Essay about The Character of Odysseus in Homers Odyssey

The Character of Odysseus in The Odyssey Homers epic tale The Odyssey is a story of the triumphs and downfalls that are in store for one warriors long pillage home. Odysseus, the hero from the Trojan wars, has led his people of Ithaca and other Achaean soldiers to victory and now wishes to return home to his wife and family of Ithaca. Through his twenty year journey Odysseus is often tested not only of his physical strength, but his wits as well. The many accomplishments he achieved earned him great status and recognition throughout ancient Greece. The mistakes he made caused the deaths of many men. Consequently, we as readers are able to see the many personas that Odysseus carries with him. Odysseus possesses†¦show more content†¦With this loyalty Odysseus maintains the courage of a true leader through the perils of his journey. His name alone is given to him to show us, the readers right from the start of the book his will. Odysseus comes from the Greek meaning to be at odds with, very much like Odysseus is through his voyage. In the beginning we also hear about the scar that Odysseus bears, which was given to him to him at the young age of 12, when he was rammed in the process of killing a wild Bohr. This again showing us that even at an early age in his life it was not easy, and that he will endure wounds in his life. Odysseus is no god. He is man, and with that comes the mistakes and errors in all of us. In many situations Odysseus mortal side is seen. An example of the power of Odysseus coinciding with his human flaws is his battle with Polyphemous the Cyclops (son of Poseidon). After escaping the lure of the lotus-eaters and their island, Odysseus and his men find themselves on another island, rich with food and shelter. After feasting, the men grab a large container of potent wine and go off exploring the new island. Later in their search they stumble across a large cave filled with food. Curious where the owners whereabouts are the men encourage Odysseus to steal the food. Odysseus (showing his hospitable and genuine character) decides to instead wait for theShow MoreRelatedCharacter Traits of Odysseus of Homers Odyssey553 Words   |  2 Pagesfrom The Odyssey. The Odyssey is about a 20 year-long travel of a man named Odysseus. He traveled to Troy facing the dangers on m any mythical creatures and many fictional creatures. This king of Ithaca, left his beloved wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, that he has not seen since his son was a young child. Odysseus expresses his traits, that helps him survive the obstacles he faces. Odysseus’ traits are bravery, curiosity, and intelligence. Throughout the many traits Odysseus has, hisRead MoreThe Birth of the Gods in Homers Odyssey1548 Words   |  7 PagesThe Odyssey   Ã‚  Ã‚   Prehistoric man did not question his existence and reality - he just lived as one with nature. When prehistoric man awakened from this simple existence into the world of intelligence, he began to question his existence and reality. Homer’s The Odyssey demonstrated man’s attempt to cope with their own nature through the illusion of the gods, by using them to carry their burdens of hopelessness, helplessness, and fallibility.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The characters of Homer’s The Odyssey struggledRead MoreTheme Of Violence In The Odyssey1025 Words   |  5 Pages The Odyssey by Homer is a literary classic that presents many themes about the natures of both man and god. Although the characters of the book display characteristics relatable to those of the people today, one of the most prevalent differences between the two eras and their people is the intense violence that takes place throughout the entirety of the epic. This violence serves several functions in the work as a whole. The violence that is enacted upon the characters of The Odyssey serve as aRead MoreThe Impacts Of The Odyssey In Homers The Odyssey1166 Words   |  5 PagesHomer’s epic poem The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home. The Epic also includes the stories of Odysseus’ family left behind: the travels of his son, Telemachus, and how plenty, of what we would now call â€Å"home wreckers†, suitors pressured his wife, Penelope, into marrying one of them. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story is truly epic. All the elements presented can bring in any reader from any century, the Cyclops, the Gods, the trickery of Penelope, and the disguisesRead More Essay on the Double Meanings of The Odyssey995 Words   |  4 PagesThe Double Meanings of The Odyssey      Ã‚     Throughout Homers The Odyssey, there are a number of tangible symbols that are used to represent abstract ideas. I would like to suggest that each symbol that Homer uses within The Odyssey has two clear meanings. The double meanings of these symbols are used to represent Odysseus and Telemachus as they strive to meet each other. While each symbol has a meaning that represents the growth of Telemachus, each one also represents, by another meaning, theRead More The Role of Women in the Odyssey Essay1212 Words   |  5 PagesWomen in The Odyssey Homer wrote the classic epic The Odyssey more than 2,500 years ago. At that time in ancient Greek society, as well as in the whole of the ancient world, the dominant role was played by men. Society was organized, directed, and controlled by men, and it was accepted that women occupied a subservient and inferior position. Women, of course, were valued, but were expected to possess certain traits and perform certain tasks that men demanded of them. Does Homers writing in TheRead MoreHistory, Symbolism, and Characters in Homer’s The Odyssey 1118 Words   |  5 Pages In The Odyssey, it takes Odysseus twenty years to make it home from the Trojan War. On his journey home, he runs into many obstacles and creatures that he must overcome. He encounters the sirens, the Cyclops, and others. Each event in this epic poem has a symbolic meaning behind it. Homer writes about the history, symbolism, and the characters in The Odyssey. The Odyssey is about the Greek gods and heroes and their adventures (Makman). Odysseus is the main character, and he is going on a questRead MoreHomer s Epic Poems, The Iliad And The Odyssey1254 Words   |  6 Pagesaction by presenting multiple struggles that our characters must go through. Homer’s epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey, are thousands of years old. Yet, whoever reads these pieces of literature today can somehow relate to its characters and events. This is because of the author’s ability to form a connection between the reader and what it is they are analyzing/reading. This paper will identify the values, conflicts, and parallels within Homer’s text. Religion was a strong value for the earlyRead MoreAn Analysis Of The Odyssey 1251 Words   |  6 PagesThe Odyssey Throughout literary history, women are portrayed as mere property or tools of men; however, women can also be shown as people who hold power in Homer’s The Odyssey. Women hold a significant amount of authoritative power over men in both their lives and mindsets, and this can be seen through Circe s powers that are able to manipulate Odysseus and his men, Penelope s tactics to stall marriage and her caution toward Odysseus when he appears, and Athena s participation in Odysseus andRead MoreEssay about Free Will and Fate in the Odyssey1574 Words   |  7 PagesHomer’s View of Free Will and Fate in the Odyssey Free will and fate are both prominent in the Odyssey. In the Odyssey, free will is depicted whenever characters make decisions. In example, Odysseus blinds the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Fate, in the Odyssey, is the consequences that are dealt out due to certain actions. In the case of Odysseus and Polyphemus, the consequence is that when Odysseus is on a ship heading home to reach Ithaca, Poseidon, being the father of Polyphemus, sends a storm at