Odysseus: The Qualities of a Hero Essay

The Odyssey by Homer is oneness of the approximately recognized epics in demesne literature. It traces the decade-long journey of Odysseus back to Ithaca after(prenominal) he fought in the Trojan War. He was fit to survive the dangerous ten-year voyage which he experienced and safely do home. Indeed, Odysseus is a truly admirable character, but what what makes him particularly laudable is his physical cogency, courage, and precious. One admirable reference which Odysseus possesses is his physical effectuality. Like wholly Homeric heroes, Odysseus has remarkable physical strength.In disc 18, he displays such strength even under the disguise of a poor man. an otherwise(prenominal) beggar secernd Arnaeus, likewise called Irus, insults Odysseus. Arnaeus scraps Odysseus to a fight and mocks him that he would be easily defeated because he is lots older than his opponent. Odysseus truly proves him wrong. Homer writes, Odysseus smote him on the neck beneath the ear and low i n the bones, and straightway the red rake ran forth from his mouth (18. 95). This is substantiation of Odysseus strength he was able to defeat a man who was younger than him. go it is honest that the goddess Athena did strengthen Odysseus for the fight, he was already physically strong to begin with. Another example of Odysseus physical strength stop be undercoat in Book 21. In this book, genus Penelope tells her suitors that she would finally convey the man who could drawstring Odysseus bow and put on an arrow with it as her husband this arrow should pass through each of 12 axes (21. 74-80). None of the suitors succeed in Penelopes given task. Odysseus then offers to string the bow which enrages the suitors because they are terrified he might succeed.Later on, he does liberate the fears of his foes. According to Homer, even as when a man well-skilled in the lyre and in call easily stretches the string about a new peg, making fast at either end the twisted sheep-gutso wi thout effort did Odysseus string the great bow (21. 405-410). Thus, once once again, Odysseus proves his physical strength. Another distinguishing quality which makes Odysseus admirable is his courage. In Book 10, a goddess places Odysseus manpower in a wound situation.Circe drugs Odysseus men and with her wand, she transforms them into pigs and places them in pigsties (10. 235-240). Eurylochus, who was spared from Circes put-on because he did not enter her home, presently goes to Odysseus to tell him what happened to his men. Without hesitation, Odysseus takes his sword and bow to stop the goddess. Eurylochus has become terrified by Circes power that he refuses to come with Odysseus (10. 265-270). This detail is a testament to how chivalric Odysseus is.While he was aware of the danger which he was about to confront, he proceeded to face the challenge without fear. Unlike Eurylochus, Odysseus dared to challenge Circe to save his men. In Book 12, Odysseus also reveals his cou rage. Circe warns him about cardinal dangers he would encounter in his faux pas Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus asks the goddess, tell me this thing truly, if in every wise I might feed from fell Charybids, and ward off that other, when she workings harm to my comrades? (12. 111). Circe answers him, Rash man, lo, now again thy heart is set on the aimt of war and on toil (12.116). The query of Odysseus exposes his courage, for he welcomes a fight among him and two enemies at one time. In addition, he disob malld Circes orders when he wore his armor as his ship approached Scylla. This shows that he was courageous becoming to have the intention of conflict the monster. The most admirable quality of Odysseus is his cunning. He proves to be an individual who skillfully uses deceitfulness and deception to further his own ends. end-to-end the epic, Odysseus demonstrates his cunning in multiple occasions.In Book 4, both Menelaus and Helen narrate to Telemachus how cunning his fa ther is. According to Helen, Odysseus is sly enough to consider dressing up as a beggar to enter oppositeness territory. In an effort to enter troy without creation noticed, he clothes himself in rags and appears to have cuts and bruises. In such disguise, Odysseus deceives the Trojans and successfully enters the city unnoticed (4. 244-245). Menelaus adds that it was also Odysseus who prevented them from leave the wooden horse when they were obviously being tricked to reveal themselves (4. 284).In these scenarios, Odysseus was able to head to the war effort of the Achaeans through his cunning. However, the most notable example of Odysseus cunning is found in Book 9. Odysseus and his men arrive in the land of Cyclops where the parole of Poseidon named Polyphemus resides. They slaughter the goats in his land and drink down the cheese from his cave. This angers Polyphemus, and he takes them as prisoners inner his cave. Odysseus then devises a clever plan to defeat the creature. First, he makes the monster drunkard from the wine he brought from his ships.As Odysseus pours the wine, Polyphemus asks his name. When Odysseus was legitimate that Polyphemus was drunk, he responds Noman is my name (9. 366). Polyphemus falls as a result of inebriation Odysseus and his men immediately take a alive(p) wooden staff in the eye of the monster. Polyphemus screams in pain, getting the attention of the other Cyclops. When they asked Polyphemus what was happening, he replies It is Noman is slaying me (9. 407). The false name Odysseus gave Polyphemus allows him and his men to escape the monsters lair without being properly determine as the attacker.This incident is the best proof of how cunning Odysseus is. The protagonist of Homers The Odyssey is indeed an admirable character. With his physical strength, courage, and cunning, Odysseus has prove himself a true hero after he overcame all the obstacles in his journey. These tercet qualities make Odysseus a character whic h readers croupe look up to. Work Cited Homer. The Odyssey. Perseus digital Library. Trans. Samuel Butler. 16 June 2009 .