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  • Essay / Why Achilles and Odysseus can be considered heroes

    Some mythologists may argue that Achilles and Odysseus are not heroes, although they were portrayed as such in their prospective stories. These two characters are very similar. They both demonstrate strong heroic qualities, although they are both heroes in different ways. Some heroic traits that Achilles possesses are his superhuman strength, courage, and great loyalty. Odysseus can be considered a hero because of his wisdom, nobility, and sharp intellect. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Achilles is believed to have the strength of the gods. No Trojan hero could stand up to him when we went for revenge after the death of Patroclus. It was because they truly feared his strength. In Book 20, before Hector's death, Aeneas approaches Achilles and says, "No man can fight Achilles, for one of the gods is always with him." This is a pat on the back from Aeneas to Achilles, but it is also an acknowledgment of Achilles' spiritual strength as well as his physical strength. Another quality that gives Achilles hero status is impeccable courage. In the book, his courage is on full display. The grandest moment by far would be the massacre of thousands of Trojans. This gives the reader the idea that Achilles is invulnerable to pain and cannot be harmed. In the first book it says "...Achilles mourned his own father...", anyway, this gives a little hint that Achilles has a soft side. From a “men don’t cry” perspective, this would be a difficult thing for Achilles to do. Thus demonstrating courage because it is commonly defined as strength in the face of pain and sorrow. This character trait makes Achilles a hero because internally, he is compassionate, despite his angry behavior. Achilles' last and most well-known attribute is his excellent loyalty. Some mythologists would say that Achilles is not a loyal warrior because he could not prevent his closest friends from being killed. However, apart from this small fall, he made sure to take revenge on Patroclus. "Hector, you really thought, when you stripped Patroclus, that you were safe, and you didn't think of me because I was a pitiful, absent-minded fool...". This small part of the speech speaks volumes and greatly helps the reader conclude that Achilles is in every way a hero and should not be seen as anything less. In The Odyssey, Odysseus also exhibits major heroic qualities. One being his wisdom. In the first volume, it says “Girl! » The Cloud God said: “You must be joking, for how could I forget Odysseus? He is more sensible than other humans and makes more sacrifices to the gods. This quote shows from another god's perspective that Odysseus possesses great wisdom. The quality of having knowledge, experience, and good judgment is how wisdom is defined and all of these traits are great hero traits that Odysseus possesses. Odysseus is a very noble character, although some may argue that he is not so because of his pride. While being proud, Odysseus is just. In the first book he says: “Do not be angry with me, great goddess. You are absolutely right. I know my modest wife Penelope will never be able to match your beauty. She is human: you are immortal, ageless. But despite this, I want to return home, and every day I hope that this day will come” (Homer, 210). This quote in itself is a great example of Odysseus' nobility. He was able to be honest about the differences between the goddess and his wife, but also express that he prays for the day he..