he must kill the Cyclops in order to save the remainder of his men. He showed no mercy towards them and killed all the suitors. Odysseus is not a hero because he constantly puts his men in danger and makes decisions without thinking. He tries desperately to return home to Ithaka and his wife, Penelope, and newborn son, Telemachus. Odysseus is a hero because of his selfless attempts in saving his crew members, and his intelligence and cunningness in difficult situations. Odysseus is not a hero based on the standards of merciful, selfless, and gentle because of his actions of sacrificing his men, killing the suitors and being ruthless throughout the Odyssey. That is why he began this trudge across lands in the first place; to be a hero. Explain the situations in which Odysseus shows these qualities. Odysseus During his journey Odysseus used what he has learned from is mistakes to return home and kill the suitors of his wife. While he and his men were on the land of the lotus eaters Odysseus could have left, After defeating the Cyclops and heading back out into the sea he stood on his ship mocking the Cyclops. She was one of the only goddesses on his side. He does not deserve the credit for his getting home from the war at all. So if his gifts and talents are god's power then is he really a hero at all?, Certainly, people can argue both ways and support their arguments from evidence in the reading. Odysseus is perhaps more closely paralleled to a modern-day hero like Batman or Iron Man. 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 portrays his selfishness right as the book begins and this shows how truly incompetent of an individual he is. When he landed on the island of Aiaia, he sleeps with Kirke. Odysseus is able to see who is loyal and who is not and take his revenge with the suitors never knowing who, Odysseus is also disloyal to his wife who stayed faithful to him despite the circumstances. A hero is one who sets a goal in which takes bravery and dedication in order to achieve. He leads his followers into lousy situations where many people were hurt. On many occasions, however, Odysseus makes decisions beneficial to himself alone. A hero is someone who, in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers, goes ahead and overcomes anyway and this shows the quality of a hero that the well-known hero, Odysseus, does not have. One strong archetype in the Odyssey is the hero archetype. He plays with the lives of his men and he is punished for it. He not only slays all of the suitors but also the slave girls who slept with them, an act of violence that is morally abhorrent by modern standards. 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. According to our views, Odysseus is definitely one of, if not the one, ideal hero of the ancient Greek world., All heroes have a certain attribute or character that made them stand out from the rest of the crowd or society. In The Odyssey, Odysseus along with his men try to go back home to Ithaca but due to Odysseus nature, only he actually returns alive. The Odyssey is an amazing piece of literature. Even though Odysseus is a troublemaker, he has multiple great characteristics of a leader. In consequence he possibly endangers the rest of his crew from safely reaching home by endangering himself. 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. Odysseus is clever by doing this because he can predict that the liquor will make him fall asleep. The hero: In the plays The Odyssey, Oedipus Rex, and Antigone the heroes face torturous journeys that put their will power to the test. Of course he did, he just didnt care. This shows that Odysseus had mounted Circes bed and that he had a affair with Circe. He proves then to be a villain by seeking his revenge for the suitors and maidservants that once betray him (696, summary). He takes much conceited pride in In The Odyssey, Odysseus allows all of his men to be killed. Anyone who puts themselves before others not for recognition or an award, but because it is the right thing to do, is a true hero. The Odyssey depicts his ten-year nostos (homeward journey) after the Trojan War until he finally retakes his throne on Ithaca. Heading home, to Ithaca, Odysseus is faced upon many obstacles that he and his men try to overcome, but in the end substantiate that Odysseus is a villain. 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. Circe had warned Odysseus about Scylla to not try and fight her even when she already has six of his men, but he did not listen to her advice and tried to fight her and lost three more of his men. A hero accepts who he is as an individual, but strives to change himself for the better. One of the many reasons I believe this is because he shows that he cares for his comrades. The first archetype this essay will be explaining, Ancient Greek civilizations and their morals. These events lead to him losing crew members and putting them into dangerous situations, elongating his voyage home, and putting his integrity at risk. 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. However he had respect for the gods (Athene), a strong sense of duty, (will always go back for his men) showed great honour and was highly regarded by his men and peers. He plays with the lives of his men with no regard for the well-being or their families. He makes Odysseus look brave and heroic. The qualities in which define Odysseus as a hero are courage, intelligence, and leadership. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus makes mistakes that causes his men to be killed. Despite Odysseus' overconfident nature, Odysseus proves he is a hero by showing bravery and intelligence. Peter Simon. Odysseus was not the hero, though. 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. A hero is one who is distinguished for their courage and bravery, and looked upon for their great deeds. Although people make mistakes does that mean that they cannot be a hero? The defining characteristics of Odysseus in classical literature are interpreted in wildly different ways by different authors: he is portrayed as a hero in Homers The When Odysseus slaughters the Trojans, he starts to act like he was greater than any god. The Odyssey begins after the Trojan war had left Odysseus trapped, pointlessly seafaring for 10 years after angering Poseidon, the god of the sea. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, the main character Odysseus is a valiant king who embarks on a life-changing voyage. The, Odysseus is perhaps more closely paralleled to a modern-day hero like Batman or Iron Man. That plan was to build a big wooden horse as a gift for the trojans, the trojans accepted it and brought it inside their village. This allows readers to truly see Odysseus other side. Penelope didnt need saving either. Odysseus puts his men in danger due to hubris and stupidity. Odysseus feels he is always the leader and no one can tell him otherwise. The Odyssey Project - Is Odysseus a Hero Dexter Morgan. He is on a quest for something of great value to him or his people. 