Odysseus Essay, Research Paper

If there is any possibility that a comparison could be made with the famous

journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas, it must be known that Aeneas is actually a hero in

search of his own soul while Odysseus is a hero trying to find his old life and in a sense,

his old soul. The Aeneid is very much of a spiritual quest, which makes it unique in

ancient literature and in contrast with the Odyssey. Only Virgil admits to the possibility

that a character can change, grow, and develop. In the story?s earlier stages, the character

of Aeneas is obviously unsure of himself, always seeking instructions from his father or

from the gods before committing himself to any course of action. In the underworld he

sees a perspective of the future history of Rome down to the time of Augustus, and that

vision gives him the self-confidence to act on his own initiative. Comparatively, Odysseus

is driven though his journey beginning with apparent self-confidence and continuing with a

vengeful vigor.

While reviewing the myth?s fantastic journey, I wondered if Aeneas was great

because his fate made him great or was he great because he had the courage and

determination to live up to the role fate handed him? There is a side to Aeneas, I noticed

that is not very impressive, even when I could almost understand why he feels the way he

does. He is sad, tired, always waiting for his father or the gods to tell him what to do.

But Aeneas always fulfills his duty to his family, to his country, and to the gods, even

when he is depressed. He is never selfish. He always puts his responsibility to others first.

In that way, his actions throughout his journey to the underworld were somewhat different

that Odysseus?.

In Aeneas? case, he too was as great of a survivor as Odysseus. In fact, he at least

matches him in the way that he is one of those people who can lose everything and still

start all over again. Aeneas goes from being a victim of the Greeks at Troy to becoming a

conqueror in Italy. Virgil?s Aeneas is the first character in Western literature who actually

changes and develops. His struggles help him discover who he is and what he thinks is

important.

If I had to name one quality that defines Aeneas throughout his journey, it is his

devotion to duty, a quality that the Romans called pietas or piety. This quality keeps him

going even when he would rather forget about his fate. Ultimately, this same quality

makes him accept, even welcome, that fate. Because, when Aeneas finally realizes that all

his efforts will make the glorious Roman Empire possible, his love of his family and his

country are fulfilled. The result is that the Aeneas we see at the end of the Aeneid is

determined, sure of himself, and confident that he knows what is right. He has become a

great leader who is able to impose order on people who display more selfish and unruly

emotions.

Odysseus, as the classic definition of his name suggests, is truly and individual who

causes great trouble. Throughout the Odyssey, there are many direct and indirect

circumstances in which Odysseus wreaks havoc upon others. He leaves Troy, fights at

the island of Ismaros, and witnesses the sleepy life of the Lotos Eaters. He blinds and then

tricks the one-eyed cannibal, Cyclopes, the son of Poseidon. Eventually, he even buries

Elpenor, one of his crew members who was killed during all this trouble. Never does he

begin nor end with a lack of self confidence anywhere close to the one exhibited by

Aeneas at the commencement of his journey.

After his first stage of havoc, Odysseus resists the song of the Seirenes, and sails

between the whirlpool and the cliff, personified by the names of Skylla and Kharybdis.

But his men make the mistake of eating the forbidden cattle of the sun god, Helios. So

Zeus wrecks Odysseus? ship, drowning all of his men. Odysseus manages to survive

Skylla and Kharybdis again, and washes up at Ogygia Island where he stays eight years

with Kalypso. After all that, he is still able to build a ship and set out again for Ithaka, but

he becomes shipwrecked by Poseidon and swims to Skheria, where Nausikaa, King

Alkinoos? daughter, finds him. Homer seems to purposely intrigue us by having other

characters describe Odysseus, ?He had no rivals, your father, at the tricks of war.?

described Nestor rather early in the story.

If all of the graphically horrid events and ?warrior descriptions? do not help to

classify Odysseus as a troublemaker, I do not know what would! In extensive recounts of

the story, his killings are graphically described in a vulgar fashion adding to his

troublesome image ?Did he dream of death?? Homer askes later on when Odysseus kills

Antinoos. ?How could he??. Antinoos? nostrils spurt blood and in his death throes he

kicks over his table, knocking his meat and bread to the ground ?to soak in dusty blood.?

It is indeed a graphic description and it exemplifies Odysseus? ?pain-inducing image.?

Even with such stories, however, it is indeed very suitable to label Odysseus as an epic

hero. He is in fact a legendary figure with more than the usual amount of brains and

muscle. Sometimes throughout the stories it appears almost as though he is a

superhuman. At the end of the story, with only his inexperienced son and two farm lands

to help, he kills more than one hundred of Penelope?s suitors. He is able to do it because

he has the help of the goddess Athena. He embodies the ideals Homeric Greeks aspired

to: manly valor, loyalty, piety, and intelligence. Piety means being respectful of the gods,

acknowledging their control of fate and evidently, consciously knowing you need their

help. Odysseus? intelligence is a mix of keen observation, instinct, and street smarts. He

is extremely cautious. Also, Odysseus is good at disguises and at concealing his feelings.

As is necessary for ?his line of work?, Odysseus is a very fast and inventive liar. In these

respects, his random lack of integrity put him in sharp contrast with Aeneas and his actions

on his journey.

Bibliography

Western Literature(College Text)