Transforming an Epic Hero into a Man

Although Homeric culture praises Odysseus for his cunning, others have criticized him for this and other qualities, perceiving his tactics as conniving, dishonest, and even cowardly, but nonetheless Homer’s The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ development and transformation from a larger than life character to a humanized and humble figure. At the beginning of his tale Odysseus exhibits his love of himself over others and it is evident that he does what he wants with no concern of consequences. However it becomes apparent that he is transforming as his journey progresses and he hones his leadership skills and his plans become less for thrill and deceit and more solely based on his safe return home. By the time Odysseus returns back to Ithaca his experiences disguised as a beggar make him more humble than ever before.

In the first books of the epic poem many, including the Gods, see Odysseus as somewhat of a demi-god and he does what he wants, as indicated by his raze of Ismarus and its people, simply because he can. Odysseus is hubristic and arrogant at this point and he speaks proudly of how he “sacked the city, killed the men,” (p. 212 lines 44-45) and took the wives and riches to share among his own men. His savage behavior in these matters only further prolongs his journey home and puts many of his men in grave danger. At this point it is clear that Odysseus’ character is impulsive and unthinking even while planning; doing things in the moment and asking questions later. This larger than life behavior of his means he not only looks for trouble and acts on impulse but he mocks his enemies and makes sure they know it is he who has brought them harm. This is exemplified as he and his men are escaping from the land of the Cyclops and the blinded Polyphemus and Odysseus, rather than quitting while he is behind, harasses the monster and shouts

“ If any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so- say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye. Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca!”

Odysseus does not think of how his narcissistic actions will affect him and his crew as they set back out to sea and Polyphemus’ father, Poseidon, tries to get revenge. Odysseus is a wise man but at this point in his transformation it appears that he does not truly think.

The largest turning point in Odysseus’ character stemmed from his experience in the Underworld. That Odysseus went to the Underworld at all is in fact a transformation of his character; he began to not only listen to advice but to take it, which is something he would not have done before. His love for himself is becoming less transparent and he begins to care more about the preservation of his men. Though Odysseus takes Circe’s advice to visit the Underworld simply to give Teiresias a drink from the blood of a black sheep so that the seer can talk to him and warn him of the dangers that lay ahead on