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. When people think of a hero, they think of a tall, handsome, loyal, brave, and a type of man that could do no wrong. An epic hero is on a quest of self discovery, war or some sort of goal. One example of this would be when he tells Polyphemus that his name is Nobody. The archetype of heroism allows an individual to serve as the primary example of what society deems, archetypes the hero, villain/monster, and the damsel in distress. Some men were killed by the Cyclops, a huge monster with one eye. Odysseus has no reason to save his mens lives but for his own convenience. Of course not, but does not being a villain automatically make him a hero? Even though they disobey him constantly, Odysseus is still loyal to them. Odysseus was also selfish when he sailed near the lands of Sirens.Steer wide; keep well to seaward; plug your oarsmens ears with beeswax kneaded soft(Homer 669-671). Some men were killed by the Cyclops, a huge monster with one eye. He first shows his Valiant behavior during the war in Troy, he cares about his crew and survives the war. Odysseus, Hero or Villain? 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. Another way Odysseus' quick-decision skills helps him is when he chooses to leave the island of the Lotous-eaters, because he realized his whole crew would have fell under the curse if he had stayed there. He never failed to remember his main goal was to get back to his wife and son in Ithaca.Odysseus was brave enough to conquer these many obstacles on his way home. She clearly states that she loves Odysseus and her heart could be given to no other: Forgive me, dont be angry. Odysseus goes through his life believing he is the best. Well in the story of The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus has a lot of honorable characteristics, but he also has a few immoral characteristics. This also shows that he is not a hero because he was mean because when the crew members were yelling his name he never saved them all he did was watch them die. 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. Achilles, Odysseus, and Aeneas are undoubtedly heroes but they would all certainly feel out of place in a superhero movie of today! The superheroes we idealise today are heroes because of their selflessness and commitment to helping others rather than personal motivations. As Odysseus is about to kill the Cyclops, he remembers that he is trapped in a cave with a large boulder blocking the entrance that he and his men will not be able to move. 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. He also showed great Athleticism which was very important and highly regarded. Odysseus comments that his crew tried to calm him down and get him to stop talking, but he. Although there has been some evidence that points to Odysseus not being a hero, this essay will give three reasons why Odysseus should be respected as 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. I armed myself long ago against the frauds of men. 13181950) Selwood, Fleet, GU51 4QT. He put himself before his men because he wanted a gift from the cave owner. Odysseus Hero An epic hero is braver, stronger, and cleverer than an ordinary person. The possession of the character trait, arrogance, does not help him in escaping, but rather puts him closer to danger. Of course, though, he never tells his loyal wife Penelope about his love affairs with Calypso and Circe. Of course, though, he never tells his loyal wife Penelope about his love affairs with Calypso and Circe. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Many would argue that Odysseus is more of a villain nowadays, for every instance of his wiliness or feats of strength there are several of venality, vice, cruelty, or selfishness. He was a villain and there is no doubt about it. 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. Neither does he lack in ingenuity, King Nestor said that No onecould hope to rival Odysseus, not for sheer cunningat every twist of strategy he excelled us all .      Is Odysseus, the main character of Homers The Odyssey, really an epic hero? So is Odysseus really a hero? From Villain to Hero Odysseus is finally home, on Ithaca, and is then helped by Athena and disguises himself as an old beggar. A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom. (Bob Dylan). She only wanted Odysseus to come home and for the suitors to stop eating their food. A hero like this is not just found in modern society today, but in mythology as well. The hero that is portrayed in the Odyssey is a man named Odysseus. A hero is someone who is compassionate, selfless, and wise. Despite multiple pleas to return to fighting, he continually refuses until his companion Patroclus is killed by Hector. He thinks he is the most intelligent human being, even more so than the gods. Another way in which Odysseus shows he is a villain is when he finally reunites with his wife Penelope and reacts with rage when she tests him. This shows that he is really selfish because instead of sacrificing his life he was thinking about him self and he killed his crew members. Odysseus has stolen from people, raped women, and murdered people when it all could have been avoided. Odysseus: Hero Or Villain? - 412 Words | Bartleby In another place in the book, six of Odysseuss best men are killed by the six headed beast Scylla. He fearlessly leads his remaining men home to Ithaca, doing everything in his power to get them back alive and well. The deaths of his men are the result of Odysseus weaknesses. Odysseus, during his quest, is forced to venture through a merciless Cyclops, angered Gods, deeply obstinate Goddesses, the underworld, and determined suitors that are after his wife Penelope. Odysseus was considered a hero among the people in Ancient Greek times. For generations people have been correct to honor the great Odysseus, for his actions along his adventures. Odysseus tells the Phaeacians in his story, So they spoke, but they could not persuade my great-hearted spirit; and I answered him again with angry heart: Cyclops, if any one of mortal men shall ask thee about the shameful blinding of thine eye, say that Odysseus, the sacker of cities, blinded it, even the son of Laertes, whose home is in Ithaca(Homer.9.500-506). He earns the respect of his men during the Trojan War by making good sound decisions and caring about the welfare of his men. On the other hand Polyphemus, the monster, is made to be hostile, beast-like and dimwitted. Many times in the epic he manipulates others, commits foolish acts and is full of hubris. Odysseus clearly believes that he is above the rules that most people in society chose to, Odysseus tends to make rash decisions and often finds it impossible to control his impulses. But Polyphemus shouted out to, Odysseus Defines an Epic Hero We say put out again on good salt water. Yet, I refused. First off, Odysseus had to leave his family to go to Troy. He is cunning, sly, suave, strong, confident and self-possessed. Odysseus rashness comes into play again when the ship rolls past the Sirens and Odysseus demands that he listens to their song. 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.

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is odysseus a hero or villain