The Heroic Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

Throughout the history of traditional storytelling, well developed characters have been an essential aspect in the Greek culture. These heroic characters and their adventures get passed on to future generations and have shown to withstand the test of time. These heroes display courage, honor, strength, and perseverance. The well-known Greek storyteller Homer speaks of one such hero in his epic poem The Odyssey. After fighting victoriously in the Trojan war, Homer's character Odysseus begins a seemingly endless journey, with one goal in mind: to make it back to his homeland of Ithaca.

Odysseus holds high a heroic ethic- his creative strategies, wit, and his determination to make it home are his natural weapons. Odysseus is a survivor, who fights to save his life, as he attempts to make it back to his hometown Ithaca. On Circe's island, for example, he will not abandon his advance party which has not returned, even though the rest of his crew urge him to leave. He fights not only to save his life but also to bring his shipmates home.
He is entirely devoted to his mother and to maintaining his father’s estate; at the same time, he does not know how to protect his father’s estate and his mother from the potential suitors. His meeting with Athena in Book 1 changes things; Athena confronts him and teaches him the responsibilities of a young prince. He soon becomes more assertive, and he confronts the suitors and denounces the abuse of his estate. One of the most significant characteristics of Telemachus that is stressed by Homer in The Odyssey is the commitment to his family and the persistence and desire to advocate the honor of his