Odysseus as a Hero

A hero is someone who demonstrates substantial quantities of courage or outstanding achievements and is recognized for their positive impact on society. A heroic person is someone who can aid in the time of need and comfort others in times of distress. A current day example of a hero is Captain Chesley Sullenberger. He saved the lives of 155 passengers after he was forced to crash-land his plane into the Hudson River. He made sure he was the last individual to exit the aircraft even though water was rushing into the cabin. For someone to be a hero, there is no physical limitations that makes it necessary to be strong and wear a cape with tights because heroes are judged by their actions and nothing more. Qualities that I associate with a hero are vigilant, selfless, and the willingness to take risks. Homer from the Odyssey suggests that Odysseus is made a hero by exemplifying qualities of being audacious, savior, and sly. However, the characteristics that Homer equates with Odysseus are not always required for someone to be considered a hero.

In Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey, audacious is a quality that makes Odysseus heroic. The act of being audacious is the willingness to take surprisingly bold risks, which Odysseus demonstrates in his adventures. In the Adventure of the Cyclopes, Odysseus states that “we climbed, then, briskly to the cave. But Kyklops had gone afield, to pasture his fat sheep, so we looked round at everything inside” (IX, 232-234). This is an example of being audacious because Odysseus and his crew are unaware of the contents inside the Cyclopes’ cave and entering his habitants without any signal to the “louts” (IX, 114). Odysseus is taking on a big risk because from what Homer tells us, the Cyclopes are uncivilized giants and can be very unpredictable. Entering into the cave without permission might have been a risk that got Odysseys into trouble later because the Cyclopes starting feasting on his crew. As a result, Odysseus plans to stab...