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Heroic traits of Odysseus
Being a hero is not defined by the supernaturalism or immortality of a character as
often displayed in the movies. Heroes are individuals who go beyond their individual
interests, often putting their lives at risk. The Heroic traits of Odysseus, in Homer’s epic
poem ‘The Odyssey’ are well skinned out. Odysseus was a high-ranking soldier and
commander in the Trojan war. With the war lasting for ten years, Odysseus gets ready to
go back home to Ithaca to his son, Telemachus and his wife, Penelope. However, together
with his men, they encounter uncountable obstacles along the way. With many of these
experiences being near death experiences, he capitalizes on them to exemplify his
leadership and heroic traits and manages to complete their journey unscathed. Odysseus
embodies the standards of an ideal hero, he is intelligent, brave and patient.
He is intelligent. In the ancient Greek society, intelligence was a highly valued
trait and Odysseus was fortuitous to have possessed it. Intelligence was viewed as a core
trait because it dictated one’s ability to think quickly and make well-thought-out
decisions, which was a pre-requisite of becoming a great leader. His intelligence is
displayed by his ability to come up with instantaneous solutions, with most of them being
successful to some degree. Odysseus manages to demonstrate his intelligence in several
instances. A classic example of his intelligence at work was when he was trapped in the
Cyclops Polyphemus’s cave. He employs his eloquence to display his intelligence, and
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this helps him and his men to escape. He uses a few witty words to get out of the
situation, “Here, Cyclops! You have eaten human meat; now drink some wine, sample
the merchandise our ship contains” (Homer, 252). This is a trick he uses so that he can
kill him. By appealing to his emotions, Odysseus manages to put Cyclops under his
control. He (Cyclops) even asks for more wine. He can monitor his actions and anticipate
his actions, by subordinating his impulses for the main goal, which is to return home,
makes him intelligent.
He is brave. Together with his men, Odysseus went to Cyclops’ cave to show him
that they were better than him. He (Cyclops) gets angry because Odysseus and his men
were eating his food. During the night, Odysseus and his men pull their bravery card and
put a stick on Cyclops’s eye, and they manage not to be killed. When Cyclops gets up
and decides to go outside, he opens the cave’s doors and Odysseus, and his men manage
to escape unhurt. Further, he also shows his bravery when the natives give him and his
men some intoxicating fruits of the lotus. After having them, they forget about going
home and consume more of the fruit. The only way to get back home is through dragging
his men back to the ship. Through his bravery, he manages to do so, and locks them up in
the ship. Finally, he (Odysseus) shows his bravery when he decides to go and see his
wife, Penelope. This is an act of bravery given that they have not seen each other for
several years and he is unsure whether she will recognize him.
He is patient. Patience refers to the ability to wait without being frustrated. The
whole poem demonstrates Odysseus’ patience. After the war ends, Odysseus with his
men try to return home. What would have been a short and seamless journey turns out to
be a long and dangerous one. Odysseus is determined to meet his wife and son after a
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decade in the battlefield. He encounters several obstacles like the lotus-eaters, sirens, and
Scylla, to name just a few. All these do not trigger his impatience and in the long run, he
achieves his goal.
In conclusion, a hero is an embodiment of several qualities. Odysseus possesses
most of them even though we managed to discuss just three. In addition, just like in most
of his works, Homer manages to bestow proper heroic traits on Odysseus.
Work cited.
"The Divine Comedy" Inferno Trans. John Ciardi. Norton Anthology of World
Literature, edited by Martin Puchner, 4th Shorter ed., vol. 1, Norton, 2019, 252