Odysseus As An Epic Hero In Homer's Odyssey

Odysseus suffered many problems on his journey home from the Battle of Troy. What did he suffer and how did this make him a better epic hero? Although Odysseus saves and ruins his crew's lives, he is showing the reader that he is wanting to get back to his home in Ithaca.
First of all, as Odysseus wins the Battle of Troy, he does not leave Troy immediately. He stays to show his victory by drinking wine. “Six benches were left empty in every ship / that evening when we pulled away from death.” (line 63-64) Although Odysseus faces the guilt for losing his men, he starts his journey for home. Odysseus shows that he has egotistical tendencies because, if he would not have stayed after the Trojan War to drink wine, he would not have lost six members of his crew.
Wanting his crew to be safe, he covers their ears with beeswax so they do not hear the Sirens’ song. “They tied me up, then, plumb / amidships, back to the mast, lashed to the mast, / and took themselves again to rowing.” (lines 713-715) For his behavior and sacrifice, Odysseus is faced with the music of the Sirens. But, he is able to save the crew and himself from death. The characteristics that Odysseus shows are caring and cunning. The reason that he shows these is because he is willing to give the crewmembers beeswax to put into their ears. This act keeps them from hearing the Sirens’