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Transformation In The Odyssey

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Revelations and transformations are the most important part of the Hero’s Journey. Without it, there’s no lesson learned or progress made. In Count of Monte Cristo, The Odyssey, and The Alchemist, the three heroes have many psychological, behavioral, and physical transformations. They all have different experiences, but learn something and change in the end. Edmond Dantes, Odysseus, and Santiago had profound revelations and transformations in their journeys.

Edmond Dantes had a less profound transformation in his hero’s journey. He is very focused on the revenge of his best friend, who stole his wonderful life from him and caused Dantes to be sent to a horrible prison and be beaten for years. “Don’t rob me of my hate- its all I have”, Edmond …show more content…

By killing all of the suitors, he reclaimed the life that was stolen from him, and reinstituted himself as King of Ithaca. Besides getting his revenge, Odysseus does have some physiological and behavioral transformations. While he was away from his life as king with his beautiful wife, newborn child, and peaceful lifestyle, he learned to appreciate his fortinality. “By nights he would lie beside her, of necessity, in the hollow caerns, against his will, by one who was willing, but all the days he would sit upon the rocks, at the seaside, breaking his heart in tears and lamentation and sorrow as weeping tears he looked out over the barren water.” (Homer Book 5 154-158), Odysseus longs for his life back home his entire journey. He also learns to be patient. When Odysseus returned to Ithaca, he could’ve very easily charged into his house and killed all the suitors, and probably would’ve died doing so. Instead, he thoughtfully planned out his revenge and executes it perfectly. Finally, during his 20 year adventure, Odysseus convinces himself, and proclaims, that he doesn 't need the gods to succeed. He overcomes his hubris and is humbled, and makes peace with the …show more content…

Throughout his journey, he unearths the truths of life, discovers his meaning of living, and what connects life all together. In the grand scheme of things, psychological changes are much more valuable than physical changes, and Santiago went from a shepherd boy with no view of the future to a man knowledgeable of the hidden truths all around us. Nevertheless, our three heroes are different men now than from when they began their

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The journey of the hero is a long and arduous one, but not all journeys are that of the hero. One novel that is an example of a hero’s journey is The Odyssey by Homer. A novel that is an example of a journey that is very far from a hero’s is Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. The protagonists of these stories may seem different at a glance, but upon further inspection there are many similarities between not only the characters, but also their stories. Holden Caulfield and Odysseus are similar yet different in their personalities, the fact that they both have to deal with death, face intense struggles, become more mature, and go on a journey to change themselves.

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The physical journey, filled with malicious obstacles, Odysseus endures on his journey home to Ithaca is symbolic of a much greater development, both mentally and emotionally, which reinforces his identity. In the Odyssey, Homer has a knack to describe each character with profound detail. Odysseus especially has innumerable characteristics that describe his personality. However, his endeavor and struggle miraculously helps him to discover a new identity. Odysseus’s true identity, Dimock, too, undoubtedly believes that Odysseus’s journey back is a road to establish his identity.

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He does not only change mentally, but he also changes physically and emotionally. In the beginning of the play, Odysseus is a very brave and prideful man, but as the numerous events occur he changes. He is an impulsive man because he thinks that he doesn’t need the gods, and he is very prideful because he boasts on his achievement, and he also does not think about what he says because he is reckless. While being stuck on Calypso’s island, Odysseus has seven entire years to think about the many things that he could have or has done. When Odysseus has to do deal with the curse that Poseidon put on him, he realizes that it is better to swallow your pride instead of

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All through The Odyssey, the characters develop in a certain way that interchanges the outcome of the book. Odysseus is able to develop knowledge and wisdom to deal with his men during the battle and the suitors who were frustrating his wife. In addition, he came back home as a hero after the Trojan War. Telemachus developed into a mature man who could deal with any problem in his father’s absence. However, based on the story, it is evident that, Telemachus demonstrates a great change basing upon the times the characters were away from Ithaca.

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Ultimately Santiago has developed his identity through the soul of the world and alchemy and has achieved his personal legend

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Odysseus has clearly learned not to be impulsive in his decision-making from his past errors, for example on the island of the Laestrygonians and that of the Cyclops, his bad decision making cost many of his men their lives. This decision to wait and contemplate where he is and think about his decision is very smart because at his palace, there is a “world of pain” (11.132). If he ran home, he might have been killed by the suitors. This question shows that after suffering so much, he finally has learned patience. In response to this, and his whole speech, Athena praises him and says he is “so winning” and he is “worldly-wise” (13.377,77).

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