Odysseus As A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

In Homer's poem “The Odyssey”, the main character Odysseus is on his way home from his successful campaign in the Trojan war. However the journey towards his home Ithaca is plagued by challenges that are brought by vengeful Gods and mortal whims. Throughout these challenges Odysseus proves himself to not only be a hero of epic proportions but also just an ordinary man at the same time. This is demonstrated through his longing to go home, his loyalty to his men, the emotional toll that is taken out on him every time a new challenge rears its ugly head. It is that mentally and emotionally, Odysseus is a hero of epic proportions, but still an ordinary man at the same time who cares about his brothers and just wants to go home. Having these dual …show more content…
This new setting gives way to another instance of him being heroic and ordinary. After landing Odysseus sends out a group of men to go look for food and water. Hours go bye, and when the search party does return only Eurylochus comes back. Warning Odysseus not to go out there looking for the lost men. Warning him of how they would be put into grave danger by the witch Circe. Disregarding cautionary advice, Odysseus values the lives of him men more than his own and sets out to find them. On his way towards Circe’s halls, he is intercepted by Hermes; the messenger god. Hermes gives him a herb that will make him immune to Circe’s potion that turned his men into pigs. That way later that night, during dinner, he is the only one that is not turned into a pig, which simply astounds Circe. She asks of him to indulge in food and drink or.........whatever else he may desire. Though before he gives into to her whims and sexual desires he asks her “ Oh, Circe, how could any man in his right mind ever endure to taste of the food and drink that are set before him, until with his eyes he saw his companions set free? So then, if you are sincerely telling me to eat and drink, set them free, so my eyes can again behold my eager companions.” She agrees and Odysseus’s men are set free and he reluctantly beds a goddess that night. Now look at how Odysseus reacts to losing his men and how without a second thought he treads forward towards the unknown, looking to save their lives. Luckily with a little divine help, he is able to resist the goddess charms and get his men back. However, look at what is being presented for him by Circe, offering him food, drink, sex, and all he can think about first is getting his men turned back into humans from pigs. That very desire to do so shows an astounding heroic quality in Odysseus that makes him a good leader, who