The Odyssey, according to Gilbert Highet "took place in a time of war and violence with pirates, savages and monsters pressing in upon the small world and in heaven, a dynasty of angry, incalculable and violent gods, quarreling with one another and men" (v). Through all of this misery and misfortune lived a hero, and his name was Odysseus. Odysseus was the king of Ithaca, husband of Penelope, and the father of Telemachus. He left his homeland to go fight in the Trojan War and didn't return until twenty years had passed. During this time he was faced with a war that lasted ten years, unforgiving gods that did not want him to return home, monsters that killed his crew and lands that were unknown to him. He was on a journey of self discovery and every obstacle that got in his way helped him become the person and hero that he became.

"Odysseus is one of the first Greek mythic heroes renowned for his brain as well as his muscle" (Internet source). This helped him become the leader and fighter he became in the war. The Trojan war was the first adventure of Odysseus' journey. He spent ten years of his life fighting and suffering through many hardships, which showed heroic qualities suc

Odysseus was unhappy and wanted to go home. He had been stranded on an island with Calypso for seven years when Athena thought he deserved to go home to his family in Ithaca. She went to her father to get his permission to let him leave and he replied, "how could I forget Odysseus? Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom" (I, 77). So after she got his approval Zeus sent his son Hermes, the hero of the Labors to tell Calypso why she should let Odysseus go and to order his release. Not many gods go out of their way to help men like Odysseus so Athenas determination to get Odysseus home safely shows she was intrigued by him and thought he was an honest and loyal man . The Phaeacians came to the aid of Odysseus next. When he was found shipwrecked on their land they took him in with no hesitation. After Odysseus told them about his journey they were in awe of what he had been though. So Alcinous agreed to sail him home to his homeland and said "all that voyage long you'll lie in a deep sleep while my people sail you though calm and gentle tides till you reach your land and house, or any place you please". These two situations shows how heroic Odysseus was. Athena looked up to him and the Phaeacians gave him all the praise in the world by building him a boat, sailing him where ever he wanted to go and giving him more wealth in gifts and presents from them that he would have never got from Troy. This shows that Odysseus' was not only well respected classical hero, but everyone that met him looked up to him with great honor.

Odysseus was a great man but he had some flaws that delayed his journey back to Ithaca. His number one weakness that overpowered him was his pride. It is good to have but "in Odysseus' case he had to much of it" (Internet source). He displayed this all too clearly when he was on the Cyclops' island. When Odysseus and his crew were safely on their ship and sailing away Odysseus starts bragging about his accomplishment. Polyphemus hears his ranting and starts throwing large boulders in their direction where a couple came very close to sinking their ship and ending their voyage

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Approximate Word count = 1431
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)