Odysseus A Hero Research Paper

Is Odysseus a Hero

Odysseus is one of the most well known characters in Greek mythology. He is known for being strong willed a great warrior and being a great leader. These are all traits that make a great hero. Along with these traits Odysseus is a hero for many other reasons, such as his contribution in the Trojan war, his powerful will to lead, and how he contains the traits and follows the archetypal hero layout. Although I believe that Odysseus is a hero, there is always a counter argument on every point. people believe that Achilles was a more important character in the war, that he did not lead well, and that he is missing traits, but truly these accusations are false. Odysseus does many things that make him a hero as I will explain.

Being known as the “Master Strategist” he is looked on to make big decisions that affected the outcome of the Trojan War. Also Odysseus did many heroic things in the Trojan War that led to people seeing him as the most important hero that fought in the ten year war, even above Achilles who is another well known hero. Odysseus even came up with the plan that ended the war. We have all heard of it, and that is the wooden horse. After being pushed back and withdrawing Odysseus requested a giant Wooden horse be built. He then had the ships retreat and when the enemy awoke, without anything in sight except for the giant horse they believed the Greeks had retreated and brought the horse into the city, only to find it was full of armed, prepared men that were now in the city that was now doomed. Odysseus came up with this perfectly executed plan that won the war for the greeks. Therefore Odysseus was known as a war hero and voted by the surviving men as the bravest of any man on the battlefield over

He goes through many challenges within the war and out of the war, but most of his challenges come when he is attempting to come home to his island. His first big challenge on his journey home that he faces is the giant Prometheus. After getting trapped in the giant's cave a few of his men are eaten, but these losses are small compared to what would've happened if he had not come up with a way to get his men out of the morbid cave. He does this with another superb plan. He give the giant wine convincing him it is the drink of the gods. Then while the monster sleeps he prepares a large spear and stabs Prometheus while he sleeps. So, although Odysseus did lose a small amount of his men he led them to a great escape. Saving them from certain death, and showing his leadership and quick thinking. Another time Odysseus shows his leadership by saving his men is on the island in which his men are trapped by the witch Circe. According to the movie “The Odyssey” Circe turns many of Odysseus men into animals. He then takes a large amount of bravery and heart to attempt to retrieve them. He then enters the temple of Circe. To have his men returned to their original forms he must sleep with the goddess. He does this to change his men back and get his men home. A show of bravery to not leave even one of his men behind. Many people argue that Odysseus is not a good