This essay argues that Odysseus's standing as an epic hero rests on two equally important foundations: his formidable military and physical abilities, and his unwavering family values. Drawing on specific episodes from Homer's Odyssey — including Telemachus's warrior-like behavior, Odysseus's battles during the Trojan War, and his sorrowful captivity with Calypso — the paper demonstrates that Odysseus does not fight for personal glory but for love of wife, son, and home. The essay concludes that it is precisely this combination of physical valor and moral character that secures Odysseus's rightful place among the greatest heroes of the epic tradition.
Throughout history, only a few epic heroes have risen to the height of Odysseus — the warrior and family man who would do anything to return home. Yet the assumption that Odysseus is a hero is often made too quickly and on the basis of his physical prowess and his abilities as a soldier alone. A careful examination of both his abilities and his character suggests that Odysseus is a hero for two equally important reasons: his military and physical accomplishments, and his deep family values.
That Odysseus is a military hero deserving a place alongside Beowulf and other epic conquerors is beyond dispute. His exploits during the Trojan War and his defeat of the suitors are ample proof of this. Odysseus fights bravely for his people, and his desire to return home is fueled by love for his wife and family. His anger toward the suitors is not merely because one of them might claim his worldly riches, but because they have been threatening his wife's devotion to him.
Odysseus's son Telemachus appears to have inherited his father's warrior attitudes and abilities — he is consistently described as carrying himself with a warrior's bearing, striding about with his sword at hand. One example occurs in Book XVII, when Telemachus meets his father, who is disguised as a beggar. The son is described as taking "a strong spear that suited his hands" when he wished to enter the city (Homer, Book XVII).
Odysseus's legacy in Telemachus is further demonstrated in Book XXI, when the young man leaps up to show the suitors his desire to challenge them in a competition for his mother's hand. Although Telemachus is unable to string the bow, the show of strength is heroic in itself: he "sprang from his seat, threw his crimson cloak from him, and took his sword from his shoulder" (Homer, Book XXI). After this gesture, Telemachus delivers a speech that rings with his father's grace and dignity:
"Alas! I shall either be always feeble and of no prowess, or I am too young, and have not yet reached my full strength so as to be able to hold my own if any one attacks me. You others, therefore, who are stronger than I, make trial of the bow and get this contest settled." (Homer, Book XXI)
"Telemachus mirrors his father's warrior spirit"
"Odysseus weeps for family, rejects Calypso"
Homer. The Odyssey. 800 B.C.E. The Internet Classics Archive. 7 September 2009.
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