Human beings have told stories about heroes since ancient times. Heroes represent what is good, fair, and just to the cultures that tell these stories and pass them on to future generations. In the section of The Odyssey titled “In the One-Eyed Giant’s Cave,” Homer portrays Odysseus as a heroic figure by emphasizing the traits readers might admire, especially his commitment to his homeland and his bravery in the face of challenges.
The character of Odysseus is strong and admirable because he meets the main criteria of a good man. Odysseus has eloquence, enterprise, and diplomacy talents that enable him to skillfully face the difficulties of wandering the world. Erhart suggests that one of Odysseus’ main traits is god-like, a word whose origins go back to ancient Greek language features (117). Odysseus is the forefather of his land and family, and he overcomes all difficulties on his way home, which is truly admirable. He learns about himself and the world around him through wandering, endowing his journey with meaning and consciousness. Each of Odysseus’ battles is an act of courage, bravery, and a healthy calculation and analysis of the situation.
Odysseus praises his affection for his homeland, which is the center of the love and peace he finds in his family’s company. Homer writes that “my eyes know none that they better love to look upon,” and in these lines, one can see the character of Odysseus: he sees beauty even in the rocky ground and the raging sea (Homer). His love for his homeland is sincere, and Odysseus carries it through his travels. He tells of his battle with the Cycons, how the ships had to fight the storms every time, and the thunderstorms and clouds prevented them from finding their way. Odysseus sees it as his destiny: no matter what hardships he encounters, he always “got home at that time unarmed” because that is his way (Homer). His journey is a story of valor and courage, which he courageously carried within him to confront Cyclops.
The battle with Cyclops is the central theme of book IX of the Odyssey, which is a natural extension of the voyage on the ships. Homer recounts the courage of Odysseus, who had to choose 12 of his comrades and stand with them against the monster (Homer). His comrades were dying, but this did not quench Odysseus’ faith in a favorable outcome. He dared to deceive and cunningly lure the Cyclops into doing things he would not have done on his own. The great merit of Odysseus is in his ability to eloquently present the words that the monster desired: “I was bringing it to you as a drink-offering” (Homer). Odysseus deceives the monster with fear but realizes there is no other way, and his goal of returning home must be achieved.
Odysseus’ behavior is admirable, as even a monster like Cyclops is imbued with his courage. The gift of the Cyclops is as a monster is supposed to be:
“I will eat all Noman’s comrades before Noman himself //
and will keep Noman for the last.
//This is the present that I will make him” (Homer).
In Cyclops’ opinion, eating the last is a blessing, but he does not have time to carry out his share of plans: Odysseus’ poisoned wine takes its toll and kills the monster.
Odysseus realizes that this is not enough and once again shows his courage. Together with his team, he “bore the red hot beam into his eye, till the boiling blood bubbled all over,” and though it is cruel, otherwise, all Odysseus’ men would have been waiting for death (Homer). Such an act requires a sincere desire to win, and even if the fight is unfair, Odysseus accepts the burden because otherwise, he would not be able to return to his homeland. Although Cyclops is not killed to the end, his suffering will always remind him that there are still heroes whose strength can defeat monsters.
The Greeks were known throughout the ancient world as a people who were loyal to their home country and able to meet and overcome difficult obstacles through courage. Homer wrote this story to emphasize Odysseus’s strong qualities and thus to hold him up as an example to others.
Work Cited
Erhart, Walter. “Odysseus, Blackbirds, and Rain Barrels: Literature as a Comparative Practice.” Practices of Comparing: Towards a New Understanding of a Fundamental Human Practice, edited by Walter Erhart et al., Bielefeld University Press, 2020, pp. 111–136.
Homer. “The Odyssey”. The Internet Classic Archive, no date, Web.