Heroism

Heroism today can be exemplified through various different virtues. To some, a hero could be a great baseball player or musician, to others, a corporate leader or entrepreneur. But what characteristics do these individuals hold that make them a true “hero?” Wealth, social status, or being skilled at a sport might be some, but in the Iliad and the Odyssey, Odysseus (the hero) embraces two very distinct and different characteristics; both of which help define …

…is. By emphasizing the great physical strength and capabilities of Odysseus, and matching it up with wit and cunning, Homer accurately depicts a proper hero. Rather than saying a hero must be either strong or cunning, throwing away one version or another, the book shows that a hero can, and must, have both of those virtues in order to be a true hero. Homer’s Odyssey redefines the meaning of heroism by combining these merits.