In book 9 of Homer's 'The Odyssey', Odysseus 'heroically' tricks the Cyclops and blinds him in order to save himself and his crew from being eaten. But it is this an act of un-necessary violence? Can we really value Odysseus as a hero?
Above all else, the reason that Odysseus has to save his crew is because his own greed made them enter the Cyclops' cave and steal his cheese: 'There we built a fire, set our hands on the cheeses, offered some to the gods and ate the bulk ourselves.' The typical actions of a hero are noble and do not usually involve stealing.
Secondly, a common motto throughout history is that a man is considered weakest when he attacks his enemy whilst he was sleeping, like Odysseus does as the Cyclops is 'sprawled full-length, lying flat on his back, his massive neck slumping to one side and sleep that conquers all' overwhelming him. Odysseus then rams ('rammed [the steak] hard') into the monsters eye. Is this the action of a true Greek hero?
Odysseus is also the narrator of his own tale, giving the impression of narcissism which is not usually a heroic trait. however the arrogance presented in the first person narration of the epic was actually a key trait of the characters that Ancient Greeks considered heroic- to brag was to be celebrated. The first person narration also automatically makes Odysseus the protagonist- a position for a hero?
In accordance with this, Odysseus is demonstrated as having a very sharp wit. When the Cyclops asks his name, he tells him 'Nobody, that is my name. Nobody.' This means that when he blinds the Cyclops and the beast is crying out in pain, when the other Cyclops' rush to help and he cries out 'Nobody is killing me', the leave him alone so Odysseus can escape safely with his crew. A keen sense of cunning and intellect is also characteristic of a hero figure.
So, as a reader the choice is yours- Odysseus: Hero or just arrogant?
Above all else, the reason that Odysseus has to save his crew is because his own greed made them enter the Cyclops' cave and steal his cheese: 'There we built a fire, set our hands on the cheeses, offered some to the gods and ate the bulk ourselves.' The typical actions of a hero are noble and do not usually involve stealing.
Secondly, a common motto throughout history is that a man is considered weakest when he attacks his enemy whilst he was sleeping, like Odysseus does as the Cyclops is 'sprawled full-length, lying flat on his back, his massive neck slumping to one side and sleep that conquers all' overwhelming him. Odysseus then rams ('rammed [the steak] hard') into the monsters eye. Is this the action of a true Greek hero?
Odysseus is also the narrator of his own tale, giving the impression of narcissism which is not usually a heroic trait. however the arrogance presented in the first person narration of the epic was actually a key trait of the characters that Ancient Greeks considered heroic- to brag was to be celebrated. The first person narration also automatically makes Odysseus the protagonist- a position for a hero?
In accordance with this, Odysseus is demonstrated as having a very sharp wit. When the Cyclops asks his name, he tells him 'Nobody, that is my name. Nobody.' This means that when he blinds the Cyclops and the beast is crying out in pain, when the other Cyclops' rush to help and he cries out 'Nobody is killing me', the leave him alone so Odysseus can escape safely with his crew. A keen sense of cunning and intellect is also characteristic of a hero figure.
So, as a reader the choice is yours- Odysseus: Hero or just arrogant?