Odyssey Essay: The Odyssey In The Odyssey By Homer

Improved Essays
Essay on The Odyssey by Homer
This essay will examine one of the most famous pieces of literature in the world – the epic poem “Odyssey” by Homer. The main idea of the essay will be concentrated on the complicated and controversial nature of the main character of the book. On the one hand, Odysseus is courageous, smart, insistent and self-disciplined. These features help him to achieve victories over his enemies and avoid various troubles which can cost him his life. On the other hand, a reader can observe some negative qualities which are not very common for heroes who are usually seen as flawless and exemplary individuals. These negative sides of Odysseus’s character include periodic brutality, inclination to lies in particular situations
…show more content…
First of all, Odysseus cannot possibly be called lazy. The fact that he is hard-working is proven by Menelaos who says: “No one of the Achaians labored as much as Odysseus labored and achieved” (Homer, 52). This quality helps Odysseus to gain the due respect of his friends and people who surround him. Secondly, Odysseus is prudent and witty. He demonstrates these qualities in various situations where some people could give up but he is trying to find the way out by any means. Odysseus is thinking “I was already plotting … what was the best way out? how could I find escape from death for my crew, myself as well?” (Homer, 149). As we see, the hero does not care exclusively for his own life but also for the lives of his crew. This fact shows that he is not selfish or careless. Finally, except of being strong and courageous, Odysseus appears to be a kind man with a sensitive soul who can be touched and made to cry. Homer writes about his hero: “That was the song the famous harper sang but great Odysseus melted into tears, running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks …” (Homer, 133). Such a reaction demonstrates that Odysseus is not an “iron man” as many consider him to be but an ordinary human who feels sadness and

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The Traits of Being Human in the Odyssey The Odyssey is the story of the journey of Odysseus homecoming’ or Nostos. The epic poem not only tells the story of a person’s journey, but also gives the implication of what it means to be a human. The contrast between what humans have and what the gods do not, gives the reader a suggestion of what makes humanity unique. Throughout Odysseus’ journey and his meetings with gods and other humans, the epic reveals the unique traits that belong only to humans. These traits are exemplified mainly through Odysseus and through other human characters to some degrees.…

    • 1158 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The main character of The Odyssey, Odysseus, changes greatly throughout the story, from ignorance to knowledge, which renders how everyone must rise above their greatest flaws in order to truly become great. In the early years of Odysseus ' journey home, he is caught up in himself…

    • 1174 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    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.…

    • 1239 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Odysseus Hero Analysis

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited

    Odysseus’s ruthless actions and tendency to do whatever he needs to do in order to succeed causes him to be unworthy of his heroic title. In order to show how ruthless and willing Odysseus is, Homer writes how the supposed hero either kills his enemy, or he blinds them and that undeniable truth about his ruthlessness in Homer’s words reads, “rammed it/ deep in his crater eye, and leaned on it/ turning it as a shipwright turns a drill/ in planking, having men below the swing/ the two-handled strap that spins it in the groove. / So with our brand we bored that great eye socket/ while blood ran out around the red-hot bar. / Eyelid and lash were seared; the pierced ball/ hissed broiling, and the roots pooped/…While he had arrows/ he aimed and shot, and every show brought down/one of his huddling enemies.” (Homer 992, 1042)…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Have you ever spent nearly 20 years trying to reach one goal? Have you’ve heard the great story of The Odyssey by Homer? This is a heroic story of a man and his determination to return to his homeland and to his family. Odysseus, the heroic man, that endures different obstacles that are in his way in order to return home to the life he once had. Throughout his journey, Odysseus loses friends and encounters Greek gods.…

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer later adapted into a play by Simon Armitage, is a narrative depicting the journey of the greek hero Odysseus back to Ithaca after fighting in the Trojan War. His voyage spans twenty years, and throughout the course of his trip back home, Odysseus and his men encounter various obstacles that they need to overcome. Since Odysseus is essentially the leader of his crew, it is most often his responsibility to defeat the enemy and solve the problem at hand. At times, his actions could be classified as violent and unjust, such as him causing unnecessary conflicts with enemies and resorting to killing them. Nonetheless, Odysseus is still a war veteran, and has been exposed to this brutal style of solving issues for…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Odyssey Literary Analysis

