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Odysseus Character Essay

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Odysseus is a character that has a remarkable amount of depth to him. Many of Homer’s characters are well-developed, even minor characters having a background and strong story. Odysseus is an epic hero by many definitions, stretching and branches out much farther than just the limits on English literature. Odysseus’s development allows him to be more than just a Mary-Sue, but to also have flaws and iradmirable qualities. To identify Odysseus as an epic hero, you first need to know what an epic hero is. An epic hero possesses traits such as strength, courage, nobility, a thirst for glory, and confidence. He values his crew and has a longing to get home, even after spending life in plenty with Calypso. He is nothing short of a genius, his intellect showing in situations such as with the Cyclops and the lotus eaters. However, not all of Odysseus’s traits are favourable. Odysseus’s longing for glory and recognition is a major part of his flaws. Odysseus’s jealously over Penelope also led to a loss of lives; with Odysseus killing each of Penelope’s suitors after her little challenge with the bow. He also has issues with giving into temptation, but his character grows and learns from those mistakes. (Such as having his crew tie him to the mast pole to keep him from falling victim to the Sirens.) Odysseus is an archetypal hero for characters in future epics. An archetypal character is the first of its kind; the foundation for others to be built off of. Odysseus was a well-structured character with many traits and flaws that shaped who he was. Later writers of epics used Odysseus as a basis for their main characters, and many epic stories and poems have characters relatable to Odysseus. However, Odysseus wasn’t just an archetypal hero for epic poems, he also set the foundation for heroes of other stories, ranging from other myths like Hercules and Perseus to our

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