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Odysseus: A Modern Hero

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Christopher Reeve, the producer of, Superman, stated that “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Throughout time, a hero has represented an individual who sacrifices himself for a cause greater than themselves. Odysseus the protagonist from The Odyssey faces many hardships for his country returning home from the Trojan War. Martin Luther King faces a similar struggle through his fight for the equal rights of African Americans. In addition to the evolution of society, the definition of a hero has evolved, valuing different characteristics. Despite the obstacles both men face, through comparing Dr. King and Odysseus, one can see that contemporary society values selflessness, …show more content…
King put others lives before himself, while Odysseus puts himself before others. Odysseus, a strong leader for his time, does not posses the heroic qualities of modern heros such as Dr. King who shows the qualities of a strong leader through his willingness to sacrifice his life for his men. Odysseus soon faces the cyclops, Zeus’s son, through his travels who do not take kindly to the crew. Odysseus, came upon the cave of the cyclopes uninhabited, ransacking it for supplies; however, he urged his men to stay and see what more the cyclopes had to offer the men disagreed: “ my comrades pressed me... ‘Let’s make away…!’ But I would not give way” (Homer 9 verses 251). Despite his men's wishes, Odysseus ordered his men to stay in the cave, a fatal decision for his men. Odysseus made no action to save his men unlike Dr. King during his fight for equal rights in society. Dr. King knew that there would be hardships during his battle, however he sacrificed himself to endure the pain first in order to clear the path for society. Dr. King stated, “Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle, the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” Earlier Dr. King stated that he would be the first to take a step towards the goal of justice. Mr. King knew that there would be hardship and struggling, however he was willing to endure that pain before his followers. Dr. King’s actions were truly heroic. Despit the …show more content…
King fights to change the system. “Glorious Odysseus” (3 lines 218) the King of Ithaca, “royal son of Laertes,man of exploits” (5 line 250) fought successfully in the Trojan War, expanding Ithaca’s rule, supporting the system. Similarly, the system supported Odysseus, through the resources he received and the support of the most powerful section of society. In contrary, Dr. King has no support from society due to his lower class origin and hope to change a societal view accepted from the beginning of time, the segregation of races. During Dr. King’s, I Have A Dream speech Dr. King stated “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” Through Dr. King’s speech it is clear to see his belief of injustice between races. This belief reveals Dr. King’s fight against the system, composed predominantly of Caucasians, who believe that are superior to all races. Although both leaders contained support from the classes which support them, however Dr. King fights against the system in result of the minority class which he represents, while Odysseus fights for the system, representing the strong upper

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