Comparing Heroes In The Odyssey And Things Fall Apart

In modern times, when most people are asked to visualize a hero, they typically picture a superhero. Two stories, The Odyssey and Things Fall Apart, show two very different kinds of heroes most people do not generally think of. In The Odyssey, the hero is a man named Odysseus who strives to return home. His skills make him look almost like a god, and several of his methods are questionable; such as killing a man named Antonious who tried to take his wife because he thought Odysseus was dead. In Things Fall Apart, the hero is a man named Okonkwo. Okonkwo lives in Nigeria in an African village. He wants what is best for his village, but his methods are also quite questionable. For example, when a group of Christians attempt to convert the Africans, Okonkwo suggests beating them out of the village. Though both Okonkwo and Odysseus are heroes with debatable actions, Okonkwo fits the mold of a willing hero more accurately than Odysseus fits an epic hero. In Things Fall Apart, the text says “That night he collected his most valuable belongings into head loads ” (Achebe 124). In this text, Okonkwo has accidentally killed someone and

They both just fit the characteristics of some hero types better than others.Odysseus’ actions hint at fit very well as an epic hero. However, on further examination on his actions and traits. Such as, intelligence, bragging, and human mistakes, a reader gains a new understanding and realizes that Odysseus was not as strong of an epic hero as most people think. Through comparing Odysseus and Okonkwo’s traits and actions to their respective character type. A person realizes that Okonkwo is a willing character due to his willingness to follow his society’s rules, strong devotion to culture and keeping it alive, and accepting the sickened dying state of his culture. As a result, a reader can conclude Okonkwo fits the traits of a willing character more than Odysseus fits the traits of an epic