Zoe Burgess

Mrs. Gifford

English 9 H

24 Oct. 2019

Does a Hero Have to be Perfect?

The musician Ricky Martin once stated, “​Heroes represent the best of ourselves,

respecting that we are human beings.” Within this quote, it demonstrates to us that ​though one

may be labeled as the hero in a tale or in someone's life, it does not mean that they must always

act in such a manner. After all, many heroes that come to mind are only human, and with that

carry flaws. One prime example of this can be seen within Homer's epic poem ​The Odyssey​,

where the protagonist and hero Odysseus displays both heroic and non-heroic qualities. Brash

behavior with good rallying skills, and quick thinking together help to show the reader that while

Odysseus is the hero of his tale, there are occasions where he acts out of line and allows for the

situation to get the best of him.

Though depicted as the hero throughout the tale, and even in the preceding epic ​The Iliad​,

there are occasions in which Odysseus presents himself in a manner that portrays itself to be

more antagonistic than heroic. Unlike most heroes of Greek origin who come from some variant

of holy descent, Odysseus is only mortal, a human and displays to the reader as such, be it by

letting emotions get out of hand or by acting selfishly, endangering him and his men. Such an

instance can be seen during “The Cyclopes” when Odysseus and his crew had just escaped the

Cyclops' cave after blinding him just the night before and were now setting sail away. In this
scene, Odysseus and crew are loading their ship and resuming their journey back to Ithaca when

Odysseus turns to the blinded one-eyed beast, shouting with rage, “O Cyclops! Would you feast

on my companions? Puny, am I, in a Caveman’s hands? How do you like the beating we gave

you, you damned cannibal?” (390-393). Even as his crew yells at him to cease his taunting,

Odysseus persists, continuing to pester him, “Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were

put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son, whose

home’s on Ithaca!” (416-419). As a result of Odysseus letting his emotions get the best of him,

Polyphemus flares out in rage, leading him to grab a hunk of a nearby mountain, throwing it at

the men, beaching them and their ship.

Despite Odysseus’ occasion to lash out and leap before he looks, he still establishes

himself to be a great leader and guide his men in any situation. Even during times in their

journey when doom hangs overhead and peril seems unavoidable, he has been able to ground

them with only his words, allowing them to carry on headstrong towards the direst of situations.

The tale “The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis” is a clear representation of this ability. Within this

story, as the adventurers approach the two beasts, Odysseus, seeing his companions cower at the

beasts that lay in front of them, encourages them to persist despite their fear, proclaiming,

“Friends, have we never been in danger before this?... Did I not keep my nerve, and use my wits

to find a way out for us?” (143-144, 147-148). With these lines, Odysseus is able to rally his

crew together, stifling their fear, allowing for them to continue on headstrong even towards the

face of danger.

Atop his ability to gather his crew together and led them forward, the great hero has more

abilities that aid him throughout the epic. Returning back to the tale of the great Cyclops
Polyphemus, whilst trapped in the beast’s cave, Odysseus tells the drunken Polyphemus, “​My

name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy.” (274-275). In his

easily persuadable state, the Cyclops believes Odysseus’ claim. Later on, when the hero and his

men plunge the burning olive tree into Polyphemus’ eye, he cries out in pain, arousing the other

Cyclopes on the island. When asked what was the matter, he exclaims, “​Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s

tricked me, Nohbdy’s ruined me!” (318). In light of hearing his statement of having “nobody”

harm them, the other Cyclopes reply in mindful manner, “Ah well, if nobody has played you foul

there in your lonely bed, we are no use in pain given by great Zeus.” (319-321). With Odysseus’

planning to fool the Cyclops and claim his name to be Nohbdy, it showcases his skills in quick

thinking as well as forethought, knowing that Polyphemus would cry out the name of who that

has ailed him, and the realization that if he had revealed his true name, he and his team would be

ambushed by several angered Cyclopes.

Throughout stories and tales, both fictitious and not, there is always a character presented

as the hero. Even still, many do not hold up to the perfect image that is expected from such a

title, presenting their own flaws and issues. An ever more present example of this is the hero of

Homer’s ​The Odyssey​. Throughout this epic, Odysseus displays on multiple occasions heroic

actions, but various non-heroic ones as well. Even in regards to these actions and qualities, they

do not lessen Odysseus’ worth or heroism, and in fact strengthen his image to the reader by

showing that he is human, one that is strong and heroic, but still has flaws as humans do.