Odyssey Odysseus: A Different Type

Odyssey

Odysseus: A Different Type of Hero

Thanks to the pervasiveness of literature, the name Odysseus is associated with heroism in many cultures. Even Homer calls Odysseus an "ingenious hero" in the first line of the Odyssey. Not only has he "sacked the famous town of Troy," but he also managed to survive the long years he spent at sea, and all of the troubles that came upon him there (Homer 13). That Odysseus is a hero, then, cannot be disputed. He is mighty, warlike, makes generous offerings to the gods (Homer 15), and has proved his worth in battle. Thus, he is much like other Greek heroes, like Achilles and Agamemnon. Still, something sets him apart from these other giants of Greek epics. While Agamemnon and Achilles sit in Hades arguing and sorrowing over whether or not their deaths were heroic enough, Odysseus longs for home. For instance, the ghost of Agamemnon is described as "sorrowing bitterly" (Homer 393). He suffers sorrow because his death was not heroic at Troy, and Achilles wastes no time pointing this out, in response to which Agamemnon gives a brilliant and heartbreaking description of Achilles glory in death, whishing it has been his own (Homer 393). Thus, even in the Odyssey, heroes Agamemnon and Achilles operate as typical Greek heroes do. Odysseus, on the other hand, shows more concern in his home, his wife, and his son than in living the hero's life and dying the hero's death. Thus, in addition to being a Greek Hero, Homer uses the Odyssey to suggest that Odysseus is a different kind of hero -- one who longs for home and family.

Despite the fact that Odysseus is away from home for much of the epic poem, Homer suggests that the hero loves to be home in the Odyssey. Instead of seeking out more adventure and a hero's death, Odysseus spends much of the poem longing for home. When Calypso goes to search for him after hearing that Jove has commanded her to release him, she finds him "sitting upon the beach with his eyes ever filled with tears, and dying of sheer homesickness" (Homer 88). As exhibited by his tears and his homesickness, Odysseus is longing and pining after home, not adventure. He simply wants to be back in his familiar country with his family. While some might argue that Odysseus would want to be anywhere rather than be a prisoner of Calypso, this is not the case. Indeed, many men, and probably other Greek heroes like Achilles and Agamemnon, would be grateful for the fate that the gods rendered upon Odysseus as a punishment. He is the prisoner of a beautiful goddess and forced to have sex with her each night. But Odysseus does not want the male fantasy, which his fellow Greek heroes would adore, instead Homer points out that it was "not he that would have it so," but rather the goddess who had it in her power to kill him, but desired to make him immortal and enjoy him forever -- a far worse fate for Odysseus (Homer 88). Odysseus's longing for his home can also be gauged by his reaction to Calypsos news that he will be returning. Odysseus "shudder[s]" when he hears the news, and swears that there is something sinister behind her words, fearing to believe that his greatest hopes have been realized (Homer 89). Even when Odysseus is on his way home and getting closer, he "kept turning his eyes to the sun as though to hasten his setting, for he was longing to be on his way" (Homer 216).

Not only does Odysseus long for his home, but also his home longs for him. Minerva pleads for Odysseus's release from Calypso, telling Jove that "not one of [Odysseus's] subjects but has forgotten Ulysses, who ruled them as though he were their father" (Homer 84). Thus, Homer shows that Odysseus is a different kind of hero through the central character's longing for his home, as well as his home's longing for him. While Odysseus still has many features of the traditional Greek hero, such as might and reverence to the gods, his longing for home over adventure makes him a different sort of hero.

While Homer shows that Odysseus is a different kind of hero through the depth with which he longs for his home, the hero also longs for his family. Despite the fact that he has what could be considered a fantasy life while living with Calypso, he longs for his own wife, Penelope. This can be seen though both husband and wife's reaction the suitors and each other upon Odysseus's return. While Penelope is not animated in finding anyone to replace her "dear husband," as Euryclea calls him, Odysseus is so angered by the suitors' threat to his marriage that he kills them (Homer 379). He does this brutally, piling the corpses upon one another. While critics may argue that his response to the suitors is simply testimony to the fact that he is a traditional hero, wanting blood and sacrifice for those who have defiled his land, the couple's reaction to one another when united disproves this. When Penelope finally realizes that her husband has come home in disguise, Euryclea announces his arrival with the following arousal: "Wake up Penelope, my dear child...and see with your own eyes something that you have been wanting this long time past" (Homer 379). When Penelope finally realizes that Odysseus is who he says he is, she runs to him, kissing him and hugging him, expressing her joy (Homer 386). Odysseus responds in kind, as he "melted," weeping and holding Penelope (Homer 387). Thus, it is clear that Odysseus has been longing deeply for his wife throughout the years that he has been away. Not only does he show this longing through killing the suitors that disrespected his memory, threatened his marriage, and angered his wife, but he also shows his love for Penelope through their touching reunion. Finally, Penelope's reaction to Odysseus suggests the bond that they share is real.