Ulysses: a realistic barbarian hero The ancient hero, often seen as a beacon of perfection and civilization among the barbarian hordes, is considered by modern standards to be less perfect, but more realistic. In Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, the main protagonist, Odysseus, is supposed to be seen as a perfect hero, but reality is the predominant impression. Introducing Odysseus as the first Greek hero, Homer imbues him with both heroic and barbaric traits for the modern reader, giving Odysseus a realistic character. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay Odysseus's endurance is a heroic trait that gives him a quality of reality. Even among heroes he is remembered for this specific trait, as Menelaus, another hero of the Trojan War, says: "No soldier undertook so many things, endured so many trials, as Ulysses” (Book 4, lines 116-117). Endurance, a characteristic that Odysseus prides himself on, allows him to display courage, which gives the modern reader the opportunity to experience Odysseus' heroic side. Endurance equates to reality, as Odysseus relies on endurance rather than supernatural powers to overcome his obstacles, unlike the near-perfect and unrealistic gods. Odysseus' feats of endurance are demonstrated when he fights for his life in a grueling ordeal: "He [Odysseus] clutched a rock ledge with both hands as he passed/and clung to it, groaning as the wave passed ,/to keep away. its rupture” (Book 5. Lines 447-449). Giving a more earthly touch to Odysseus's endurance, 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, which makes it whole. more realistic. Groaning in pain, signaling a real challenge for Odysseus, this ordeal only makes Odysseus less invincible, thus making him more realistic. Odysseus' endurance is demonstrated again when he is stranded on the open sea: "Two nights, two days, in the solid swell of the deep/he [Ulysses] drifted, repeatedly awaiting death,/until that with bright curls in the East/ the dawn confirmed a third day” (Book 5. Lines 405-408). Encountering near-death experiences several times, Odysseus, a mortal, uses his endurance to survive his time at sea. Endurance, a positive trait, makes readers feel like his goals are not achieved easily, but through to hard work and due diligence. Endurance also presents an aura of earthiness in Odysseus, showing that he does not overcome obstacles as easily as the ancient Greek gods. Although the endurance trait gives Odysseus a heroic quality, in order to make Odysseus more realistic, this positive trait is countered by a negative trait. Cunning cunning is perhaps Odysseus' main trait, as 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, declaring: "There is no mortal half so wise" (Book 1, line 88). Identifying Odysseus for his intelligence, Zeus foreshadows Odysseus' actions. Odysseus' deception is confirmed when he tells the giant Polyphemus "My name is Nohbdy, mother, father, friends,/everyone calls me Nohbdy" (Book 9. Lines 397-398) in order to prevent the giant. After successfully calling for help, showing that Odysseus will resort to lying to achieve a goal, his meeting with Polyphemus reveals many flaws in his character. Instead of thinking about a more moral solution, Ulyssescomes to the conclusion that only deception will work, placing another. flaw in his character. Making Odysseus a more believable character, these flaws are essential to keeping Odysseus realistic. Odysseus once again turns to barbaric tactics in order to neutralize Polyphemus' threat to his men after making the giant Kyklope drunk: “So, with our mark. we bored this great orbit/while the blood flowed around the burning bar” (Book 9. Lines 420-421). Although Polyphemus is perhaps the most barbaric being in The Odyssey, Odysseus, by choosing to return barbarism with barbarism, displays an uncivilized side in his makeup. Instead of countering Polyphemus' barbaric tactics with a civilized response, Odysseus retaliates with barbaric ruse. Balancing this negative trait is honor, providing more realism to the character of Odysseus. Although Odysseus possesses many negative qualities to counteract his positive traits, honor is a positive quality that stands out among his other traits. He is highly praised by his son Telemakhos for being an honorable and just man: “My distinguished father is lost,/who once reigned among you, gentle as a father” (Book 2. Lines 49-50). Telemakhos' willingness to say this in front of an assembly full of his subjects proves that there is truth in his speech, just as lies would have been revealed by the members of the assembly. Odysseus's honor is confirmed when he refuses to steal the giant Kyklopes: “Ah, how good it was! However, I refused. I wished/to see the caveman, what he had to offer” (Book 9. Lines 247-249). By refusing to steal the Kyklopes when he had the chance, Odysseus not only shows restraint, but also honor and respect. His desire to view situations in a rational, civilized manner contrasts with the barbaric cunning that Odysseus displays in his later encounters with the Kyklopes, perfectly balancing his qualities to add realistic effect. His duty and honor to his men is also demonstrated when he orders his crew to remember those killed in battle: "No ship sailed the next day until a comrade/n 'screamed, three times for every poor ghost / devoid of flesh by the Kikones on this field' (Book 9. Lines 71-73). Making the decision to stay put, to invite further attacks from the Kikones and to put his own life in danger justifies Odysseus's reputation for honor, because only those with good principles will remain behind to pay their respects to the dead crew members However, to make Odysseus appear more realistic, the desire. of taking advantage and manipulating one's situation, a negative quality, compensates for the characteristic of honor Odysseus likes to manipulate events to take advantage of a situation. He is remembered by Nestor as a man who had no rivals in the field. tricks and manipulation: “He [Ulysses] had no rivals,/your father, in the tricks of war” (Book 3. Lines 130-131). Odysseus' manipulative nature - an imperfection in his personality - is displayed throughout the book as a reminder of Odysseus' earthly and real character. When Kirke proposes to make love to Odysseus after realizing that Odysseus cannot be outdone by his witchcraft, Odysseus does not hesitate: "She [Kirke] swore immediately, squarely, as I requested,/ and having sworn, and bound herself. ,/I entered Kirke's perfect love bed” (Book 10. Lines 388-391). By agreeing to enter into intimate relations with Kirke, Ulysses takes advantage of a situation that the gods have presented to him. Endangering his loyalty to Penelope, Ulysses displays a weakness in his moral fiber. In the process of betraying Penelope, Ulysses shows a major flaw, again presenting him as.