Odysseus: An Epic Hero
In The Odyssey written by Homer, the main character is Odysseus, an epic hero. He has to leave his home Ithaca, and ends up on a great voyage landing on many islands. All of which, is home to gods and goddesses, good and bad. Along the way he shows his very heroic characteristics, while battling these supernatural forces. For example when he fights the Cicones, the singing sirens, or even the one eyed beast. However ,Odysseus the great epic hero was still able to stay strong and proceed his way home.
To begin, his loyalty is revealed by his crewman. He is almost like a big brother to them. His first sign of loyalty is revealed once he sees his undead crewman, Elpenor, left unburied on Circe's island. Elpenor has too much to drink, and ends up falling to his death. After, Elpenor falls, he asks Odysseus to return and bury him properly, so Odysseus ‘’...cut down timber on the foreland, on a high point, and built his pyre of logs’’ (209). Odysseus does not want one of his men to live unconsoled in the Land of the DEad, especially after he sees him face to face after his death. This is when he returns to …show more content…
This is mostly because of him winning a battle, or him thinking that he is higher up than what he really is. One place where his arrogance is portrayed is at the cyclops’ home. Here, his cockiness and boastfulness comes out when he yells to Polyphemus ‘’ Puny, am I, in a caveman's hands? How do you like the beating that we gave you’’(158). In order for him to avoid the consequences Odysseus tells the cyclops that ‘nobody’ did it. He acts almost as if he is a god, without caring what he says or does. In addition, Odysseus’ arrogance is also shown when he wins the trojan war. He walks up to the sea and announces to Poseidon that himself is the greatest god that has ever lived. Poseidon then enrages himself to Odysseus. In moments of victory is when Odysseus’ arrogance comes