Homer suggests in The Odyssey that a hero is someone who not only helps others, but also undergoes some hardship as part of that process. According to this definition, Odysseus is the hero of The Odyssey.
Odysseus’s selfless actions demonstrate that he is a hero, for he chooses to offer service to those in need and firmly withstands burdensome trials. On the difficult journey back home, Odysseus’s men are trapped under the captivating spell of the Lotus-Eaters. Odysseus promptly responds to this crisis: “Whoever ate that sweet fruit/ lost the will to report back, preferring instead/ to stay there, munching on lotus, oblivious to home./ I hauled them back wailing to the ships,/bound them under the bunches, then ordered / all hands to board their ships on the …show more content…
He sees it as his responsibility to protect his subordinates for he did not want “anyone else to taste the lotus.” As the leader they all look up to, Odysseus continues to aid and encourage his men on their journey. Although this task is quite the burden, Odysseus is always there for his crew when they need him. Not only is Odysseus heroic because he helps others, but he is heroic because he experiences hardship. Odysseus and his crew have had experienced a multitude of misfortunes and are so close to the land of their beloved Ithaca. Unfortunately, a single mishap of doubt reversed all of their progress and Odysseus is left in deep thought: “When I woke up and saw what had happened/ I thought long and hard about whether I should/ just go over the side and end it all in the sea/ or endure in silence and remain among the living./ In the end I decided to bear it and live” (79). This disheartening mental thought strongly indicates the hardships Odysseus must face. All heros undergo challenging times, but