Odysseus Essays (1256 words) - Odyssey, Odysseus, Greek Mythology

Odysseus Most individuals have a conceived concept of the ideals in which one highly values or desires to acquire. These ideals generally make up the mannerisms of a person one considers a true champion, whom can be existent or imaginary. This relatively immaculate code of ethics is also accompanied by achievements one finds admirable. This person is usually goes through a series of tests or hardships that prove their importance. This is what one considers a hero. Giving the term hero such a definition, one's idea of a hero may completely differ with another's concept of such a person worthy of praise. In today's eclectic society, everybody's heroes are different. One's hero may be a character in an action movie, surviving against all odds to finally get the bad-guy in the end. It may be a character with superhuman strength with no concern of death like the hero in the epic Beowulf. Others may desire more intellectual heroes such as the Wright Brothers, devoting years of effort to create a machine to make man fly, or Thomas Jefferson, risking his life by writing the Declaration of Independence. Some may call one with great moral value a hero such as Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, or even Jesus Christ who suffered and died so we humanity could enter the Kingdom of God. During the era of Homer's, The Odyssey, the majority of the population in ancient Greece had the same basic ideas of the qualities a hero should have. Espino 2 The Greeks valued a warrior with great physical strength as well as shrewdness. The emphasis on strength was based on the fact that battles were frequent from city-state to other city-states. A hero for those times would need to have a strategic way of thinking and wisdom to aid in achieving the numerous tasks placed before him. Heroes should also be eloquent in their manner of speaking, for it was a tool necessary so others could easily be convinced by the hero's speech. All the values necessary for a hero are portrayed in The Odyssey. These are told through the stories and exploits of the main hero, Odysseus. In Book IV of the Odyssey, Menelaos and his wife Helen, both tell a story of one of Odysseus' accomplishments during the Akhaian war against the Trojans. Helen tells of how Odysseus ingeniously had "given himself an outrageous beating and thrown some rags on" to disguise himself as a beggar and slip into the impenetrable city of Troy. Once inside, he was unrecognized by the Trojans by merging with the townspeople. Odysseus found Helen and told her of the Akhaian plans to conquer Troy. Once Odysseus had learned of the Trojan's war strategy, he left the city and killed many Trojans on his way out with his sword. Many examples of the concept of a hero can be seen in this tale. Odysseus used his wits to think of a plan, which would be useful in accomplishing two goals: to tell Helen of the Akhaian's plans of rescuing her while taking over Troy. The other goal was to find out his opponent's stratagem. Helen describes the shrewdness of Odysseus in making himself pass for a Espino 3 beggar, and allowing himself to be humiliated by his enemies, but without revealing his true identity. He then makes his exit while killing some Trojans along the way, illustrating his strength. Helen's tale portrays some qualities of Homer's concept of heroism: ingenuity, sagacity and bravery. Menelaos tells another of Odysseus' feats after his wife is done with her tale. He tells of how Odysseus' will power and leadership saved all of the fighters inside the hollow horse. He tells of how Helen approached the horse with Deiphobos and called each of the warrior's names as she walked around it. Her voice sounded like each of the fighter's wives and caused the warriors great longing to go or to call out to the voice. Odysseus fought down Menelaos, Diomedes and held his hands over Antiklos' mouth to prevent him from calling out. Odysseus thus saved the warriors from being discovered. Menelaos' tale depicts Odysseus as a man with patience and strong will-power. Menelaos himself names Odysseus' characteristics when he says "never have I seen one like Odysseus for steadiness and a stout heart." It can also be understood that Odysseus is a leader that protects the lives of others as well as his own. This can be seen when he prevents the soldiers from calling out to Helen. Aside from the qualities mentioned,