One of the ultimate goals of nearly every Greek hero is to gain kleos by accomplishing great deeds and fighting in major battles. The renown that warriors seeks is one of the few methods that provides pseudo-immortality. If your name and your family line lives on, then Hades cannot fully consume you. It is for this reason that most humans in Greek myths, at least those that are not being needlessly raped and tormented by the gods, embark on quests. Generally, there is a primary reason for these adventures – fulfilling a penance, taking the throne, saving the maiden – but in the background of every story kleos loams large. The same priorities are found within The Odyssey, however, the concept of kleos is subverted multiple times. There are three major instances in which kleos, as the Ancient Greek world viewed it, was partially subverted. The most obvious takes places in Hades during Odysseus’ conversation with Achilles. …show more content…
After escaping the man-eating cyclops, the hero cannot help but taunt Polyphemus and reveal his name. In most situations, taunting a monster that you have escaped and with whom you will never come into contact again is not particularly intelligent, but will generally have few consequences. Mocking the son of god, the god of the sea on which he is sailing, has much worse results. Odysseus’ attempt to gain renown and make his name known backfired spectacularly and caused him much trouble throughout the rest of his long journey. Tradition dictates that a hero must seek kleos however it can be found, but The Odyssey subverts this by showing the consequences for proclaiming your name foolishly. In the end, a thoughtful listener can conclude that, while kleos is important and should be sought after, seeking it should be done wisely with the understanding that a bard is of vital importance and fame means little to the