Villainous Heroism
The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes a hero as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” This definition can be applied to any person who embodies it, no matter the extent of their actions. What does it really take to determine a hero? How can a topic as massive and controversial as heroism even begin to be measured? These ideas have been debated for many centuries, yet none have given a scale, formula, or any concrete way to determine a hero. In modern day, the media portrays heroes as strong and almighty, like Superman. But also as an average person, who saves a cat from a tree or stands up to a bully. These ideas and evolved through time, and can be traced back to the Greeks view of heroism, …show more content…
Odysseus and his crew “ransack the Cicones’ sacred city” (9.159), motivated by only greed. They then proceed to murder all of the Cicone people. The Greeks consider this heroism because Odysseus did not violate the unspoken laws of hospitality because he was the guest, supposedly the Cicones’ fate is their own fault because they should have given Odysseus and his crew all that they desired. If Odysseus and his crew had fallen to the Cicones, they would not be considered heroes because they would become enslaved, and lose their social status. Odysseus and his crew land on the island of Polyphemus unnecessarily, then seek out Polyphemus to demand hospitality and goods. Odysseus says, “I wanted to see him, and see/if he would give me the gift of hospitality” (9.219-220). Odysseus’ ignorance and lack of regard for others’ personal boundaries lead him and his crew to be captured by Polyphemus, they escape by blinding Polyphemus with a hot stake. As they are departing, Odysseus mocks Polyphemus and discloses his name. The Greeks analyze this event as heroic because Odysseus used his intelligence to get his crew out of the situation, but what they fail to acknowledge is that the situation should not have happened in the first place. When Odysseus returns home, he formulates a plan and murders all of the suitors, then shows no mercy to the …show more content…
This is not heroism, but unjust murder. Modern day law dictates Odysseus’ actions would put him in jail, not deserve praise. After Odysseus blinds Polyphemus, he brags “if anyone [...]/asks how you got your eye put out/tell him that Odysseus the marauder did it” (9.500-502). Odysseus takes pride in his inhumane maiming of Polyphemus, which is disgusting, not heroic. Odysseus’ mass murder of the suitors can be seen as him defending his property, but his treatment of the maids is completely unethical. They are hung with “the cable looped around each of their necks” (22.495) after being psychologically traumatized, when they are forced to wipe up the suitors blood. Odysseus seems to enjoy causing others to suffer, which is the opposite of what a hero should be. No matter what culture Odysseus lived in, he should not be considered a hero because of his lack of compassion, and disrespect for
The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes a hero as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” This definition can be applied to any person who embodies it, no matter the extent of their actions. What does it really take to determine a hero? How can a topic as massive and controversial as heroism even begin to be measured? These ideas have been debated for many centuries, yet none have given a scale, formula, or any concrete way to determine a hero. In modern day, the media portrays heroes as strong and almighty, like Superman. But also as an average person, who saves a cat from a tree or stands up to a bully. These ideas and evolved through time, and can be traced back to the Greeks view of heroism, …show more content…
Odysseus and his crew “ransack the Cicones’ sacred city” (9.159), motivated by only greed. They then proceed to murder all of the Cicone people. The Greeks consider this heroism because Odysseus did not violate the unspoken laws of hospitality because he was the guest, supposedly the Cicones’ fate is their own fault because they should have given Odysseus and his crew all that they desired. If Odysseus and his crew had fallen to the Cicones, they would not be considered heroes because they would become enslaved, and lose their social status. Odysseus and his crew land on the island of Polyphemus unnecessarily, then seek out Polyphemus to demand hospitality and goods. Odysseus says, “I wanted to see him, and see/if he would give me the gift of hospitality” (9.219-220). Odysseus’ ignorance and lack of regard for others’ personal boundaries lead him and his crew to be captured by Polyphemus, they escape by blinding Polyphemus with a hot stake. As they are departing, Odysseus mocks Polyphemus and discloses his name. The Greeks analyze this event as heroic because Odysseus used his intelligence to get his crew out of the situation, but what they fail to acknowledge is that the situation should not have happened in the first place. When Odysseus returns home, he formulates a plan and murders all of the suitors, then shows no mercy to the …show more content…
This is not heroism, but unjust murder. Modern day law dictates Odysseus’ actions would put him in jail, not deserve praise. After Odysseus blinds Polyphemus, he brags “if anyone [...]/asks how you got your eye put out/tell him that Odysseus the marauder did it” (9.500-502). Odysseus takes pride in his inhumane maiming of Polyphemus, which is disgusting, not heroic. Odysseus’ mass murder of the suitors can be seen as him defending his property, but his treatment of the maids is completely unethical. They are hung with “the cable looped around each of their necks” (22.495) after being psychologically traumatized, when they are forced to wipe up the suitors blood. Odysseus seems to enjoy causing others to suffer, which is the opposite of what a hero should be. No matter what culture Odysseus lived in, he should not be considered a hero because of his lack of compassion, and disrespect for