The Hero Odysseus | The Hero Odysseus

A hero is a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability, according to Miriam-Webster Dictionary. In The Odyssey by Homer, the main character, Odysseus, constantly proves himself a hero throughout his journey home to Ithaca. Odysseus shows himself to be a hero in most every location he visits. In this story, Odysseus demonstrates wisdom, bravery, and great strength.

One of the first heroic traits demonstrated in the story is wisdom. Odysseus listens to people who tell him sensible things. While visiting Circe, she says, " `You had much better go by Scylla's rock, keep close, and be quick about it.' "(140). He listens to her, knowing that is the intelligent thing to do, as losing six men at a time is better than losing all at once. Odysseus also shows wisdom after receiving the bag of Winds from Aiolos by "[holding] the sheet...
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