Essay on The Unheroic Traits of Odysseus in Homer's The Odyssey

The Odyssey written by Homer highlights the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, in his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus is accredited with many strong traits including his nobility, smarts, and bravery. Having one tragic flaw, being his arrogance, was put to the test throughout his heroic journey. Homer stripped the protagonist of his arrogance as the story goes on, by giving him many challenges, giving dire consequences for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus’ journey was to reach his home as a humbled man. The hero’s journey can be used as a way to look at life’s morals. The reader is able to see the protagonist continue to make mistakes, because of his arrogance and continue to be punished by the gods. Once he overcame this, he is greatly awarded with the security of his home. This essay will analyze the arrogance of Odysseus along with his extraordinary traits, the molding of his identity, and his new found lesson of humility.

Odysseus has no reason to save his men’s lives but for his own convenience. 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 finally home, on Ithaca, and is then helped by Athena and disguises himself as an old beggar. He proves then to be a villain by seeking his revenge for the suitors and maidservants that once betray him (696, summary). 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 reveals Odysseus is a villain because he reacts as if he was innocent and some way being betrayed by his own wife. Of course, though, he never tells his loyal wife Penelope about his love affairs with Calypso and Circe. In conclusion, Odysseus throughout his actions proves to be not only veil but a villain. He leads his men into trouble, kills the suitors and maidservants without mercy, and betrays loyal wife. This allows readers to truly see Odysseus other side. He was a villain and there is no doubt about it. However, think about his so called heroic actions and the way he made everything work out for his own benefits. He knew he was a villain and somehow still got away with

His bragging almost results in the death of his entire crew. Odysseus doesn't think highly of his men, and this is apparent throughout the entire story.

Odysseus, king of Ithaca, was probably on of the greatest warriors in the history of Ancient Greece. It is said that the poet, Homer, wrote the story of the Odyssey. In this story, Odysseus and his crew are trying to make their voyage back home to Ithaca after they have fought with the Trojans. During the long journey, Odysseus will show some of his character traits which include his bravery, cleverness, and wisdom that will assist him with the situations he encounters on his journey home.

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

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 doesn’t exactly show this trait in The Odyssey. 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. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus proves he is not a hero because he is arrogant, secretive, and unfaithful; resulting for readers to believe that every action has an consequence.

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 is the main character in an epic poem called the Odyssey. In the poem Odysseus has had some bad luck getting home, with some of the gods helping him and some hindering him; his journey towards home is a constant struggle. In this poem we see a man being broke and rebuilt, through constant irony his faith was damaged and without the help of Athena he probably would have given up on his journey. Through his hard work and wise spirit he finally does achieve his goal.

When Odysseus returned home to his wife and son, he took a very brutal approach to rid his home of the suitors who had invaded his household.  This revenge was also taken out upon the servants and maids who had been unfaithful to Penelope and had slept with the suitors.  Some may say this punishment was too harsh, and made Odysseus less than an honorable man.  However, Odysseus’s actions were justifiable.

In the story Odysseus shows a lot of traits to help him get home to his family.one trait he shows in the story is the use of knowledge. During the whole journey he uses knowledge to help him back home. His knowledge helps him get away from creatures from the island but his crew does not make it but he does about them he cares mostly about his family he is faced with a lot of creatures on the island but because of the use of knowledge he is going to escape them and be able to make it home to is kingdom that he not seen for twenty years

In The Odyssey, a book originally composed by Homer, we focus on a man by the name of Odysseus, suffering the wrath of Poseidon, the God of earthquakes. The story takes place after the Trojan war, a 10 year battle finally won by the epic hero’s brilliant idea. Over the span of another 10 years, we watch him and his crew fight to return home, battling the elements and temptations along the way, as well as the monsters and heathens so conveniently placed for his misfortune. And not only does he have to conquer such deadly creatures, but his fellow Achaeans as well in their efforts to court his wife. Odysseus is forced to exercise three main traits in order for him to sustain such hardships: endurance, patience, and intelligence.

He decided to attack the Cicones and rejoice in his victory all too early. His choice ended with most of his subordinates dying. "Odysseus and his crew raid the Cicones, robbing and killing them until the Ciconian army kills 72 of his Odysseus' me and drives the rest of them out to sea" (page 373). His expression of supremacy over others and his pride constantly causes more problems for himself and his followers. "neither reply nor pity came from him, but in one stride he clutched at my companions and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out" (lines 191-194). If Odysseus hadn't demanded the cyclopes to be hospitable to them his men would've still been

In stories from ancient times, all heroes possess the same qualities such as courage, confidence and intelligence. Homer’s Odysseus is nothing short of these qualities. In fact, he is the paradigm if a hero.

Even though the definition of hero has changed drastically over the years, characters in The Odyssey, an epic that describes the journey of Odysseus trying to return to his home, Troy, exhibit traits that can apply to both the ancient and modern definition of a hero. The main character, Odysseus, isn’t the only one. For example, after being stuck on an island due to a storm, Odysseus and his crew are faced with a decision to either starve, or kill the sun god’s (Helios) cattle. One of Odysseus’ first mates, Eurylochus, was thinking about how that would affect the entire crew. After weighing the pros and cons, he stated: “Comrades,’ he said, ‘All deaths are hateful to us, mortal wretches, but famine is the most pitiful, the worst end that a man can come to. Will you fight it?” (879-83). Contemplating consequences, Eurylochus then decided that they would eat the cattle and suffer the wrath. The quote shows that Eurylochus was thinking about his crew, and was deciding on the best possible course of action for him and his men. He stated that he and his comrades would rather die from the gods than to suffer through famine. Consequently, his actions proved heroic—the first thing he thought of was how it would affect him and his crew. Then he put into action what he thought

Even though the definition of hero has changed drastically over the years, characters in The Odyssey, an epic that describes the journey of Odysseus trying to return to his home, Troy, exhibit traits that can apply to both the ancient and modern definition of a hero. The main character, Odysseus, isn’t the only one. For example, after being stuck on an island due to a storm, Odysseus and his crew are faced with the decision to either starve, or kill the sun god’s (Helios) cattle. One of Odysseus’ first mates, Eurylochus, was thinking about how that would affect the entire crew. He weighed the pros and cons, then stated: “Comrades,’ he said, ‘All deaths are hateful to us, mortal wretches, but famine is the most pitiful, the worst end that a man can come to. Will you fight it?”(Homer 879-83). Eurylochus then decided that they would eat the cattle and suffer the consequences. The quote shows that Eurylochus was thinking about his crew, and was deciding on the best possible course of action for him and his men. He decided that him and his comrades would rather die from the gods than to suffer through famine. His actions proved heroic—the first thing he thought of was how it would affect him and his crew. Then he put into action what he thought was best for his crew.