Odysseus As A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

Anyone who is successful in completing a gallant and courageous act, can be considered a hero. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is an admirable hero because he uses strategy instead of strength to overcome several obstacles. Homer presents this in Odysseus’s use of deception, the route he chooses to get home, his choice of words and his use of disguises. To overcome a hurdle one may wish for a great deal of strength. Yet when Odysseus came in contact with a giant Cyclops, he never questioned nor focused on his lack of vitality. Instead, Odysseus used his cunning skills and trickery to his advantage ultimately succeeding in escaping and getting his crew to safety. After landing on the island of the Cyclops, the men found themselves in a dangerous …show more content…
Odysseus was able to use his words to help him out of dilemmas and return home. With the help of Athena, Odysseus was set free after seven years of being trapped on Calypso’s island. Calypso was in love with Odysseus and did not want to let him go. In one of their last conversations Calypso asks Odysseus why he wanted to leave her for Penelope. However, Odysseus knew telling her the truth would only make her upset. He chose to tell her that it’s not that he wants to leave her for Penelope but that he wants to return to Ithaka and that he ultimately misses Ithaka. He continues to tell Calypso that Penelope has nothing compared to a beautiful goddess, such as herself, “My quiet Penelope-how well I know-/ would seem a shade before your majesty,/ death and old age being unknown to you,/ while she must die” (5.225-28). In saying this Odysseus was able to save himself from the horrible wrath of Calypso and sail away in his raft off the island. Odysseus’ silence was also golden and it benefited him as well. He continually keeps his identity a secret and can remain unknown to several people for a long period of time. Even when he does reveal himself it is usually a lie, followed by a made up backstory. Even when he reaches Ithaka, Odysseus continues to lie, about who he is, even though he is now in his homeland. He is skeptical and questions everything, yet this makes his planning more strategic and …show more content…
In order to get home Odysseus had to choose which path him and his crew will venture. Having the choice of Kharybdis, a deadly whirlpool or Skylla, a six-headed monster, “if you come upon her [Kharybdis] then/ the god who makes earth tremble could not save you/ No, hug the cliff of Skylla, take your ship/ through on a racing stroke” (12.126-29). Odysseus, in taking all the information given to him by Kirke and Teiresias opted for the route with Skylla. In doing so Odysseus lost six of his best men, however he reaches the island of Helios. Although Odysseus’ decision caused a loss of crewmates, he made the suitable verdict. Passing Kharybdis, would result in the destruction of their ship as well as his men. It is better to mourn the loss of six men than lose them all, and the ship as well. This conveys that a hero has to maintain the willpower to make difficult decisions. Odysseus has to carry the burden of knowing that his decisions cost somebody’s life. In being a hero one may have to make split second decisions, that not only impact themselves but their whole team. Odysseus being the great leader he is also made the risky decision to travel to the underworld in order to receive information to help them get home. In doing so he was informed about Helios' cattle and the prophecy of him and his crew getting home. Odysseus made the sacrifice in order to further his journey to Ithaka. The aforementioned