Selflessness In The Odyssey

Odysseus, the hero of the Trojan War, displays many impressive characteristics in The Odyssey. He shows how he is selfless and ethical, brave, and how he is a strong leader. Odysseus puts these characteristics to the test on his journey home from the Trojan War. He encounters several challenges and not only survives them all, but demolishes them. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is identified as ethical through his selflessness. Tiresias advises Odysseus to sacrifice six of his men to Scylla instead of them all dying at the fault of Charybdis; “Scylla made her strike, whisking six of my best men from the ship” (Homer 809-810). Odysseus demonstrates how he is ethical in the tale of Scylla and Charybdis. When Odysseus traveled to the underworld, Tiresias told him that in order to save his crew from Charybdis he must go down the path of Scylla. Odysseus shows his bravery and selflessness by risking his life for those of his crew. Similarly, Homer describes Odysseus as a risk taker, because of his …show more content…
The land of the Lotus-Eaters traps many sailors, by getting them to eat the Lotus flower, but odysseus uses his strength and displays his responsibility by tying “them down under their rowing benches, and call(ing) the rest” (Homer 102-103). Even though Odysseus’ men do not always listen, and are not always loyal, he does everything he can to ensure their safety and make it so they come home with him. The lotus flower is a dangerous thing that can trap you on that island forever, if Odysseus had not tied his easily fooled men, they would have been trapped. This is a very responsible thing to do, and not just anyone would go as above and beyond for their crew. To conclude, Odysseus is an epic Hero because he was ethical, a risk taker, and is a responsible leader. Odysseus displays how he is an epic hero in Homer’s The Odyssey. This great hero will forever be known as the undefeated, brave,