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Odysseus Is Not A Hero In Homer's Odyssey

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Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, the author shows the reader the true significance of honor and immortalization. The raging Trojan War of 1200 BC started to break out after Paris (Prince of Troy) kidnapped Helen (most beautiful women in the world) from her husband Menelaus (King of Sparta). Her husband called upon numerous soldiers to rescue her, one being Odysseus the great King of Ithaca. The epic poem demonstrates the adventures as he returns from Troy to Ithaca traveling with 12 fleets, encountering antagonistic monsters and enchanting women/ goddesses from getting home to his wife Penelope and his son. Odysseus’ journey, …show more content…

For example, in the scene where Odysseus disobeys his crewmembers to leave his other men on the island show his disloyalty to all. This unfortunate event impacts his decision to leave his men on the island that are now pigs or get back to his kingdom and seek help for them later on; it is either one or all in this scenario. He also has an affair with Circe by sleeping with her and cheating on Penelope. He is a man who has a wife and he just shows disloyalty to her, meanwhile Penelope loves him dearly with all her heart. “ We two, / shall mingle and make love upon your bed.” (Homer, 921) This illustrates that Odysseus is cheating on his wife who he has claim to “love” and he cares for her. Another example is when he is enjoying having all the attention on him and is feeling like a great kin in power, his wife and son is waiting for him. They are waiting and waiting for him to greet them especially since his son wants to see his father who is told all his life on how he is such a mighty man. Is any of the fun and playing around worth it to have time flick by while his own family are praying for Odysseus to be a live? Odysseus’ actions are making the readers imagine him as a disloyal and despicable

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Fourth reason, in the beginning of the book, Homer wrote, “he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home” (Homer 5). But what good is Odysseus saving himself for when in the end he couldn't even control his members in the end. That's why he shouldn't have recklessly sacrificed so many of his members and had a big ego. When Odysseus went back home, he saw that his son and his wife were not safe, so he killed the man’s who were trying to win Penelope heart to gain power. Penelope was so happy that he was back, but really, if Odysseus never left, Penelope and his son would've never be in danger in the first place, that's why he is not a hero.

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