character analysis of odysseus essay

Study Guide for The Odyssey The Odyssey study guide contains a biography of Homer, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. About The Odyssey The Odyssey Summary Character List Glossary Themes Read the Study Guide for The Odyssey Essays for The Odyssey The Odyssey essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Odyssey by Homer. The Underworld in The Aeneid Versus The Odyssey A Musing Contrast Homeric Formalism The Evolution of Civil Justice Modus Operandi - The Ways of Greek Literature View our essays for The Odyssey Lesson Plan for The Odyssey About the Author Study Objectives Common Core Standards Introduction to The Odyssey Relationship to Other Books Bringing in Technology Notes to the Teacher Related Links The Odyssey Bibliography View the lesson plan for The Odyssey E-Text of The Odyssey The Odyssey e-text contains the full text of The Odyssey by Homer. Prefaces Books 1-4 Books 5-8 Books 9-12 Books 13-16 Read the E-Text for The Odyssey Wikipedia Entries for The Odyssey Introduction Synopsis Character of Odysseus Structure Geography of the Odyssey View Wikipedia Entries for The Odyssey.
The Good And Bad Characteristics Of OdysseusAn individual's characteristics are the key to their behavior. Homer's The Odyssey takes place about 700BC in the Mediterranean, near Greece. The epic tells of a man who left his home twenty years earlier to fight in the Trojan War. His mission now is to make his way home to Ithaca. Odysseus shows good and bad traits throughout the epic that influence his way home.The courage and wisdom of Odysseus help him survive through the whole epic. For example, Odysseus kills the Cyclops while the giant is asleep, even though the monster ate two men 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 proud and does not want to leave any job unfinished. Furthermore, Odysseus by plugs the sailors' ears with wax when going through the Sirens, whose sweet singing lures sailors to there doom (p. 141). Odysseus often hesitates before acting, because he uses reason to evaluate the situation, which saves him and his men many times. Odysseus knows that there is no progress without the wisdom to back it up. Using courage and wisdom throughout life allows a person 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 back 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 just 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.
Odysseus is a combination of the self-made, self-assured man and the embodiment of the standards and mores of his culture. He is favored by the gods and respected and admired by the mortals. Even the wrath of Poseidon does not keep him from his homecoming. He is confident that he represents virtue even when a modern audience might not be so sure. He is also a living series of contradictions, a much more complicated character than we would expect to find in the stereotypical epic hero. We can contrast Odysseus, for example, with the great warrior Achilles in The Iliad. Achilles himself is not a two-dimensional stereotype. He has a tragic flaw, which can best be identified as hubris (an overbearing arrogance or misguided pride) as one of several distinguishing traits. But Achilles is a simpler character. According to the myth the Homeric Greeks would have known, Achilles was given a choice by the gods to live a short, glorious life full of excitement and heroism or a long, tranquil life with little recognition or fame. Achilles, of course, chose the glorious life; therefore, he achieves a kind of immortality through valor and intense, honest devotion to a cause. Odysseus, in The Odyssey, is much more complicated. He lives by his wiles as well as his courage. He is an intellectual. Often he openly evaluates a situation, demonstrating the logic he employs in making his choices. When it proves effective, Odysseus lies (even to his own family), cheats, or steals in ways that we would not expect in an epic hero. Although he is self-disciplined (refusing to eat the lotus), his curiosity is sometimes the root of his trouble (as with the Cyclops). He is willing to pay a price for knowledge; for example, he insists on hearing the Sirens' call, even though to do so, he must have himself excruciatingly strapped to the mast of his ship so that he cannot give in to the temptation.
Summary: My Essay is a character analysis of Odysseus, the main character in The Oddyssey by Homer. Odysseus's many triumphs repeatedly reveal his heroic nature. Though gore and violence often aid in his success, a kind, noble, and gentle side occasionally peeks through his rambunctious spirit. Throughout The Odyssey , a kind and selfless side of Odysseus is revealed. When faced with the choice to sacrifice his men's lives or his own, he willingly chooses the latter and uses his creativity and intelligence to get his men to safety. In Book 9, when they were nearly eaten alive by the Cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus slung a man under each middle one/ to ride safely (lines 329-340) Since there was no one to tie him, he sent the rams with the men tied beneath out of Polyphemus' cave holding on to the lead ram for dear life. Thus, ensuring the safety or his men before his own. Odysseus' actions also unearth evidence of honorable character in Book 21, when he plans to massacre the suitors of his wife, Penelope. He orders Eurycleia to take care of the women's doorway/ Lock it tight/.no one must show her face (lines 174-177). By sheltering the women from the violence and gore of the plotted massacre, Odysseus reveals a soft spot and a genteel side of his personality. Of all of Odysseus' heroic traits, the two most commonly exposed are bravery and sagacity. Odysseus often combines these two traits, especially when fighting Polyphemus in Book 9: rammed deep in his crater eye/.turning it/.and bored that great eye socket, This gory yet incredible act boasts tremendously of bravery, courage, and ingenuity. In each instance mentioned in the above paragraphs, Odysseus uses his extreme ingenuity to plot his and his crew's narrow escapes. In each instance, Odysseus also exhibits acute bravery and courage, as well as a yearning for others' safety above his own. All these amazing.