Odysseus: a realistic barbarian hero The ancient hero, often considered a beacon of perfection and civilization among the barbarian hordes, is considered by modern standards less perfect, but more realistic. In Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, the main protagonist, Odysseus, should be seen as a perfect hero, but reality is the predominant impression. By portraying Odysseus as the primary Greek hero, Homer provides Odysseus with traits that are both heroic and barbaric to the modern reader, giving Odysseus a realistic character. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Odysseus' sheer endurance is a heroic trait that gives him a quality of reality. Even among heroes, he is remembered for that specific characteristic, as Menelaus, another hero of the Trojan War, says, "No soldier / faced so much, faced so much as Odysseus" (Book 4. Lines 116-117). Endurance, a trait that Odysseus takes pride in, allows him to display his courage, which in turn gives the modern reader a chance to peer into Odysseus' heroic side. Resistance equals reality, as Odysseus relies on resistance rather than supernatural powers to overcome his obstacles, unlike the near-perfect and unrealistic gods. Odysseus' feats of endurance are displayed as he fights for his life in a grueling ordeal: his breaking” (Book 5. Lines 447-449). Giving a more earthly feel to Odysseus' resistance, this passage shows that although Odysseus is able to cling to the rocky ledge, he does so with great pain, revealing that his trials are not overcome without effort, making him one. more realistic. Groaning in pain, signaling a real challenge to Odysseus, this test only makes Odysseus seem less invincible, thus making him more realistic. Odysseus' endurance is again shown when he becomes stranded on the open sea: “Two nights, two days, in the solid waves of the deep sea/he [Odysseus] drifted, many times awaiting death,/till with shining locks in the East/ the dawn confirmed a third day” (Book 5. Lines 405-408). Encountering near-death experiences multiple times, Odysseus, a mortal, uses his stamina to survive his time at sea. Endurance, a positive trait, gives readers the impression that his goals are not achieved easily, but through hard work and diligence. Resistance also gives Odysseus an aura of the earthly, showing that he cannot leap over obstacles as easily as the ancient Greek gods. Although the trait of endurance gives Odysseus a heroic quality, to make him more realistic, this positive trait is countered by a negative one. Cunning is perhaps the main characteristic of Odysseus, since his great mind is capable of formulating many barbaric tricks. His cunning is so great that even the king of the immortal gods, Zeus, is forced to recognize Odysseus' abilities, stating "There is no mortal half so wise" (Book 1. Line 88). By identifying Odysseus by his wit, Zeus foreshadows Odysseus' actions. Odysseus' deception is confirmed when he tells the giant Polyphemus "My name is Nohbdy, mother, father, friends, / all call me Nohbdy" (Book 9. Lines 397-398) to prevent the giant. from successfully asking for help. Showing that Odysseus will resort to lies to achieve a goal, his encounter with Polyphemus reveals many flaws in his character, instead of reflecting on a more moral solution, Odysseus comes to the conclusion that only deception will work, placing another To make Odysseus a more believable character, these flaws are essential to keep him realistic. Ulysses recursagain to barbaric tactics to neutralize Polyphemus' threat to his men after getting the giant Cyclops drunk: “So, with our brand. We bored that great eye socket/while the blood flowed around the red-hot bar” (Book 9. Lines 420-421). Although Polyphemus is perhaps the most barbaric being in the Odyssey, Odysseus, by choosing to return barbarism with barbarity, shows an uncivilized side of his nature. Instead of countering Polyphemus's barbaric tactics with a civilized response, Odysseus responds with barbaric deceptions. Balancing this negative trait is honor, providing more realism to Odysseus' character. Although Odysseus possesses many negative qualities that counteract his positive traits, honor is a positive quality that stands out among his other traits. He is highly praised by his son Telemachus for being an honorable and just man: "Gone is my illustrious father, / who once reigned among you, gentle as a father" (Book 2. Lines 49-50). Telemachus' willingness to say this to an assembly full of his subjects proves that there is truth in his speech, as the lies would have been revealed by those present at the assembly. Odysseus' honor is confirmed when he refuses to rob the giant Cyclops: “Ah,/what a sound! Yet I refused. I longed/to see the caveman, what he had to offer” (Book 9. Lines 247-249). By refusing to steal from the Cyclopes when he had the chance, Odysseus shows not only restraint, but honor and respect. His desire to look at situations in a rational and civilized manner contrasts with the barbaric cunning that Odysseus displays in his later encounters with the Cyclopes, perfectly balancing his qualities to add a realistic effect. His duty and honor to his men are also shown when he orders his crew to remember those who died in battle: "No ship sailed the next day until some shipmate / had given a cry, three times for every poor ghost/fleshed by the Kikones on that field" (Book 9. Lines 71-73). Making the decision to stay behind, inviting further attacks from the Kikones, and endangering one's life justifies Odysseus' reputation for honor, as only those with good principles will stay behind to pay tribute to the dead crew members. However, for Odysseus to appear more realistic, the desire to take advantage of and manipulate one's situation, a negative quality, offsets the characteristic of honor. Odysseus loves to manipulate events to take advantage of a situation. He is remembered by Nestor as a man who was unrivaled in the field of wiles and manipulations: “He [Odysseus] had no rival,/your father, in wiles of war” (Book 3. Lines 130-131). Odysseus's manipulative nature - a flaw in his personality - is shown throughout the book as a reminder of Odysseus's earthiness and reality. When Kirke offers to make love to Odysseus after realizing that Odysseus cannot be defeated with his sorcery, Odysseus does not hesitate: "She [Kirke] swore at once, openly, as I asked, / and after having sworn and having bound ,/I entered Kirke's bed of impeccable love” (Book 10. Lines 388-391). By agreeing to begin an intimate relationship with Kirke, Odysseus takes advantage of a situation that the gods have presented to him his loyalty to Penelope, Odysseus shows a weakness in his moral fiber, Odysseus shows a serious flaw, once again presenting it as realistic due to his imperfection, Odysseus, without showing qualms about asking for Aiolos, the king of the winds, other pockets of wind, calmly returns to the island of Aiolos to plead: "Before their eyes [Aiolos and his subjects] Odysseus made his supplication" (Book 8. Line 155)..