Bob Riley states, “Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the hero within us is revealed.” When hard times arrived in the epic poem, by Homer, Odysseus endured these moments. He is a character who is seen as very high person in society. Odysseus may not think of his actions, but many see it within him. After a ten year war in Troy, Odysseus and his crew members travel back to Ithaca occupying about ten more years of their life. During these times, Odysseus obeys the greek values, love for home and family, role and importance of Faith, and cleverness. Along with these greek values, Odysseus is seen as a hero.
To begin with, Odysseus is a hero because he looks up to the greek value, love for home and family. During the hard times in the sea, Odysseus always thinks about his family. Odysseus states “Desired me, and detained me in her hall. But in my heart I never gave consent. Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his parents? In far lands he shall not, though he find a house of gold” (33-37). The audience sees that even though Odysseus has been to many places, he still wants to go home. This shows an example of love for home and family. This value is also shown when Odysseus finally gets home after twenty years. When Odysseus gets home it is stated that he cries of happiness. Odysseus states,“Then throwing his arms around this marvel of a father Telemachus began to weep. Salt tears rose from the wells of longing in both men”