Odysseus: A Modern Hero Analysis

“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” (Bob Dylan). A modern hero is recognized by the goodness in their heart. Odysseus, the protagonist of Homer’s “The Odyssey”, is not a good example of a modern hero. Heroes cannot be cross cultural, and Odysseus’ heroics do not transcend time and apply to the modern world. A good example of a modern hero would be the First Lady, Michelle Obama. With Michelle’s humanitarian work and benevolent attitude, she helps those in need while trying to better society. Being arrogant is one of Odysseus’s main flaws. It’s an attribute that does not make him a modern hero. Odysseus shows his arrogance when he bests Polyphemus by saying, "Cyclops, if any mortal man ever asks you who it was that inflicted upon your eye this shameful blinding, tell him that you were blinded by Odysseus, sacker of cities. Laertes is his father, and he makes his home on Ithaka" (Homer 161). Odysseus gave his name and homeland to the Cyclops. Now, the Cyclops can seek revenge on not just

However, some people may argue that Odysseus is a hero, due to his bravery and intelligence. An example of this is when Odysseus wins the battle of Troy. He faced death and overcame it, therefore becoming a war hero. For many people today, being a war hero is very honorable. However, Odysseus’s actions were careless and he shed blood for fun. Therefore while some may think Odysseus is a modern hero, it is pertinent to recognize Odysseus’s flaws that don’t make him a modern hero. Although Odysseus was seen as a hero in ancient times, heroes are not cross cultural. His heroics do not transcend time and aren’t applicable to today's society. With his flaws, Odysseus should not be thought of as a modern hero when compared to Michelle Obama because of the different impacts they made and make on their