Odyssey
All epic heroes have many strengths, but do they hold the same weaknesses that we do? In homer’s “The Odyssey” we follow its own hero, Odysseus, as he goes on a great, legendary journey and faces many horrid dangers. Odysseus, being the protagonist, has many physical and mental strengths throughout his story, however, in part one he exhibits some weaknesses that impact him and those how surround him during his adventure. These weaknesses appear sparingly during the quest but strongly pull him down again, and again. For example, while he is sailing away from the cyclops island he gives his identity away as “Odysseus, raider of cities […] Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca” (Od.9.286-287). This shows how the captain is much too self-confident and craves glory, making him think and act without thinking or considering others first. He lets his anger control him, his thoughts, and his …show more content…
An instance where his bravery truly shines is when he and his crew “with [their] brand [he and his crew] bored that great eye socket while blood ran out around the red-hot bar’ (Od.9.164-165). They bravely stabbed the cyclops’ eye, risking being killed be the monster’s wrath. The bold Odysseus saves his crew by using his bravery to blind Polyphemus and granted themselves a way out of the cave. Furthermore, after Antonious’s death the returned king and his beloved son began to kill the other one hundred suitors “while torn men mourned at death, and blood ran smoking over the whole floor…” (Od.22.1302-1303). The deathly duo began, without hesitation, to kill the other suitors even though they were greatly outnumbered. Telemechus and his father fought against all the suitors at once, not even trying to wait for a more even fight. Never once did Odysseus hesitate to put his life on the line and use his strong sense of bravery to keep him, his kingdom, and his crew
All epic heroes have many strengths, but do they hold the same weaknesses that we do? In homer’s “The Odyssey” we follow its own hero, Odysseus, as he goes on a great, legendary journey and faces many horrid dangers. Odysseus, being the protagonist, has many physical and mental strengths throughout his story, however, in part one he exhibits some weaknesses that impact him and those how surround him during his adventure. These weaknesses appear sparingly during the quest but strongly pull him down again, and again. For example, while he is sailing away from the cyclops island he gives his identity away as “Odysseus, raider of cities […] Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca” (Od.9.286-287). This shows how the captain is much too self-confident and craves glory, making him think and act without thinking or considering others first. He lets his anger control him, his thoughts, and his …show more content…
An instance where his bravery truly shines is when he and his crew “with [their] brand [he and his crew] bored that great eye socket while blood ran out around the red-hot bar’ (Od.9.164-165). They bravely stabbed the cyclops’ eye, risking being killed be the monster’s wrath. The bold Odysseus saves his crew by using his bravery to blind Polyphemus and granted themselves a way out of the cave. Furthermore, after Antonious’s death the returned king and his beloved son began to kill the other one hundred suitors “while torn men mourned at death, and blood ran smoking over the whole floor…” (Od.22.1302-1303). The deathly duo began, without hesitation, to kill the other suitors even though they were greatly outnumbered. Telemechus and his father fought against all the suitors at once, not even trying to wait for a more even fight. Never once did Odysseus hesitate to put his life on the line and use his strong sense of bravery to keep him, his kingdom, and his crew