The Tragic Hero Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

Odysseus is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and a hero of Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey. He is the husband of Penelope and the father of Telemachus. He is not a perfect hero. He goes back and forth between great triumph and huge mistakes. To understand this flawed hero, it is important to study his basic motivation, his strengths and weaknesses and to understand his natural tendency under pressure.

Everybody has reasons for their actions. Anytime somebody commits a crime or does something heroic, it is worth asking why. Odysseus had some scary adventures and daring escapes. It is interesting to search out the motivation behind his behavior. Throughout his adventures, Odysseus had a strong desire to get back home to his wife Penelope and their

One strength is his ability to plan and strategize to accomplish his goal. A good example of this is the time he wanted to hear the sirens but he knew it would be dangerous for him and his crew. “Going forward I carried wax along the lines and laid it thick upon their ears. They tied me up, then, plumb amidships, back to the mast lashed to the mast.” (Homer Odyssey 12.212-215). Another time he used strategy to escape Polyphemus by giving the Cyclops too much wine, then blinding him with a sharp spear. The next morning he and his men tied themselves to the bottom of sheep to sneak out of the cave. ( Homer Odyssey 9.377-83). It Odysseus has a big flaw, it is his Pride and ego. It shows up when he and his man are fleeing the Cyclops on this ship and he just could not help bragging to Polyphemus about it and revealing his name. “I would not heed them in my glorifying spirit, and yelled: Cyclops and ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded tell them Odysseus, raider of cities took your eye.” (Homer Odyssey 9.548-51). Another example of his big ego was when he did not take circe’s warning about avoiding Skylla. She even told him how terrible it could turn out, but Odysseus was so sure you could take her down. He bragged about keeping his nerve and using his wits against the Cyclops as an excuse to do it his way. ( Homer Odyssey

Odysseus struggles with impulsive acts, but he also has the ability to get out of tricky situations by staying composed Long enough to make a great plan. One example is when he and his man got stranded in the Cyclops’ cave, facing death. Instead of panicking he remained calm Long enough to give himself a chance to think it through. He called himself nobody to fool the Cyclops. This plan only happened because he is the skill of composure under stress. (Homer Odyssey 9.394-449). Another example is when Odysseus and his faithful swineherd Head home. Odysseus disguised himself as a beggar. They meet the goatherd Melanthios who taunts them and insults them, and finally kicks at Odysseus hip when he walks by. “the Lord Odysseus walks along, debating inwardly whether to whirl and beat the life out of this fellow with his stick, or toss him, brain him on the stony ground. Then he controlled himself and bore it quietly.” (Homer Odyssey 17.300-304) Odysseus has another natural tendency and it is that he was a fighter, not inclined to run away from trouble. He once revealed this to calypso in a conversation about his desire to get home whatever the cost. “if any God has marked me out again for shipwreck, my tough heart can undergo it. What hardship have I not long since endured at sea, And battle! Let the trial come.” (Homer Odyssey 5.230-233) in today’s words, Odysseus actually said.