In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is the protagonist and shows many characteristics of being a brave hero, but he often makes many mistakes throughout his journey due to his hubris. He left home to fight in the Trojan War and showed great leadership along the way. On top of leaving Ithaca, he also left his wife and child behind. He got lost on his journey home which caused him and his crew to encounter multiple dangerous situations. While most Ancient Greek societies clearly saw Odysseus as a hero, many modern audiences would reject his hero status.
In most Ancient Greek societies, Odysseus fits the profile of a Greek hero, for he is equipped with great strength, courage, and is favored by many gods. Odysseus used his great skills and his
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Odysseus had lots of pride in himself and his crew. Although Odysseus got him and his crew out of the cyclops's cave, he could not hold his pride in as he told the cyclops his name. "Cyclops- if any man on the face of the Earth should ask you who blinded, shamed you so- say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye, Laertes' son who makes his home in Ithaca!" (9.558-562). If he had not done this, life would be much easier for him, because Poseidon would not have had a reason to go after him. Stabbing someone in the eye sounds bad, but cutting someone’s genitals is even worse Then they brought Melanthius out through the doorway into the yard. With pitiless bronze they sliced away his nose and ears, then ripped off his cock and ball as raw meat for dogs to eat, and in their rage (22.475-479). He ordered the maids to clean out all of the dead bodies from the palace, then proceeded to kill them too. I don’t believe the maids deserved to die even though they slept with Penelope’s suitors. They did nothing harmful to Penelope and Odysseus. I don’t find any of these violent or prideful acts beneficial to either sides.
Even though Odysseus would be considered a hero in Greek standards, he would not be a hero in modern times. Killing people in multitudes doesn't seem humane. Being labeled a hero nowadays, would be way out of the