ipl-logo

Character Analysis Of Odysseus In Homer's 'Gladiator'

762 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character analysis of Odysseus

Madison Seib
Nicholas Barron
Phil 201
30 November 2015
Paper Prompt for "Gladiator" #2
In the main character in the "Odyssey" is named Odysseus. Who is the king of Ithaca and a vary noble warrior. He has gone off to fight in the Trojan war, when the story begins, he has been gone from his home land for 20 years. His son is now well grown and a group of suitors has inhabited his palace wanting to marry his wife, Penelope. Odysseus displays many of the Homeric virtues and vices while trying to get home and while he is there.
When you first meet Odysseus he is on the island of Ogygia, the goddess Calypso is keeping him hostage on the island, by giving him the pleasurable life. Odysseus still longs for home even though Calypso has given …show more content…

During his killing spree of the suitors he spares a mans life, because he was simply there to entertain the suitors as a singer and poet.He also shows determination by not giving up on is 10 year journey home, through treacherous waters and cyclops. Another virtue that he demonstrates frequently is dikē, which means that everything and everyone gets its appropriate due. While Odysseus was in his disguise he tested his people to see if they had stayed loyal to him and if they hadn't then they would get what they deserve.
In the movie "Gladiator", Maximus shows many of the same virtues as Odysseus. He first shows his courage when he is in battle and also when he goes first into the arena to save the lives of many of the fellow gladiators. He shows his self control in only killing who and when he needs to. Also, since he has not been involved in the politics of the time he as his own mind and it is not prejudiced from the politicians which shows wisdom. Maximus also is loyal to his king, by knowing that his son murdered him and seeks …show more content…

Odysseus shows his arête as personal duties with his everlasting love for his family and home town. On the island of Ogygcia he had all the pleasures that he could want, but was still not happy because he missed his home and family. Maximus shows his arête with his personal duties, when all he wants for reward from the king is to go home for a bit. These heroes resemble each other in the way that they both ache for home, they differ that when they get home Odysseus' home is still there and Maximus' home and family has been

Show More
Related

Odysseus And Greed In Homer's The Odyssey

1277 Words | 6 Pages

“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” -Erich Fromm ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer, follows the story of Odysseus, a great Greek hero. It tells of his venture to Troy, to lead his army in the Trojan War, and his separation from loved ones and his kingdom for twenty years. However, the novel mainly focuses on the story of his homecoming and all he, and many others, had to endure while he was returning from abroad.

Read More

How Is Odysseus Selfish

290 Words | 2 Pages

Overall, Odysseus is often portrayed as a “model hero”, but in reality he has many faults such as being untrustworthy, arrogant and

Read More

Odysseus Traits In Homer's Odyssey

1125 Words | 5 Pages

Odysseus’s Traits Throughout the Odyssey, the main character Odysseus goes on an epic adventure with his focus being to get home to his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. He faces many obstacles dealing with characters such as the Cyclopes, Poseidon, Aeolus, Athena, Helios, Calypso, Zeus, Hermes, Scylla, and Circe. Odysseus’s men are some of the most valuable people to him throughout the Odyssey. He always puts himself in front of danger for them to protect them even though they all died from an unexpected turn of events soon before he returns home. When Odysseus comes home he greets his twenty year old son and straightens things out on his homeland, Ithaca.

Read More

Odysseus Strengths And Weaknesses Essay

373 Words | 2 Pages

Personal strengths and weaknesses are magnified during the course of a journey. Some strengths that were magnified during the course of Odysseus’ journey were courage and self-discipline. There were many instances in which he proves to be a courageous man. In the Cyclops story,  Odysseus knows that whatever lives on the island he has arrived to is “a towering brute” and a “wild man ignorant of civility” and yet he decides to venture into the cave.

Read More

Is Odysseus A Hero

500 Words | 2 Pages

In the epic story the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is returning from the Trojan war, and on his way home he finds many obstacles ahead of him. Odysseus is the ruler of Ithaca and he is trying to return home to his land. Many creatures try and stop him from achieving his goal of returning home, but he and his crew have to push through and get home. Odysseus portrays bravery and courage leading his crew through these tough challenges. Odysseus heroically leads his crew and himself through dangerous obstacles, but also foolishly endangers them during the journey home.

