A hero is defined as many things. One who is selfless, one who shows compassion, one who not only leads others into battle but fights alongside them. In the greek parables, The Odyssey, by Homer and in Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles a hero is described as someone who perseveres on even when burdened by the weight of the unknown. The hero of The Odyssey is named Odysseus, a young man who overcame many trials to get back to his home in Ithaca, and the hero of Oedipus Rex is King Oedipus, a ruler who has his people's best interest at heart. The protagonists in these tales are both reputed to have heroic qualities and yet how they dealt with being receptive to new ideas, their humility, and their relationship with a higher power was what led each to …show more content…
Both Oedipus and Odysseus struggled with listening to others. Odysseus, during the beginning of his ten year journey back to Ithaca, was an immature and distracted leader. He blinded and taunted Poseidon's son, Polyphemus, an obvious disregard of obedience to the gods. Oedipus, during his investigation for the cause of the curse that has fallen upon his kingdom, calls upon the sage, Tiresias, trusting that he will provide answers. However, when Teiresias reveals that Oedipus is the reason that such an abhorrent curse has fallen upon the land, Oedipus flies into a rage spitting insults at Teiresias stating that he is frail of mind. Though there are these similarities between both greek parables they also differ. Odysseus later on is found waiting to hear the wisdom of Teiresias after making a respectable sacrifice. “Meanwhile I crouched under my drawn sword to keep the surging phantoms from the bloody pit till I know the presence of Teiresias.” (Homer, 678). Odysseus exhibits a great deal of respect towards Teiresias and clearly trusts his foresight and as a dutiful child Odysseus heeded Teiresias’ advice. In contrast, Oedipus did not improve at all but instead becomes more and more stubborn as seen when the Chorus pleads to Oedipus to trust his brother in law, Creon, that he was not the cause of the curse, “Listen to reason, my lord; I beg you, be guided by us.” (Sophocles, 27). This ability to …show more content…
Before Odysseus journeyed to the underworld and visited Teiresias, he was quite prideful as he was a mighty hero that had won the Trojan War. Odysseus marched around hurling insults at great beasts like Polyphemus but when Odysseus was reborn, ironically from the Land of the Dead, he was mature and focused enough to get home. Athena helps disguise Odysseus as a beggar and he stays with a meek swine herder when Odysseus returns home to Ithica finding it overrun with dangerous people trying to claim the throne. “But there were two men in the mountain hut- Odysseus and the swineherd. At first light blowing their fire up, they cooked breakfast and sent their lads out, driving herds to root in the tall timber.”(Homer, 691). Odysseus illustrated much humility as he, a king, helped a lonely swine herder with chores! He lowered himself even when he was of such high class to do manual labor. That is what one would call humility! Oedipus, after discovering his biological parents might not have been of royal blood, declared to the Chorus, “But I proclaim myself the child of Luck, my benefactress, this is no dishonor. Yes, Luck is my mother, my cousins, saw me first humble and then saw me great. (Sophocles, 41). Oedipus, houghtley states that though he may not have been born a royal he was crowned one by fate or the gods. He places himself above the royals!