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Odyssey represented a cunning hero, named Odysseus, King of Ithaca. This work of literature highlighted the tantalizing journey he and his man were forced to make fueled by the Trojan War coupled with the Fall of Troy. Odysseus and his men were antagonized by an innumerable amount of hindrances and misfortunes in their ten year journey back to Ithaca. Critics emphasize that although Homeric characters are generally static. Odysseus and his son are fairly different.…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hero In The Odyssey

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages

    After that passed Odysseus had to venture home with his hearty shipmates, which lasted almost another 10 years just to reach home. Odysseus who was already known to be like a sly fox, has a very cunning mind especially trying to get himself out of trouble. Which is one reason to become a hero, act fast if someone's in danger or saving people in distressed. For one example was when Odysseus tricked the Cyclops Polyphemus into calling him “nobody”, to hide his real name without getting cursed. In a time of distress, Odysseus came up with a plan to stab Polyphemus in the eye with a club the size of a mast.…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Week Four Summary Response Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, entails the story of Odysseus and his long journey home after fighting in The Trojan war for ten years. It then takes him ten more years to reach his home in Ithaca where his wife and child have been fighting off suitors trying to steal Odysseus’ throne, King of Ithaca. His journey home begins when he escapes the clutches of the Calypso. Along the way, he faces many great obstacles and trials. Once he makes it home he then proves his identity, slaughters the suitors, and takes his wife back along with his throne.…

    • 188 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Odysseus Journey

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Odysseus’ Journey” The epic poem we all know shows much detail of struggles that is being thrown at the ‘Teller of Tales’ Odysseus. “The Odyssey” by Homer shows that Odysseus goes through so many things to get back home to his wife Penelope on the land of Ithaca, but which part is most importantly impacted on the hero? A hero’s qualities are most defined by his journey and adventure, not the end of it. Through the book, beginning to end Odysseus mostly shows Loyalty, Intelligence and Leadership.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Epic, The Odyssey, by Homer, is about the adventures and fate of a young king named Odysseus and his trusty men. After his major role in the Trojan War, Odysseus set sail for his journey back home to Ithaca. His voyage took him twenty long years due to the occurring hurdles. Odysseus gives up so much along the way in order to bring his mates and him safely back home to their families. Demonstrating, his guile and intuitive character, Odysseus sacrifices a lot to guide his men and him through tough challenges.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “The Odyssey”, written by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, follows King Odysseus of Ithaka on his twenty year journey home from the Trojan War. Throughout the epic poem Odysseus must face many obstacles, some inevitable, and some the result of human mistakes. Odysseus demonstrates his arrogance time and time again, manipulating people to get what he needs to overcome these obstacles with little thought to how much their generosity will cost them. Odysseus uses his end goal to justify taking advantage of other people’s hospitality because Odysseus’ hubris won’t allow him to see his own flaws.…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In “The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus, King of Ithaca, goes through several obstacles on his journey home after a long fight in the Trojan War. The “Hero's Journey” by Jason Campbell represents an outline of what Odysseus must go through to deem himself a king and hero. Through the epic, readers learn how important each stage of the Hero's Journey is to Odysseus and his need to become a hero. There are three main events Odysseus goes through to meet requirements of the “Hero's Journey.” These requirements are: Entering the Unknown, Allies/Helpers, and he is put through Tests and Supreme Ordeal.…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Allison Craig Advanced English 10 Compare and Contrast essay 6/30/15 Captivating Audiences Have you ever wondered how film writers came up with all of the ideas to make fantastic blockbusters? Many of these movies are adapted from their original books, including The Odyssey, which was written by Homer. This novel is believed to be composed near the end of the eighth century. However, the Odyssey became modified by the film writer Andrei Konchalovsky, into a famous movie.…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A hero’s journey is the steps of a process in which a hero is trying to accomplish a goal. However, the journey is about more than just completing their goal, they also find themselves and who they want to be. The hero encounters many obstacles throughout their journey that changes their view on the world and sometimes even their goal that they have worked so hard to strive for. In the book the Odyssey, the main character—Odysseus, went through his own hero’s journey. Along his journey home, he found himself fighting many different obstacles.…

    • 1072 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays