Heroic Distinctions Of Odysseus Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Heroic Distinctions Of Odysseus Essay, Research Paper The heroes of the Greeks were an intricate portion of society. After the Gods and demi-gods of Greece, the heroes were highly revered by the people. One hero in peculiar has distinguished himself from the remainder through his pursuit and escapades. That hero is Odysseus. Odysseus displays the necessary qualities to be honored as a hero, but besides has separating traits that set him apart from the remainder. In order to depict the traits that contrast Odysseus from the customary Greek hero, it is first necessary to specify what a hero was in those yearss and so to exemplify the similarities Odysseus shared with them. Upon such revelation, the true character and differentiation of Odysseus will be better known. Harmonizing to mythology and fable, a hero is defined as a adult male or a adult female, frequently of godly lineage, who is gifted with great bravery and strength, celebrated for his or her bold feats, and favored by the Gods. On that same note, Fee states that? The hero? s stature and Godhead intent is ab initio established by his marvelous construct, birth, and induction. Often the hero is conceived by or watched over by a God or other superhuman animal, and the generation of the hero about ever has supernatural qualities that mark it as special. ? ( Fee, p. 119 ) Some heroes that have been helped or favored by the Gods are Agamemnon, Achilles, Heracles, Theseus, Jason, and of class, Odysseus. Agamemnon was a great male monarch who led the Greeks in the Trojan War. In this pursuit, he had the support of about all of the Olympic Gods and their avidity to assist. He besides rallied other heroes, such as Achilles and Odysseus, to contend with him. Here was the most important of the Gods to assist the war attempts, every bit good Dionysos. Next was Achilles, who was besides helped by Hera, and by Athena, who strongly suggested that Achilles non kill Agamemnon in fury. Most significantly, Achilles had the great support of his female parent, Thetis. She would frequently beg the aid of other Gods, viz. Zeus, on behalf of her darling boy. She even tried to do Achilles immortal by dunking him into the river Styx, but could non cover his heel. This prompted her to seek the aid of Hephaestos, who made faultless, protective armour for her beloved boy. Heracles is a hero whose chief assistance came from Zeus, his male parent, and Athena, who saved him from a storm in clip to debar haza rd. Zeus rather frequently made certain that his boy was good protected. The hero Jason besides had a batch of aid from many Gods. Hera, Artemis, Apollo, Demeter and most significantly, Athena helped him. Athena was the drive force behind constructing his ships for his quest. This eventually brings us to Theseus, who was besides in the favour of Athena. He sacrificed the Bull of Crete ( or Marathon ) to her in congratulations, for she was the goddess associated with Athens where he was seeking to recover his throne. Like all of these heroes, Odysseus excessively, was in favour of most of the Gods. In fact, all of the Olympic Gods aimed to assist him, except Poseidon. When Odysseus was contending in Troy with the other heroes, the Gods, particularly Hera, were on their side, as antecedently mentioned. Later, on his escapades to acquiring place to Ithaca, Hermes helped him outwit Circe, the enchantress. He gave Odysseus the moly works, which merely Gods can deracinate, in order to be immune to Circe? s potions and to salvage his crew. Then, when Odysseus was stuck on the island of Ogygia, being held confined by Calypso, the Olympians voted to assist him out to acquire him off the island. They told Calypso to let go of him and she accordingly gave Odysseus rations to last every bit good as stuffs to construct himself a raft. It is besides of import to observe, nevertheless, that despite being favored by most Gods, the hero about ever came into struggle with at least one of the Gods during his or her quest. The hero would frequently make something characteristically selfish, and fleetly anger one of the Gods. This brings us to Agamemnon? s jobs with Artemis. On the manner to contend the Trojan War, Artemis stopped the air currents from leting the ships to sail on to Troy, because she was angry with Agamemnon for touting that he was a better shooting than she was. She demanded that Agamemnon give his girl Iphigeneia to her in order for the air currents to pick up once more. He was evidently overwrought, but so conceded. Clytemnestra, his married woman, was appalled, but Iphigeneia was brave and offered herself to Artemis. Artemis