Odysseus also lied throughout basically the whole epic poem about his true identity. He even lied to his own wife throughout book 19 and 20. He also lies to his father in the begining of 24. Should hero's really lie to there people about who they are? I don't think so. If someone I looked up to had been lying to me about who they really are, I would not look up to them anymore. Even though no one was mad at Odysseus when they told him the truth, he still lied for many books in the epic poem. Odysseus also goes to Circe's and sleeps with her. This is unfaithful to his wife Penelope. Penelope had been staying true to Odysseus while he was gone away at war missing him terribly but Odysseus could not seem to do the same. If this happened today, it would be all over the news. Sleeping with other women while you're married isn't classy and for sure is not Heroic.
When Odysseus goes to visit the dead in Hades, he demonstrates some unheroic things. While he was there he got to visit his mother and friends. Then when more and more people began to hear that he was there, they wanted to talk to him. Odysseus got overwhelmed and just left. This is very unheroic. Think of it in terms of the president. If the president went to visit a group of people and said hi to a few, but more and more people were coming to talk to him so he just left. People would feel betrayed and would not think that he would be a good leader because he didn't give a chance to everyone to talk to him. A good leader in my mind, is not considered heroic.
1 comment:
I agree with you about Odysseus. His rage would not work in this society. It would get him into a lot of trouble. His compulsively lying ways would too. YOu just can't get away with those things these days. He would be put in jail immediately. Good organization! -Andrea L.
Post a Comment