Odysseus as a Tragic Hero - 2449 Words

Nearly every story in Greek mythology revolves around a character with a certain outstanding attribute, be it strength, intellect, or even musical talent. Heroes such as this might spend their lives questing for kleos, or the myth might simply be a tale in which the hero was trying to accomplish a certain task, such as returning home or rescuing a lover from Hades. In every case, these heroic tales would always end with tragedy; the hero would be killed by a jealous lover, go mad, or have a loved one taken away from him. However, one Greek hero existed whose story did not end with tragedy: Odysseus. Homers The Odyssey is unique among all other Greek myths in that it is the only story in which the hero does not meet a tragic end; why†¦show more content†¦The two friends are extremely close to one another and are comfortable with simply sitting and singing together, away from the battle that Achilles has left. However, unlike Achilles, Heracles actually has more than one of these close companions throughout his adventures. Heracless first and most important male companion was Hylas, with whom he traveled until the journey of Jason and the Argonauts. The relationship between the two has even been described as ‘homoerotic, they were so close to one another. For example, after Hylas goes missing in the story, Herakles reacted with passionate anguish (‘sweat poured down over his temples, and within his innards the dark blood boiled, sang Apollonius) (Buxton 111). In fact, after Hylas is lost, Herakles chooses to abandon Jasons quest for the Golden Fleece and continue searching for his beloved companion in vain. Another companion of Heracles, Iolaos, travels with and helps him during many of his labors. Heracles had many more of these companions as well, says Plutarch (Buxton 176). However, while both Achilles and Heracles had one or more close male companions, Odysseus had none, and traveled alone for much of his story. There is yet one more difference between Odysseus and the other two heroes which may help to find the reason why his tale does not endShow MoreRelatedOdysseus As An Epic Hero As A Tragic Hero811 Words   |  4 Pagesadmired for great achievements†. The Odyssey written by Homer is home to Odysseus, the original epic hero. The typical features of an epic hero or heroic epic are strength, loyalty, courage, and intelligence. Odysseus not only fulfills the requirements but also goes above and beyond. On his way home to Ithaca Odysseus faces many challenges, and with each solution, we see why he is considered an epic hero. A trait that Odysseus embodies to the fullest is intelligence. His wittiness and eloquence haveRead MoreSimilarities Between Odysseus And Macbeth1357 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferences between Homer’s Odysseus and Shakespeares Macbeth. 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