Odysseus is not a Hero Analysis

Odysseus: Not Your Traditional Hero

When you think about Greek mythology, the name Odysseus often pops up as a hero. He's known for being smart and brave, dealing with all sorts of challenges while trying to get back home to Ithaca. But if we dig a bit deeper into his actions and who he really is, maybe calling him a hero isn’t quite right. Let’s take a closer look at why Odysseus might not actually be the hero everyone thinks he is.

Moral Ambiguity of Odysseus

First off, Odysseus is kind of a tricky guy. In Homer's "The Odyssey," he's shown as this great warrior and super-smart strategist. He gets past monsters, gods, and even annoying suitors to reach his kingdom again. But some of his actions make you wonder about his moral compass.

He seems to care more about himself than anyone else. Remember when he had to choose between saving his crew or himself? Yup, he usually picked option two—save himself. When he dealt with the Cyclops Polyphemus, he blinded the big guy and escaped but left his men in danger. That’s pretty selfish, right? Isn’t a hero supposed to put others first?

Lack of Empathy

Another thing that stands out is how little empathy he shows for people who get in his way. It’s like anyone who's seen as a threat doesn't matter to him at all. He lies and cheats just to get what he wants. Does that sound like any hero you know?

Think about how he treats Circe and Calypso—he tricks them for his own benefit without caring much about their feelings. That's definitely not what you'd expect from one of those good-hearted heroes from myths.

Selfish Motivations and Ambitions

And let’s talk ambition for a sec; Odysseus has plenty of it! Most times, what drives him is personal glory rather than doing what's right or fulfilling some noble duty.

Like when he taunts the Cyclops just because he wants to feel superior. Or when he's back home competing against the suitors—it feels more like he's showing off than anything else.

This kind of egotistical behavior doesn’t fit well with the humble image most heroes have in stories we read or hear about.

A Complex Figure in Mythology

So yeah, Odysseus does have some qualities that are admirable—like being smart and brave—but there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface that's not so heroic. His selfishness, lack of empathy, and hunger for glory muddy the waters.

If we really think hard about it, maybe calling him a traditional hero isn’t quite right after all.

Wrapping It Up

In conclusion, Odysseus may seem like a hero with all his brainy plans and gutsy moves but looking closely reveals he's got some serious flaws too. He challenges what we usually consider heroic behavior by being morally complex.

By taking another look at Odysseus in "The Odyssey," we start asking bigger questions about virtue, ethics—and what being human really means anyway!

References

• Homer. (1996). The Odyssey (E.V. Rieu & D.C.H Rieu Trans.). Penguin Classics.
• Nagy, G. (1999). The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry (Revised ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Powell, B.B., & Homer (1987). Classical Myth (5th ed.). Prentice Hall.
• Pomeroy, S.B., et al. (2008). Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Schein, S.L., ed. (1996). Reading the Odyssey: Selected Interpretive Essays. Princeton University Press.