Essay: The "Hero" Odysseus

Odysseus was deemed by his men and his people as a hero. He was the brave soul who defeated or tricked mighty beasts and gods in order to save the lives of his crew on their long and perilous journey home. When particularly looking at his encounter with the cyclops though, can he truly be called a hero?

Odysseus and his men came across an island entirely inhabited by cyclops and beached on its shore. They ventured into a cave owned by one of the beasts and ate his food while he was gone. Furious over this the cyclops eats the men one by one until he is blinded by Odysseus and they escape. Did his cunning save the rest of the men from death? Yes, however the deaths of the others could have easily been prevented if Odysseus hadn’t of been so foolish. His men asked if they could steal what they could carry and leave before the cyclops returned but their fearless leader wanted to meet the Cyclops.

If I was that cyclops I would have been infuriated as well coming home and seeing strangers eating my food. The cyclops owed the men nothing but Odysseus felt he owed them hospitality and would be a gracious host. Odysseus didn’t like his reaction but I really don’t know how he could be so blind as to not think the Cyclops would react with anger. All in all Odysseus stole food from the Cyclops, blinded him, and then stole his sheep! He saved the lives of the remaining men but he was the one who put them in danger in the first place! What true hero endangers the lives of his men for foolish pride? He may be a hero to the Greeks but in the eyes of other beings he is the one who is a monster.

(What Odysseus Thinks About Himself)