was impressed, spared her, and replaced with her with a Department of Energy. Soon after, the air currents resumed, and the ships could sail on. Related to this, Achilles had jobs with Apollo when he killed his boy, Tenes. He averted the wrath of Apollo though, by giving the arms that killed Tenes to Philoctetes, who was the one to endure. The following struggle to be seen is between Heracles and Hera. Hera hated Heracles from the minute she found out that he was the boy of Alcmena by her ever-adulterous hubby, Zeus. She invariably tried to kill him or convey him danger, particularly when she tried to interfere with the completion of his 12 labours. At one point, she brought sleep upon Zeus so that she could convey a awful storm to where Heracles was sailing. ? Heracles might hold met his destiny if Zeus had non awoke in time. ? Subsequently, there was inharmoniousness with Jason and Zeus, because of Jason? s association with the enchantress Medea. She viciously and dishonorably killed the prince Absyrtus when on Jason? s ship and as a consequence, the ship, the Argo, was caught in a awful storm and capable to freak out because of Zeus. The lone manner to ac quire back place was to seek aid from Circe. Apart from this, there was a minor affray with Theseus and Dionysos. There was no major struggle, as Theseus was incognizant that Dionysos fell in love with his savior Ariadne when they stopped on the island of Naxos, and kidnapped her. The last of the struggles to be mentioned before Odysseus, is that of Bellerophon and Zeus. Bellerophon suffered the malice of Zeus when he tried to wing up to the home of the Gods with his Equus caballus, Pegasus. Pegasus was taken off from him and he was flung back to Earth. Odysseus? major struggle was with the God Poseidon. During his rovings, Odysseus ended up on the island where the Cyclops lived. He and his work forces got trapped in a cave with the Cyclops, Polyphemus, who was the boy of Poseidon. In order to get away, Odysseus devised a program where he and his work forces would drive a firing interest into Polyphemus? one oculus, so escape seizing the abdomens of his sheep. At first, he identified himself as? Cipher? to Polyphemus, but as he and his work forces were sailing off, his self-importance got the best of him and he revealed his true individuality. He yelled to the Cyclops, ? If anybody asks who robbed you of your oculus, you may state him that it was Odysseus the sacker of metropoliss, the boy of Laertes, King of Ithaca! ? ( Green, p. 314-315 ) And so, with that foolish proclamation, Odysseus brought upon himself a expletive from Poseidon, who was revenging his boy? s sightlessness. This expletive would turn out to be dearly-won, as it would be the cause of the extension of Odysseus? journey by another ten old ages and of the immoralities he experienced on his manner place. The following of import trait of a hero is the quest or escapade that the hero embarks on. A hero? s life would be instead undistinguished if he did non hold a pursuit in which he could put out on and battle for a great cause in order to turn out himself. This pursuit of the hero about ever begins with some kind of act of induction. In the instance of the heroes of the Trojan War ( Agamemnon, Achilles, Odysseus ) , the event that sparked their pursuit was the snatch of Helen. Agamemnon was the chief leader of this pursuit and summoned the remainder of the work forces to assist him. When Achilles was at this War, he had another quest within it to revenge the decease of his cousin, Patroclos. During a conflict, Hector killed Patroclos ( the initiating event ) and stole his armour which was borrowed from Achilles. Achilles so vowed to kill Hector, and succeeded. Frequently, the quest of the hero lasted a long clip and was laden with escapades. This is the most apparent in Odysseus? travels, as described by Homer in? The Odyssey? , and in those of Heracles, Jason and Theseus. Odysseus? full escapade, crossing from his engagement in the Trojan War to his journey place afterwards, lasted wholly 20 old ages. This is longest recorded journey among the heroes. In add-on, heroes encounter many confrontations and battle in conflicts with monsters, devils or other animals. Odysseus, in company with the other heroes, did this excessively. All the heroes present at the Trojan War ( Agamemnon, Achilles and Odysseus ) fought many conflicts and represent this facet. In add-on to the Trojan War, Odysseus encountered animals such as the Lotus-eaters, the Cyclops, Polyphemus, the enchantresss Calypso and Circe, the Sirens and the monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Other heroes excessively, encountered animals as