Perseverance In The Odyssey

Heroes have physical strength, mental strengths, and moral strengths. They overcome challenges and persevere through stressful points in their lives. But every hero has weaknesses that make them who they are. For example, one of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology, Achilles, who was thought to be invincible, was shot in the back of his left heel. This later killed, him revealing everyone has weaknesses, no matter how strong they are. This is what society most remembers him for, showing that weaknesses also make you the person you are. In this epic, The Odyssey by Homer, we see a hero named Odysseus overcome challenges, but also fall to his weaknesses. Odysseus’ strengths come from his overwhelming perseverance to return home, but with his
Returning home is all he longs for, it is his ultimate goal. Odysseus has been away from home for twenty years, ten of which are from the Trojan War, and ten from overcoming challenges in his way. This perseverance that Odysseus possesses keeps him fighting and keeps him inspiring his crew. An example of Odysseus inspiring his crew is shown on Helios’ island, '"Dear friends, surely we are not unlearned in evils. This is no greater evil now than it was when the Cyclops had us cooped in his hollow cave by force and violence, but even there, by my courage and counsel and my intelligence, we escaped away. I think that all this will be remembered some day too. Then do as I say, let us all be won over."' (Homer 12.208-213) This quote is showing Odysseus proclaim to his men they have been through worse, and can make it out of anything with great intellect and courage. This inspires his crew and makes them reflect on Odysseus and his leadership. One of Odysseus’ crewman, Eurylochus, then responds to Odysseus after his inspirational talk with them, '"You are a hard man, Odysseus. Your force is greater, your limbs never wear out. You must be made all of iron, when you will not let your companions, worn with hard work and wanting sleep, set foot on this land, where if we did, on the seagirt island we could once more make ready a greedy dinner; but you force us to blunder along just as we are through the running night, driven from the island over the misty face of the water."' (Homer 12.279-285) This quote shows Odysseus’s strength and perseverance. His crew can not keep up with him and his great