In thinking of words that describe a hero, selfless might cross the mind, but not all heroes are selfless in fact this is a trait Odysseus and Beowulf do not share.
Odysseus was far from selfless, in fact quite the opposite, he was very selfish. He believed he was more important than everyone else, so he was willing to sacrifice those under him for his own profit, or well being. This idea that the leader is more valuable than those he leads is a belief held highly in ancient Greek culture, and Odysseus reflects that. We see this in the way he treats his men during the Odyssey, they are always the first into danger, and he has no qualms leaving them behind, or letting them die if it keeps him safe. This attitude towards his men is why Odysseus returns alone to Ithaca, when he does so he finds the sutors. The suitors were the only adult males left in Ithaca, all other males in the country were children or elderly, because all other adult males had gone to war with Odysseus. So finding these suitors had been trying to take his place, instead of revealing himself …show more content…
Though he didn’t place more value on them than himself, he would not sacrifice them arbitrarily. He chooses to face Grendel’s mother alone, keeping his men from danger, while he plunges into the heart of it. When Beowulf fights the Dragon though he takes loyal men he fight’s it on his own saying "I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open." (Beowulf 2510-2515) before sacrificing himself for his people. Beowulf wanted to die on his feet, fighting an enemy so that he had a semblance of honor in his end, he thought fighting the dragon was the best way to do that, as well as save his people from that threat, and give them riches acquired from the dragon’s
Odysseus was far from selfless, in fact quite the opposite, he was very selfish. He believed he was more important than everyone else, so he was willing to sacrifice those under him for his own profit, or well being. This idea that the leader is more valuable than those he leads is a belief held highly in ancient Greek culture, and Odysseus reflects that. We see this in the way he treats his men during the Odyssey, they are always the first into danger, and he has no qualms leaving them behind, or letting them die if it keeps him safe. This attitude towards his men is why Odysseus returns alone to Ithaca, when he does so he finds the sutors. The suitors were the only adult males left in Ithaca, all other males in the country were children or elderly, because all other adult males had gone to war with Odysseus. So finding these suitors had been trying to take his place, instead of revealing himself …show more content…
Though he didn’t place more value on them than himself, he would not sacrifice them arbitrarily. He chooses to face Grendel’s mother alone, keeping his men from danger, while he plunges into the heart of it. When Beowulf fights the Dragon though he takes loyal men he fight’s it on his own saying "I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open." (Beowulf 2510-2515) before sacrificing himself for his people. Beowulf wanted to die on his feet, fighting an enemy so that he had a semblance of honor in his end, he thought fighting the dragon was the best way to do that, as well as save his people from that threat, and give them riches acquired from the dragon’s