good. Herculess encountered assorted monsters and animals fr om his pursuit of the 12 labours. Jason came across the firedrake that guarded the Golden Fleece in his pursuit to recover the throne at Iolcos. And, Theseus met with animals and animals, such as the Minotaur, from his ain labours in his pursuit to recover the throne at Athens. Along the manner, the hero is besides certain to meet a femme fatale or an temptress, who tries to add trouble to the undertaking at manus, but besides sometimes ends up assisting out. Helen can be considered a femme fatale of the heroes of the Trojan War, as she basically set the War in gesture that caused the deceases of many work forces. Theseus had Ariadne, though she was non really much of a hurt to him. She helped him out of the maze, but so caused a hold in his pursuit when Dionysos kidnapped her. And of class, Odysseus had the enchantresss Circe and Calypso who interfered with his pursuit and greatly delayed his return place. Circe kept Odysseus on her island for a twelvemonth by doing him lose path of clip, and Calypso kept him surety for seven old ages. The last major portion of the quest, before really returning place, is the hero? s journey to the underworld or close brush with decease. During Heracles? labours, he went to the underworld to steal Hades? watchdog, Cerberus. He besides wrestled with decease himself in order to convey the princess, Alcestis, back to life. Theseus went with his friend Peirithoos to the underworld to assist him seek to acquire Persephone from Hades. They failed, and Peirithoos was doomed to remain in the underworld. Theseus would hold been doomed to the same destiny, but Heracles came down to salvage him and brought him back to Athens. Then of class, Odysseus descended to Tartarus, place of Hades, in order to seek the aid of Teiresias the prophesier. He was told by Circe to travel at that place to happen Teiresias in order to happen out how to acquire back place to Ithaca. After falling to the underworld, the hero? s return is symbolic of a metempsychosis. His life has new vision and a new sense of asp iration to finish the quest. Most significantly throughout the quest, the hero displays great courage and heroism, in add-on to selfishness. He relies greatly on his strength and position to get the better of his enemies. Odysseus one time went to face enemies? have oning [ merely ] leather caps and no armor, but taking their swords. ? ( Green, p. 240 ) This demonstrates great assurance in himself. The last common characteristic the heroes portion, is their decease. The decease of a hero is customarily tragic. It can be ascertained that the hero is betrayed by person near to him, and killed in order to take what he has. Agamemnon, upon returning from the War, was dishonored by his married woman Clytemnestra. She preferred the weaponries of Aigisthus, and together, they killed Agamemnon. Paris killed Achilles in the Trojan War, by hiting an pointer that hit Achilles in the heel, his lone weak topographic point, when the War was about over. Theseus was killed by being pushed off a drop at Schyra, after successfully go outing the underworld and coming place to polish Athens. This at last brings us to Odysseus. After a journey of 20 old ages, contending to acquire place, he eventually succeeded. He was at place, populating peacefully with his faithful married woman Penelope, when his boy by Circe, Telegonas, came to Ithaca by accident of a storm, and unwittingly killed his male par ent, Odysseus. With that, stop the similarities that Odysseus portions with the other heroes. Though Odysseus was similar to other heroes in many ways, he was rather distinguishable in others. The chief differentiation between Odysseus and the other heroes, as noted by Homer, is his Metis, which other heroes did non hold ; at least non in great step. Metis is defined as cunning intelligence, which is the prototype of Odysseus? character. He displays this throughout his pursuit: at the Trojan War and on his journey place. During the long War, Odysseus did non trust on his strength and size every bit much as other heroes did. First of wholly, he was non that big of a adult male in stature, ? he was below medium tallness, ? ( Green, p. 227 ) and 2nd, he had a much more powerful head to his advantage. Odysseus was considered the great strategian and councilor to those around him. ? The self-denial of Odysseus makes him a hero no longer dependent on menos or mana. He is without passion, ? and so belongs to a new civilization. ? ( Levy, p. 145 ) Menos or mana is defined as? the her oic energy which is a mark of their Godhead lineage and upon which their leading depends ; now brought into struggle with the