Odysseus: The Ideal Hero in The Odyssey

Odysseus, the main guy in Homer's epic The Odyssey, is like one of those really interesting characters from ancient stories. He's known for being super smart, brave, and a great leader. But his journey isn't just about traveling; it's more about digging deep into what it means to be human and tough. This essay will take a closer look at Odysseus – his hero-like qualities, his not-so-great sides, and how he changes throughout the story. By doing this, we can see why Odysseus is still seen as a symbol of heroism and not giving up.

Odysseus: The Quintessential Hero in Homer's Odyssey

So let's talk about Odysseus's smarts. His intelligence, or "metis" as they called it back then, is pretty much what makes him stand out. It's all about being wise but also clever. You see this right from the start of the story. Like when he came up with that Trojan Horse idea? Pure genius! Building a giant wooden horse and sneaking soldiers inside to get into Troy was a game-changer. It shows how he could think outside the box and use tricks to win. You also see his brains in action when he deals with mythical creatures. Remember when he was stuck in the Cyclops Polyphemus' cave? He tells Polyphemus his name is "Nobody." So later, when Odysseus blinds him and Polyphemus yells for help, he says "Nobody" is hurting him! Talk about smart thinking!

But sometimes his smarts get him into trouble too – like they're a double-edged sword. After blinding Polyphemus, Odysseus couldn't help himself; he had to brag and reveal who he really was. Big mistake! Poseidon wasn't happy about that since he's Polyphemus' dad. So Odysseus ends up cursed with an even longer trip home because of it. This whole thing shows one of his big flaws: pride often clouds his judgment. Even though he's smart, sometimes he doesn't think ahead enough about what might happen next.

Let's shift gears a bit and talk leadership. Odysseus is definitely someone you want on your side during a crisis! He's brave, decisive, and cares about his crew – traits every good leader should have. Take the Sirens incident as an example: their singing lures sailors to their doom but not if you’re with Odysseus! He plugs his men’s ears with beeswax so they won’t hear while having himself tied to the mast just so he could listen without jumping overboard! Now that's gutsy but also thoughtful – putting others first while facing danger head-on.

Even heroes have weak moments though – times when things get real hard emotionally speaking...you know? Years spent away from home take their toll on our dude here too—plus all those crazy adventures add up fast stress-wise... But these vulnerable points give depth beyond surface-level hero stuff which makes us root harder seeing him struggle yet push through anyway driven by love & loyalty back toward family waiting across miles separating them from sweet Ithaca shores again someday soon hopefully...

Conclusion

In wrapping things up here today folks: Odysseus isn’t just some flat character in an old tale... He evolves both personally alongside physically throughout The Odyssey! Sure enough intelligence brings success but equal troubles arise likewise making cunningness stand prominent trait distinguishing him amongst others placed amidst similar circumstances therein depicted within work itself nevertheless displayed alongside sheer bravery present throughout alongside fallibility underscoring humanity beneath celebrated figurehead recognizable universally through ages transcending mere historical relevance alone maintaining cultural significance alongside thematic richness provided herein timeless classical narrative deserving continued exploration further onwards unending march forward sustained future generations gathered accordingly thereafter subsequently engaged actively perusal thereof ongoing basis indeed presently currently maintained thus assuredly certain prospects likely long-term perpetuation correspondingly duly warranted aptly justified consequently commensurate resulting eventually finality achieved herein conclusively demonstrating validity recognized pertinent associated directly linked thereby pertaining logically thereto entailed inherently indisputably certifiably authentic genuine accurate undeniable unequivocal veracity rendered undeniably evident without equivocation question whatsoever... Right?

References

• Homer. (1996). The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fagles.
• Nagy, G. (1999). The best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the hero in Archaic Greek poetry. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Louden, B. (1999). The Odyssey: Structure, narration, and meaning. John Hopkins University Press.
• Schein, S.L., & Homer (1984). The Mortal Hero: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad. University of California Press.
• Austin, N.J.T., & Vidal-Naquet P., (1977). Economic History of Ancient Greece.