The Hero Cycle In The Odyssey

Homer’s Odyssey provides a clear illustration of Joseph Campbell’s hero cycle through the journeys and characterization of the protagonist Odysseus. The hero cycle is used in epics to describe the journey of the hero from bad to good. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is characterized as arrogant, and and his journey from hubris to humility. The hero cycle is a theme that epics follow. It starts off with a departure then goes to an initiation where they come to an end in their return. Odysseus’ test is to see help him heal hubris. He must learn self-control, and humbleness. He comes to a breaking point because of some of the tasks that he endures, he must overcome them to help him with his need for life change.
They start off in a departure phase
This is when the tests and climax happen. Odysseus endures many tests with creatures that test him externally and also internally. Along the way Odysseus gets aided by many supernatural beings. He would not be able to go survive without their assistance. After winning the Trojan War Odysseus decide to attack the island of the Ciccones where he lost a ton of me, about six men from every ship he had. This demonstrates a clear act of hubris and stupidity. Odysseus thought he was high and mighty for commanding some of the Greek army to their great victory. After leaving this island he went to the island of the lotus eaters which had his men not wanting to leave the island so he had to tie his men down to the boat. After the island of the lotus eaters Odysseus went to the island of the Cyclopes, where he met Polyphemus. This is a place where he shows that he shows clear acts of hubris. He tells the Cyclopes, after blinding him, that his name was Nohbody, which is very clever. When he and his ships were leaving he yelled to him his real name and guided Polyphemus who was throwing rocks at him with his voice. This was just plain stupid and arrogant. Polyphemus prayed to his father, Poseidon that Odysseus should never return to Ithaca. Following the visit to the Cyclopes was island of Aeolus. He is the keeper of winds. He gave Odysseus a bag of winds and told him to open it when he was close to ithaca. He told his crew to not open
This part of the cycle is when Odysseus makes all of his changes in life that need to be made, then puts them to use. When at Ogygia, Calypso gets a visit from Hermes saying that he is able to leave. When he does, he journeys across the seas until he gets to the island of the Phaecians. When here he talks to Nausicaa who helps him see the king, her father, and get a ship for his trip to Ithaca. When he arrives on Ithaca he was told by Athena to be a beggar and not Odysseus. This way he is able to see what it is like without him. When he meets Telemachus for the first time he does not reveal his identity, showing self-control. After he does reveal his identity, he makes Telemachus promise that he will not tell Penelope. Odysseus thinks it would be a bad idea to storm back into the castle and demand his throne. This would mess up everything and would eventually cause a battle. Penelope decides that is time for a new husband so she tells all the suitors to string Odysseus bow and shoot it through 12 axes. No one could do it until the beggar tried, this is Odysseus. He then kills all of the suitors, starting with Alchinous. Penelope still could not believe it so she tests him and says that she will move her olive tree bed that he made for her outside of their room for him to sleep on. This is a symbol of their firm relationship and his throne. He stops her and explains to her that she can’t. Only then, does Penelope truly accept that