herody The Imperfect Hero of Homers Odyssey Essay -- Odyssey essays

The Imperfect Hero of The Odyssey   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In literature, a bold character or hero is often the principle character. In the epic poem The Odyssey there are many immortals, but only one hero, Odysseus. The differences between the immortals and the hero are few. The god-like Odysseus is plagued with the human weaknesses of pettiness, self-doubt, and dependence on the pity of others. Odysseus reveals his pettiness when he amuses himself with humorous guile. Odysseus not only uses his cunning at the expense of his enemies, but he also uses his cunning and guile as a way of entertaining himself. After Odysseus tells the Cyclops his name is "Noman," Odysseus stabs Polyphemus in the eye and Polyphemus cries for help saying, "Friends, Noman is murdering me be craft" (87). Odysseus’ power over his enemy is once again confirmed by his wit more than by his physical force. Although Odysseus is a wise man, this wit is only useful in the short picture. After he and his men get away from Polyphemus, Polyphemus’ father, Poseidon, causes the mortal men trouble. To avoid such trouble, Odysseus could have choose not to amuse himself. Odysseus often loses sight of the greater vision, which is returning to his family. Odysseus risks his return by a moment of testosterone-driven pettiness. The moment comes when Odysseus challenges Irus by saying, "†¦do not challenge me too far with show of fists, or you may rouse my rage; and old as I am, I still might stain your beast and lips with blood" (174). When the beggar/Odysseus fights and wins against Irus it is a miracle that no one became suspicious of Odysseus. The suitors were shocked that an old beggar, as Odysseus appeared to be, would be that strong. If anyone put two and two together then Od... ...One thing that can be learned from Odysseus is: no matter how good one is, one is still a human; and part of being a human is to learn to overcome one’s flaws Works Cited and Consulted Griffin, Jasper, Homer: The Odyssey   Cambridge UP 1987 Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988 Jones, Peter V. Homer's Odyssey : a companion to the translation   of Richmond Lattimore.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Carbondale, IL : Southern Illinois University Press, c1988. PA4167 .J66 1988 Murnaghan, Sheila,   Disguise and Recognition in the Odyssey, Princeton UP 1987 Peradotto, John , Man in the Middle Voice: Name and Narration in the Odyssey, Princeton UP 1990 Stanford, William Bedell. Homer's Odyssey. 2 Vols. Macmillan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thalmann, William G., The Odyssey : an epic of return. New York : Twayne Publishers. PA4167 .T45 1992