Odysseus, the main character in Homer’s The Odyssey, is not a hero. He shows many non-heroic traits by today’s standards, such as his unending arrogance and need to prove himself, his unfaithfulness to his wife Penelope, and his bloodlust and unjust killings. Throughout the book Odysseus shows these characteristics through his actions. He Insults a Cyclops, he stays with and sleeps with a nymph for seven long years and he slaughters many maids who barely did anything wrong. A hero is humble, faithful and kind, it seems to me that Odysseus is the opposite of that and should not be considered a hero.
Odysseus is a very arrogant person who is always trying to prove himself or show of for people and that often puts him and his crew in danger. …show more content…
I’m sure cheating on your wife was not a big deal back then, but I am judging Odysseus by today’s standards. One time that Odysseus in unfaithful to I his wife is on Calypso’s island “The sun set and the darkness swept the earth. And now, withdrawing into the cavern’s deep recesses, long in each other’s arms they lost themselves in love” (pg 159 line 249). Odysseus was on calypso’s island for 7 years, while cheating on his wife. Penelope was remaining faithful to him for 20 years while Odysseus was away fighting the war and on his journey home. Another example of Odysseus’ unfaithfulness to his wife is on Circe’s island “Mount your bed? Not for all the world. Not until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath you’ll never plot some new intrigue to harm me!’ Straight away she began to swear the oath that I required—never, she’d never do me harm—and when she’d finished, then, at last, I mounted Circe’s gorgeous bed …” (pg. ____ line___). Yet again he is cheating on his wife, very purposely, he stayed in Circe’s palace for a whole year. Hero’s should be ethical and remain faithful, Penelope was expected to remain faithful for the 20 years when her husband was away while but Odysseus could sleep with whomever he wanted. Not only was Odysseus extremely unfaithful to his wife he also has a horrible …show more content…
On the island on the Cicones he shows this bloodlust, “The wind drove me out of Ilium on to Ismarus, the Cicones’ stronghold. There I sacked the city, killed the men, but as for the wives and plunder, that rich haul we dragged away from the place” (pg. ____ line____). Odysseus and his men sacked Ismarus for no reason other than their greed and bloodlust. Odysseus was the one who told his men to sack the city and kill all the men. Another, and the best example of his bloodlust is when Odysseus slaughters the maids, “so the women’s heads were trapped in a line, nooses yanking their necks up, one by one so all might die a pitiful, ghastly death …” (pg.____ line____). These are relatively innocent women who should have just been banished but instead Odysseus orders their slaughter in a horrible and demeaning way like common criminals. These women’s only crime is insulting Odysseus’ fragile honor and probably being raped by the suitor which was none of their fault. Odysseus’ bloodlust and fragile honor caused him to slaughter these women in cold
Odysseus is a very arrogant person who is always trying to prove himself or show of for people and that often puts him and his crew in danger. …show more content…
I’m sure cheating on your wife was not a big deal back then, but I am judging Odysseus by today’s standards. One time that Odysseus in unfaithful to I his wife is on Calypso’s island “The sun set and the darkness swept the earth. And now, withdrawing into the cavern’s deep recesses, long in each other’s arms they lost themselves in love” (pg 159 line 249). Odysseus was on calypso’s island for 7 years, while cheating on his wife. Penelope was remaining faithful to him for 20 years while Odysseus was away fighting the war and on his journey home. Another example of Odysseus’ unfaithfulness to his wife is on Circe’s island “Mount your bed? Not for all the world. Not until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath you’ll never plot some new intrigue to harm me!’ Straight away she began to swear the oath that I required—never, she’d never do me harm—and when she’d finished, then, at last, I mounted Circe’s gorgeous bed …” (pg. ____ line___). Yet again he is cheating on his wife, very purposely, he stayed in Circe’s palace for a whole year. Hero’s should be ethical and remain faithful, Penelope was expected to remain faithful for the 20 years when her husband was away while but Odysseus could sleep with whomever he wanted. Not only was Odysseus extremely unfaithful to his wife he also has a horrible …show more content…
On the island on the Cicones he shows this bloodlust, “The wind drove me out of Ilium on to Ismarus, the Cicones’ stronghold. There I sacked the city, killed the men, but as for the wives and plunder, that rich haul we dragged away from the place” (pg. ____ line____). Odysseus and his men sacked Ismarus for no reason other than their greed and bloodlust. Odysseus was the one who told his men to sack the city and kill all the men. Another, and the best example of his bloodlust is when Odysseus slaughters the maids, “so the women’s heads were trapped in a line, nooses yanking their necks up, one by one so all might die a pitiful, ghastly death …” (pg.____ line____). These are relatively innocent women who should have just been banished but instead Odysseus orders their slaughter in a horrible and demeaning way like common criminals. These women’s only crime is insulting Odysseus’ fragile honor and probably being raped by the suitor which was none of their fault. Odysseus’ bloodlust and fragile honor caused him to slaughter these women in cold