Dr. Barnett
RP 2 9/11/15 In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, is faced with a long journey home to his family. Ten years after the end of the Trojan War, all heroes have returned besides the brave Odysseus. In books 1-12 it is shown that Odysseus has yet to return to his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus. They wait for him patiently but slowly lose hope that one-day he will return. Odysseus faces many battles along the way while showing off man different characteristic; he can be seen as clever and strong while arrogant and stubborn at times but in the end a real hero.
Traditionally, ancient Greek heroes had all of the same faults and characteristics of any other human and rather not being depicted as paragons of virtue, which is how we would generally view them as in today’s cultures. However, the heroes of the Greek culture were given some kind of superhuman abilities as they originated from a single immortal god/goddess. In the text, The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus is known as the epitome of a heroic figure. He exemplifies tremendous courage, nobility, strength, and confidence in not only his long journey, but in everything he does: “You are a hard man, Odysseus. Your force is greater, your limbs …show more content…
Before killing the Cyclops, he states his name as “Nobody” in order to confuse the Cyclops: “So, you ask me the name I’m known by, Cyclops / I will tell you. But you must give me a guest-gift / so you’ve promised. Nobody – that’s my name. Nobody -- / so my mother and father call me, all my friends” (9.408-411). After Odysseus impairs the eye of the Cyclops he is able to escape with his suitors and as he runs out of the cave he hears the Cyclops screaming, “Nobody hurt me!” and thus outthinking his opponent in order to continue his journey and become