Odysseus Hero Definition
What Defines a Hero Maya Angelou, an author, poet, and a civil rights activist once said: “I think a hero is any person really intend on making this a better place for all people.” But seeing as this poet says “any person,” that person can be of human or even superhuman characteristics so long as their deed is right. In this case, in Robert Fagel’s translation of The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is a king longing to return home after numerous years of war. Of his tales, there are points of hardship and times where he is greatly dignified. He displays acts of heroism even having exposed sides of him that are both weak and of great strengths. Do these man’s actions in these states of being human or superhuman really impact what defines him as a hero?
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What if I kill them—thanks to you and Zeus— how do I run from under their avengers? (20.40-45)
With this, one can say that he has fear, insecurities, and doubts himself, the same traits and qualities as humans do. Odysseus is clearly one who faces challenges in his life and in the world… He can’t do everything. With this evidence thus far, Odysseus is undoubtedly human and this seems to be who he is as he performs heroic acts… But he acts differently in other portions of the book… Throughout various other sections of this piece of literature, Odysseus shows superhuman characteristics as well. First off, when Odysseus comes before the king of Phaeacia, the Phaeacian king tells his people: “ ‘he looks like a deathless god!’ ” (8.15) To the king of Phaeacia, Odysseus is so great that he is compared to a god. Odysseus is seen as one who escapes death and is amazing to the eye. This begins hinting his possession of superhuman qualities. Next, when telling king Alcinous of his tales, Odysseus says:
Calypso the lustrous goddess tries to hold me back deep in her arching caverns, craving me for a husband.
So did Circe, holding me just as warmly in her
What if I kill them—thanks to you and Zeus— how do I run from under their avengers? (20.40-45)
With this, one can say that he has fear, insecurities, and doubts himself, the same traits and qualities as humans do. Odysseus is clearly one who faces challenges in his life and in the world… He can’t do everything. With this evidence thus far, Odysseus is undoubtedly human and this seems to be who he is as he performs heroic acts… But he acts differently in other portions of the book… Throughout various other sections of this piece of literature, Odysseus shows superhuman characteristics as well. First off, when Odysseus comes before the king of Phaeacia, the Phaeacian king tells his people: “ ‘he looks like a deathless god!’ ” (8.15) To the king of Phaeacia, Odysseus is so great that he is compared to a god. Odysseus is seen as one who escapes death and is amazing to the eye. This begins hinting his possession of superhuman qualities. Next, when telling king Alcinous of his tales, Odysseus says:
Calypso the lustrous goddess tries to hold me back deep in her arching caverns, craving me for a husband.
So did Circe, holding me just as warmly in her