Read More

The Wisdom Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

741 Words | 3 Pages

Sanders Whiteside English I Mrs. Miller 11 February 2016 Courage Comes with Wisdom A man willing to fight for 20 years and return home to his family is a hard working man indeed. Characteristics can change the way one get is perceived as well can change the way someone acts. Homer's book The Odyssey takes place in roughly 760 BC in the Mediterranean in Greece.

Read More

The Transformation Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

688 Words | 3 Pages

Naturally, he has much to be proud of: his sexy and loyal wife, his bravery, and his victorious battles from the Trojan War and beyond. However, his arrogance creates a weakness in his character that negatively impacts himself and the people around him. The evolution in Odysseus’s personality turns him from an arrogant flaunter to a humble man, and demonstrates that the strifes he encounters during his journey home is not simply new experiences, but also his beginning of a profound revelation. Starting from the middle of the mountain, Odysseus’s new transformation will allow him to soar to the top with eagle

Read More

Argumentative Essay: The Odyssey

1474 Words | 6 Pages

Odysseus was trapped in Calypso Island for ten years and this made his son Telemachus to embark on a journey to find him after he learnt that he was not dead. The story is filled with mysterious and supernatural forces and happenings, but they still keep the characters going on in their expeditions. The Odyssey is an epic whereby the characters are developed

Read More

Calypso's Role In The Odyssey

514 Words | 3 Pages

Odysseus is a warrior who has been through struggle after struggle, so the idea of a having an easy-out, a life of complete relaxation, is extremely tempting. Calypso is the cage that is trapping

Read More

Odysseus Character Development

1042 Words | 5 Pages

This character is brought to light using several incidents and events that help to analyze and interpret the ancient Greek world and the values surrounding them. Each episode supports and allows for the development of Odysseus’ character and acknowledges the effects of these features. Through these specific incidents, the reader uncovers the quality of Odysseus and how his characteristics relate to those praised by Greeks and those that were criticized. Persistent components of Odysseus’ character include cleverness and pride, while major themes that are reiterated are Greek ideals and the struggle to reach home. Conclusively, definitive occasions in “The Odyssey” establish and expand upon the character of Odysseus and how it impacts himself and

Read More

Odysseus As A Hero Essay

450 Words | 2 Pages

The odyssey, an epic told by Homer in ancient greece, has many major themes following odysseus’s adventures. While Odysseus is sentenced to never return home after the Trojan War. He is overcoming challenges to return home to his wife penelope and his son Telemachus. Throughout the story major themes of loyalty, hospitality and vengeance are hidden within the plot. The story continues to show his heroic side with three major traits.

Read More

What Makes Odysseus An Epic Hero

831 Words | 4 Pages

Odysseus has some good traits, some bad flaws, and has been in some ugly situations, but overall he is a true hero. Some of the traits that exemplify his heroism traits are his cleverness, determination, and his bravery. In several scenarios he saves his men from sticky situations, showing his bravery, his determination

Read More

Odysseus Character Analysis Essay

574 Words | 3 Pages

In the book The Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, is a man who is loved and respected by many. In the beginning of the book, we learn that Odysseus has left on a journey and, since it has been many years since his departure, many people assume that he has passed. On his journey, he portrays his many traits, not all of them being good ones either. Some of his good traits include his cunning, bravery, and hard work ethic. On the other hand, his negative traits are his excessive pride, immense curiosity, and rather large temper.

Read More

Humility In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

846 Words | 4 Pages

John Ruskin once said, “The first test of truly great man is his humility”. In The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, the central character Odysseus learns humility through his failures and growth in obedience making him a hero. Odysseus reaches a heroic status through the lessons learned on his journey, which ultimately taught him the value of obedience and the dangers of arrogance. Initially, Odysseus appears to lack the heroic quality of humility, through his narcissistic nature.

Read More

How Odysseus Is An Epic Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

541 Words | 3 Pages

The Odyssey by Homer is a book that involves the Journey of Odysseus and his men and the Obstacles they come across. The Odyssey portrays many themes including vengeance, hospitality, courage, bravery and more. Odysseus experiences some good and bad during his journey. He comes across people who help him, but also comes across creatures who hold him back. Odysseus is an Epic hero because of his quick thinking skills, bravery, and confidence for himself and his men.

Read More

More about Character Analysis Of Odysseus In Homer's 'Gladiator'

Related Topics

Open Document