Odysseus: A Hero Essay -- Greek Gods Odysseus Sophocles Essays

Odysseus A HeroHeroism was not an invention of the Greeks. Yet, through the first hundreds age of their civilization, the Greek literature has already given birth tohighly polished and complex long epics that revolved around heroes. Theseliterature works gave many possibilities of interpretation of heroism. The Greeksillustrated heroism to chase the rules situated down by the gods and goddesses, andthose who obey the rules would gain honor and fame. The Greeks regardedintelligence as one of the highest gifts that wholly heroes must posses. TheGreeks required that all heroes must have courage. Odysseus, one of the heroesof the epic Odyssey standout. He was constantly expected to be a true hero,always obey the rules laid down by the immortals, posses wisdom and courage.The Greeks believed that all heroes must always obey the Guest/ host relationshiprule-- which all guests must treat the hosts with courtesy, and the host musttreat the guests properly-- laid down by the gods and godd esses. Those who didnot obey the rule would be punished severely. Odysseus throughout the epic,demonstrated that he obeyed the Guest/Host relationship rule. Odysseus always pursuit the Guest/Host relationship rule, a characteristic that all heroesmust have according to the Greeks tradition . All heroes must followed therule because if they did not, they would be punished by the immortals, and wouldnot be recognized as heroes. When Odysseus reach the land of the Cyclops race.Odysseus decided to pick his best men, goods offered as gifts, and headed towarda Cyclopss cave. When his men dictum cheese, pens, and lamb on lying on the racks,they pleading to Odysseus, Why not take these cheeses, get them stowed, comeback, throw all the pens, and make a contain for it? Well drive thekids and lambsaboard. We say put out again on good salt water Odysseus pink-slipped thesuggestion, I wished to see the cave man, and what he had to offer. Odysseusdismissed the suggestion of his men, and choos e to wait to greet the Cyclopswith the gifts as in the custom of the Guest/Host relationship rule. Thoseactions and sayings showed that Odysseus was always following Guest/Hostrelationship rule, an example for his men to look up to. Odysseuss actionsspoke for his character. He posses the characteristic that meets the criteriaof always obeying the rules... ...Throughout the epic, Odysseus was a hero. He had indeed pre-eminent qualitiesand much that were beyond the capacity of normal men. It was when problemscome that these heroic traits emerged. When his men asked Odysseus to steal thegoods from the Cyclops, which break the rule of Guest/Host relationship, herefused. He showed that he always obey the rules laid down by the immortals.When his men were turned into swine by the goddess Circe, he made Circe swore toreversed her action in trade for him to make love to her. He showed cunning.When Circe told him about Scylla and her unforgiving power, he asked how tofight Scylla to help hi s men avoid horrible deaths. He showed courage. We knowhim less from what he thought, which was seldom revealed, than by what he saysand did, and his actions follow naturally from his characteristics. If thecunning of Odysseus is mentioned more than his courage , it was his courage thatgets him into the scrapes from which his cunning had to deliver him. Odysseushad the all the qualities that the Greek tradition required of all heroes, whichwere obey the rules of gods, posses intelligence, and displayed courage. Hewas a hero.