Odysseus As A Hero In The Odyssey By Homer

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I believe a hero to be an individual who would willingly do anything, even put their own life on the line for someone else’s sake out of the goodness in their heart. An example of a real life hero would be, Martin Luther King Jr., he was a leader in the African-American Civil Rights movement, however he ended up dying for this cause. Odysseus is the supposedly hero of the story The Odyssey by Homer. Odysseus is considered to be a hero because of how he valiantly survived trial after trial forced upon him to return to his home in Ithaca. In my eyes Odysseus does not fit the description of a hero do to his disloyalty, cold heartedness, and over confidence; he more fits the likeness of a leader than a hero. During their encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus, Odysseus is considered to be very smart and cunning and that is why he is…show more content…
I do not think that is entirely true. Throughout his journey, Odysseus had affairs with both the nymph, Calypso, and the witch, Circe. When Odysseus lands at Circe’s island, it seems he stayed there with Circe for a couple years purely out of self-interest. Odysseus finally left Circe’s island when his men pleaded with him. Also when Odysseus slays the suitors he does it more out of his loyalty to the gods than his loyalty to Penelope. Another trait a hero should have is a good heart; however Odysseus does not have this. After Odysseus shot Antinous, one of the suitors said, “Spare your own people. As for ourselves, we’ll make restitution…” These pleas were fruitless though, because Odysseus still proceeded to slaughter them in cold blood because Teiresias commanded him too. Most of the suitors trying for Penelope’s hand hadn’t even done anything to suitable to deserve the death penalty. A hero should always be loyal and have a kind heart; Odysseus is not an example of either of

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