Ulysses As A Hero In Alfred Tennyson's Ulysses

Among all the Greeks, the king of Ithaca was known as one of the best and his legend is told world wide. This fierce warrior stormed the beaches of Troy with sword and shield, and ultimately burned the supposedly impenetrable city to the ground. He bravely sailed the Mediterranean sea for ten long years and never lost sight of reaching home. The Greeks knew him as Odysseus, but to others, this kings name is Ulysses. This man from Ithaca is nothing short of a hero to the Greeks, but his time here on earth was far from perfect nor ultimately fulfilling. A man who has slain whole kingdoms, has seen many dead faces and for a weary sailor cast out in sea for 10 years learns that time makes things change. Ulysses has accomplished many great things in his life but also has dealt with the consequences as well. In Alfred Tennyson 's poem "Ulysses" the reader learns of the glories and despairs of a aged ridden king. Ulysses is a proud warrior king who, although has a past rusted with time, finds a new …show more content…
It does not take long for the reader to see that the Ithaca Ulysses left, was not the same place when he returned. Ulysses expected an uproar and parades to be thrown over his return, but yet he is met with savages who do not remember his image or name. Ulysses clearly expresses his disappointment in his people saying "I mete and dole Unequal laws to a savage race, That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me"(Lines 3-5). The old king sees his shinning past corrupted with the rust of time and faded memories. Furthermore, this angers Ulysses to the point that he begins to cull everything about his kingdom saying "It little profits an idle king, by this still hearth, among these barren crags"(Lines 1-2). Ulysses rein in Ithaca is buried in the sands of