Odysseus, The Hero :: essays research papers

An individuals characteristics are the d larger-than-lifet to their behavior. Homers The Odyssey takes place about 700BC in the Mediterranean, near Greece. The epic tells of a man who left his home twenty years early to fight in the Trojan War. His mission now is to make his style home to Ithaca. Odysseus shows good and bad traits end-to-end the epic that influence his panache home . (65 words)The courage and wisdom of Odysseus help him survive through the self-colored epic. For example, Odysseus kills the Cyclops while the whale is asleep, even though the monster ingest two workforce minutes before (P.110). Odysseus has courage to stand up for his beliefs and never lets the opinion of others keep him from doing what is right. Some think Odysseus shows his courage throughout the epic because he is majestic and does not want to leave some(prenominal) job unfinished. Furthermore, Odysseus by plugs the sailors ears with wax when going through the Sirens, whose sweet tattle l ures sailors to there doom (p. 141). Odysseus often hesitates before acting, because he uses reason to pass judgment the situation, which saves him and his men many times. Odysseus knows that there is no progress without the wisdom to guts it up. Using courage and wisdom throughout life allows a individual to see greatness in life.As great as he was, Odysseus still had some weaknesses, most importantly that of his pride and sensualness, that prolongs his voyage behind to Ithaca. This is clearly evident in the episode on the Cyclopes Island when Odysseus and his men are safely away from the island when Odysseus brags about his exploits making Polythemus hurl giant boulders almost sinking the ship (P. 114). This incident hurt Odysseus more than however losing a few men, because Poseidon makes his travel home very long and arduous. This proud characteristic shows Odysseus has a lack of respect for others and that he is selfish. Furthermore, Odysseus stays with Circe for hotshot y ear before his men remind him of home (p.