A Discussion of Whether Odysseus is a Hero

Introduction

What does it mean to be a hero? There are several definitions for the word, and there are many examples of heroes in history and everyone’s daily lives. However, The Odyssey also exhibits some acts of heroism, such as those by the protagonist, Odysseus. Odysseus is a very controversial character, with many debating whether or not he is a true hero. The Odyssey is about a ten-year journey that the protagonist, Odysseus, takes. He undergoes many obstacles, both physically and mentally challenging. The book also raises the question of whether or not Odysseus is a hero. Odysseus is not a hero because he loses sight of his mission many times, acts very irrationally, has done several unethical things on his journey, and receives much help from Athena to even be considered a hero.

Odysseus and His Mission

Odysseus loses sight of his mission many times. A hero is there to get the job done well and do what is best for everyone. A hero cannot be disloyal and keep forgetting what they were doing there in the first place. Odysseus treacherously stays with Circe for a year, as it is described, “Thus did she speak and we assented. We stayed with Circe for a whole twelvemonth, feasting upon an untold quantity both of meat and wine.” He loses focus on getting back to Ithaca and is instead distracted by Circe. Odysseus is being disloyal to Penelope and everyone he promised would get home. A hero is there to get the job done, not be easily distracted. Odysseus is having an affair with Circe while Penelope stays loyal to him. A hero should be putting others before themselves instead of leaving these ideals behind.

Irrational Actions

Odysseus acts very irrationally. Every hero thinks or at least acknowledges the consequences of their actions before acting. On the other hand, Odysseus is fueled by his anger and does not think before he acts. Odysseus speaks to the suitors on page 284, scolding, “Though you should give me all that you have...I will not stay my hand till I have paid all of you in full...You must fight...and fly not a man of you shall live.” Even though the suitors told Odysseus that they would leave and not mess with him again, Odysseus decides to deal with them irrationally, based on his anger. He does not acknowledge the consequences of killing off sons of prominent families. Instead, his hubris gets the best of him. Another example of this would be when Odysseus is taunting the cyclops, Polyphemus. He brags by telling him his name, where he is from, and his great feat. Instead of quietly leaving and not endangering the rest of the crew members, he selfishly, openly brags about his achievement. This, in turn, angers Poseidon, which causes Odysseus’ journey to lengthen. Odysseus suffers because of his own mistake, which he later makes again due to his irrational thinking. Another controversial “hero” would be Napoleon. If Odysseus is compared to Napoleon, there are many similarities, such as the massacre of his troops in Russia, and Odysseus slaughtering the suitors. However, even Napoleon took account of the consequences of his actions and did not act irrationally. He thought out every attack and used strategies to obtain greatness. Odysseus, on the other hand, did quite the opposite. For example, Odysseus did not share the bag of winds plan with his crew members, which led them back to where they started. This occurred because of Odysseus’ fault. A hero should be able to devise warrior-like strategies and grasp the rationality of their actions.

Unethical Actions

Odysseus has done several unethical things on his journey. Modern-day heroes such as officers are exposed to threats, violence, and verbal abuse daily. However, they still have to remain calm and professional. They keep their character, trust, and integrity. Odysseus did not do this at all. He ignored the death of one of his men, “‘We had left his body unswept and unburied in Circe’s house, for we had too much else to do.’” Odysseus seemed unbothered by Elpenor’s death and moved on to make progress on his journey. Odysseus is very unheroic because of these deeds that make him a selfish, more unlikeable person. He has done unethical things that make him a person that should go un-admired. Every person should act humanely no matter what, especially heroes. But for a hero to do unethical acts that don’t even symbolize bravery or honor, it makes him not a hero, but a villain.

Athena's Assistance

Odysseus receives much help from Athena. A hero is someone who can use their mind and finish the job by themselves. It is also common for heroes to receive aid, but in this case, Odysseus cannot even be considered a hero because of the amount of help he is getting from a goddess. A time Odysseus was called a hero even though he was helped by Athena was in Odysseus’ revenge, “Odysseus was left in the hall, pondering on the means whereby with Athene’s help he might kill the suitors.” There was no way Odysseus could have done this task without the help of Athena, and therefore should not be called a hero. Another example would be when Athena disguised Odysseus as a beggar so he could participate in the competition. Odysseus shoots the arrows through the metal axes and wins the competition. However, without Athena’s help, Odysseus would not have even been able to compete, therefore displaying another time where Odysseus lacked skills. If we merely say that a hero should be strong and cunning, Odysseus would lack these qualities as well. Given the fact that he always received an immense amount of help from Athena, then taking credit for it, not being able to display heroic qualities. He should not be remembered as a hero for making all of his battles unfair and with a goddess on his side. If Odysseus cannot exhibit any acts of heroism by himself, then there is no reason why he should be named a hero.

Conclusion

All things considered, Odysseus should not be considered a hero. A true hero could be someone like Black Widow. In the movie Avengers: Endgame, she sacrifices herself for the greater good. Black Widow was willing to give up her life to save millions of others. If this act of true heroism is compared to Odysseus’ whole journey, it can be inferred that Odysseus would not give up himself for other people. His ego and hubris outweigh any form of true heroism as mentioned before. In the end, a hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with an immense amount of power. But it's human choices that allow us to make these decisions.

References

1. Homer. (1996). The Odyssey (R. Fagles, Trans.). Penguin Classics.
2. Marvel Studios. (2019). Avengers: Endgame. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
3. Nardo, D. (2004). Odysseus: Escaping Poseidon's Curse. Lucent Books.
4. Smith, C. (2010). Heroes and Anti-Heroes in Western Literature. Cambridge University Press.