recognized truenesss of organized warfare. ? ( Levy, p. 15 ) Odysseus was the head behind the thought of the Trojan Equus caballus, and rallied the work forces to fall in him indoors. This thought would turn out to be the turning point of the War that swayed the favour to the Greeks. Troy, ? after ten old ages of besieging has been taken chiefly by his ingenuity. ? ( Levy, p. 146 ) Like other heroes, he was unafraid, but his bravery greatly surpassed that of the others. At one point in the War, Agamemnon was prepared to acknowledge licking and run off. Odysseus would hear nil of it and said to him, ? We will contend, every one of us, and die to a adult male instead than run away. Be soundless, if you have no other advice to give, for it would be black if the common soldiers heard the King of Men utter such cowardly words. ? ( Green, p. 245 ) This quotation mark besides exemplified the strong and ferocious attitude of Odysseus. He would neer be commanded to make things as other heroes would. Alternatively, he was the one to command and take. Even, Heracles, who was boy of Zeus, followed orders from others. He was servant to Eurystheus during his 12 labours, and listened to him for each undertaking he had to finish. Jason and Theseus besides followed orders from other persons in order to continue in their pursuits. Odysseus on the other manus, had a powerful head of his ain. He followed the advice of the Immortal Gods and Circe, the enchantress, but merely when they were being helpful to him. Beyond that, if he sensed any unlawful purposes, he ignored them. Odysseus? cunning intelligence is exemplified on his journey place every bit good, as recounted by Homer. Many times he outwitted oppositions through hocus-pocus and clever strategies. The first was how he escaped the Cyclops, Polyphemus? cave. When the Cyclops was off, Odysseus and his work forces made a spear and heated it in the fire of the cave. Once the Cyclops fell asleep, Odysseus plunged the lance into his one oculus, and blinded him. Expecting that other Cyclops would come to assist, Odysseus said his name was Nobody so that when asked who was aching him, Polyphemus would answer? Cipher is murdering me by craft! Cipher is murdering me by force! ? ( Green, p. 313 ) This prompted the others to merely go forth and they were none the wiser to Odysseus? strategy. Polyphemus? sightlessness so allowed Odysseus to fix his work forces and himself to the abdomens of the Cyclops? sheep, so as to be undetected when the Cyclops allow them out to crop. Another illustration of his hocus-pocus is with Circe. With the aid of Hermes, he was able to eat moly and be immune to her potions. Consequently, he was able to transfuse fear into Circe and salvage his work forces, coercing her to turn them back into work forces from swine. Odysseus was besides the lone adult male to of all time overreach the Sirens. The Sirens? vocal was so beautiful that it inspired those who heard it to leap off their boat to swim to them, and in due class led them to their decease. To suppress them, Odysseus stopped the ears of his work forces with wax so their vocal would non allure them, and they would still be able to maneuver the ship. He so had them bind him to the mast, which enabled Odysseus to hear their vocal, but kept him from leaping off the boat to his decease. This gave him the cognition that no other individual had of all time had the intelligence to derive. Odysseus was the most celebrated Grecian character and is still really good known today. He is a really of import portion of Grecian history and the Greeks continue to look up to him. His narrative, as told by Homer in? The Odyssey? , is still esteemed, extremely regarded and jovially recounted. Basically, Odysseus was the last of the great heroes. His decease marked the terminal of the Heroic Age, and there was no 1 of great prestigiousness after him. BibliographyBurkert, Walter. Homo Necans. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1983. Cotter, Wendy. Miracles in Greco-Roman Antiquity. New York: Routledge, 1999. Dowden, Ken. The Uses of Greek Mythology. London: Routledge, 1992. Fee, Christopher R. , and David A. Leeming. Gods, Heroes, A ; Kings. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. Green, Roger Lancelyn. Heroes of Greece and Troy. New York: Henry Z. Walck, Inc. , 1961. Levy, G.R. The Sword from the Rock. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1953. Rouse, W.H.D. Gods, Heroes and Men of Ancient Greece. New York: NAL Penguin Inc. , 1957. The Volume Library ( 2 ) . Nashville: The Southwestern Company, 1995. Vernant, Jean-Pierre. Myth and Society in Ancient Greece. 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