In Homer’s Greek epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus possesses several characteristics that qualify him to be a man of honor in classical Greek literature. However, in Emily Wilson’s translation, Odysseus’s epithet is described as “complicated”, and in Robert Fagles’s translation, he is referred to as a “man of twists and turns” (Homer, The Odyssey, 1.1). Odysseus’s moral values encompass those of a hero, such as his outstanding capabilities as a warrior and tactician, but his negligence and exaggerated sense of his own abilities undermine the traditional values a hero typically holds.
A component of Odysseus’s flaws is his self-centered practices that inhibit his ability to make sound judgements. When Aeolus provides Odysseus with the bag of wind …show more content…
The roots of Odysseus’s betrayal lie within his family, more specifically with his son, Telemachus. His absence through his son's adolescence causes Telemachus to grow up without a father, leaving Odysseus as an undependable figure from an early age. In contrast to his relationship with his own father, Odysseus is unable to mold his son into the heroic being that he himself is characterized as– a common theme for the father and son relationship in epics. Therefore it is not Odysseus, but Athena, that eventually marks Telemachus’s transition into manhood. She remarks to him, “[He] must not cling to [his] boyhood any longer– it’s time he were a man”, referring to Telemachus’s quest to finally find his missing father (Homer, 1.341-342). Odysseus's abandonment of his fatherly duties bears resemblance to his responsibilities as the King of Ithaca as well. Odysseus betrays the loyalty of his people by killing all of the suitors, “[ripping] their lives out...never [giving] a chance of flight or rescue” in order to satisfy vengeance for his injured ego (Homer, 22.319-320). The killing of the town's best men results in the fathers declaring war against their king. The leadership of a king and his people relies on trust, and Odysseus’s vengeful actions against his own people results in him losing credibility as a King. Not only does Odysseus severe his ties with his subjects in Ithaca, he also exploits the trust and confidence that his crewmen place on him. When Odysseus and his men hide behind the sheep in Polyphemus’s cave, Odysseus places himself under “the prize of all the flock...clinging for dear life” (Homer, 9.482-486). When placed in formidable situations, Odysseus deliberately ensures his own safety first rather than the safety of his men. Epic heroes often sacrifice themselves and willingly die for honor, but Odysseus undermines these
A component of Odysseus’s flaws is his self-centered practices that inhibit his ability to make sound judgements. When Aeolus provides Odysseus with the bag of wind …show more content…
The roots of Odysseus’s betrayal lie within his family, more specifically with his son, Telemachus. His absence through his son's adolescence causes Telemachus to grow up without a father, leaving Odysseus as an undependable figure from an early age. In contrast to his relationship with his own father, Odysseus is unable to mold his son into the heroic being that he himself is characterized as– a common theme for the father and son relationship in epics. Therefore it is not Odysseus, but Athena, that eventually marks Telemachus’s transition into manhood. She remarks to him, “[He] must not cling to [his] boyhood any longer– it’s time he were a man”, referring to Telemachus’s quest to finally find his missing father (Homer, 1.341-342). Odysseus's abandonment of his fatherly duties bears resemblance to his responsibilities as the King of Ithaca as well. Odysseus betrays the loyalty of his people by killing all of the suitors, “[ripping] their lives out...never [giving] a chance of flight or rescue” in order to satisfy vengeance for his injured ego (Homer, 22.319-320). The killing of the town's best men results in the fathers declaring war against their king. The leadership of a king and his people relies on trust, and Odysseus’s vengeful actions against his own people results in him losing credibility as a King. Not only does Odysseus severe his ties with his subjects in Ithaca, he also exploits the trust and confidence that his crewmen place on him. When Odysseus and his men hide behind the sheep in Polyphemus’s cave, Odysseus places himself under “the prize of all the flock...clinging for dear life” (Homer, 9.482-486). When placed in formidable situations, Odysseus deliberately ensures his own safety first rather than the safety of his men. Epic heroes often sacrifice themselves and willingly die for honor, but Odysseus undermines these