One of the most revered classical symbols of heroism is Odysseus. The mythological superhuman hero depicted most completely in Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, embodies ideal that many Greeks and people afterwards look up to, like valor, loyalty, and intelligence. For this alone, the popularity of The Odyssey has transcended time, and Odysseus is still admired to this day. Through Homer’s epic Odysseus must struggle with obstacles in his attempt to return home from the Trojan War. Interestingly, the entire extended journey home is put into motion by not Odysseus, but by fellow Achaean, Ajax. Ajax raped the Trojan priestess Cassandra, bringing the wrath of Athena onto the Achaean fleet, where Odysseus was starting his long trip home (The Iliad).
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Instead of just scaring them away he gets enraged and concocts a plan to act as a disguised man and trap them all in a room to that he and his son can slaughter them all. This is also an example that although Odysseus is a true hero in every way, he still has an emotional side, just as any normal mortal. He was very depressed when confined to Calypso’s island, and even sees that, noting that she usually finds him “sitting in his usual place on the stone, wearing out his soul with lamentation and tears.". The suffering he endured from the god’s was great, and at certain times he though the only way for it to end was death, as he had super-human strength, but suffered like any man. However, even though he felt this emotion to give up, he never did, he survived. This is another quality of Homers work, it has inspired people to this day to never give …show more content…
The human emotions he displays connect with the audience and make him more than just a super-human warrior. He becomes just like any one of us through his emotions of anger, depression, and hope. He never gave up on any obstacles, no matter the situation, always doing the best that he could and placing his fate in the hands of the god’s. Odysseus represents a persona that all can hope to attain, a person that doesn’t give up, believes in something, and holds his family above all. For this, his symbol will live on
Instead of just scaring them away he gets enraged and concocts a plan to act as a disguised man and trap them all in a room to that he and his son can slaughter them all. This is also an example that although Odysseus is a true hero in every way, he still has an emotional side, just as any normal mortal. He was very depressed when confined to Calypso’s island, and even sees that, noting that she usually finds him “sitting in his usual place on the stone, wearing out his soul with lamentation and tears.". The suffering he endured from the god’s was great, and at certain times he though the only way for it to end was death, as he had super-human strength, but suffered like any man. However, even though he felt this emotion to give up, he never did, he survived. This is another quality of Homers work, it has inspired people to this day to never give …show more content…
The human emotions he displays connect with the audience and make him more than just a super-human warrior. He becomes just like any one of us through his emotions of anger, depression, and hope. He never gave up on any obstacles, no matter the situation, always doing the best that he could and placing his fate in the hands of the god’s. Odysseus represents a persona that all can hope to attain, a person that doesn’t give up, believes in something, and holds his family above all. For this, his symbol will live on