When you think of heroes, Superman, Batman, and WonderWoman come to mind. When you think about war heroes, a different picture comes to mind: successful battles, weapons, glory. Homer’s character Odysseus may not fly, but he is considered both. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus gradually develops from a boastful war hero into an epic hero through the stages of the Challenges, the Transformation, and the Atonement.
Odysseus begins his transition by showcasing his wit and intelligence through his success in the Challenges, but he makes foolish mistakes. This is evidenced when Odysseus and his crew encounter Polyphemus, the cyclops. Homer displays Odysseus’s intellect when he decided to use the pseudonym “Nobody,” and as a result displays quick
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Odysseus’s main goal throughout the first half of the epic is to complete his journey home to Telemachus and Penelope. However, when Athena informs him of the suitors, he exclaims, “Come, weave us a scheme so I can pay them back! Stand beside me, Athena, fire me with daring” (Homer 299). Odysseus’s dependance on Athena for his success rather than fighting alone for the sake of glory against the suitors reveals a more humble side of his character. Divine Intervention is displayed when Athena disguises him as a beggar so he can carry out their planned revenge. Odysseus now has new determination to complete his journey and defeat the suitors. Bloom states, “This becomes crucial in his triumph over the suitors of Penelope, where his heroism is directly aided by Athena. Yet his heroic agon to assert and to reestablish his identity is very much his own enterprise” (Bloom). Although his perseverance contributes to his victory, it would not have been possible had Athena not interfered, and Odysseus acknowledges that. Odysseus uses Athena’s guidance in the Transformation to aid his development and become more