Heroes are the best-known part of Greek mythology. what makes a hero in Greek Mythology are battling tyrants and conquering dangerous journeys and completing difficult tasks. These heroes who conquered their obstacle’s, deserve to be recognized. Thave chosen to highlighted my two favorite Greek heroes, I believe have shown incredible strength through every turn of their lives. Not only did these two go hand in hand in marriage, their heroism and bravery tell a story that should be written about, as they go hand in hand in similar ways as heroes.
Odysseus and Penelope, tell of a love enduring, bravery in battles, loyalty to family, skill and strength, we can learn go hand in hand, in more ways than just the one. Odysseus was a mortal, and the king of Ithica. Odysseus was very brave in his battles and the journey he was on that took him away from his wife and son. This journey and time away from them, lasted twenty years. Odysseus showed wisdom in skill and mental clarity as he was wise in his thinking. For example, when he and his crew were in the caves, he found out it was owned by a cyclops, he had seen his men were in great danger.
He begged the cyclops to spare his men’s lives, based on humanitarian laws. He used his quick wit and intelligence to try to persuade the Cyclops to not harm the men. He was not successful, and lost two men. Nevertheless, this did not make him any less of a hero. It demonstrated his mental strength that tested his intelligence and quick thinking rationale. Odysseus was sincere and proud of his bravery when he conquered and overcame obstacle’s along his journey. Odysseus had shown a fierce physical strength for his short stature.
For example, after Achilles was killed, the funeral games took place. Odysseus was going to wrestle against a dangerous tyrant, Aias. Because he was short in stature, it seemed to the other onlookers, that he may not make it through the game and it would be a sure loss. Yet, to their surprise and dismay he was able to beat Aias and knock him to the ground. This showed incredible physical strength and immense bravery with his cunning way to win, with bare hands. He was also very outspoken and stood for what he believed in and that was remaining faithful in his marriage to Penelope.
For example, he would not stray from his vow to her. When Odysseus crew came upon the Sirens, he was tempted beyond all measure, yet beforehand Odysseus instructed his crew to secure him in a painful bind to the mast of the ship so he would not give in to the Sirens song. He was successful and journeyed through it, resulting in his resistance of their temptations, remaining faithful to his wife and living to see her once again. It is said in our textbook that Odysseus did not want to go to Troy, at first and yet he bravely went into the battle.
He not only went bravely, when he did not want to go, he became the champion of this war and was forever known for his bravery and skill to help them win by creating the idea for the Trojan Horse. He came up with that clever strategy, that highlights his mental strength and to this day, he is well known throughout Greek literature as a hero for allowing the people access inside the city, by way of the Trojan Horse, resulting in their winning the battle. He was willing to fight for what he believed was right. He would negotiate in areas with others, as the circumstances dictate.
He would initiate his skills, strength, and bravery to accomplish all his goals. We get foretastes of Odysseus in the lliad and what his role was in the defeat of Troy, this is true. However, it is not until we read further, in the Odyssey, that his true character, comes to light. In this literary work, we see that Odysseus tries greatly and at all cost to make his way home, all the while being tortured by the lord of the sea, Poseidon. He had to overcome many other obstacle’s he encountered on his twenty-year journey. Odysseus was by no means a simple man.
He made his fair share of mistakes. Regardless, he was brave and honorable along the journey. Through it all, he remained faithful to his wife and his homeland he desperately wanted to reunite with. He eventually did and took his rightful place. Finally, leading in my opinion as a heroine in her own rite, is Penelope, Odysseus wife. It is only fair she be highlighted by the side of her husband, as she stood for twenty years, he was away from her. Penelope, is another of those mythic heroines whose splendors were found in her character and conduct rather than any other trait.
As we learned Penelope married the, king of Odysseus. Their story is that he had sought her hand in marriage and he had won her over all competitors she had, wanting to marry her. Odysseus had been a winner of love over other suitors to battle for her hand. He was already a winner and a hero to her. Yet, for all they had been through Penelope is as much of a hero as her husband. Penelope, is a hero because she waited faithfully for her husband’s return. She maintained her position at their home. She took good care and brought him honor over his household even while he was away.
Although Penelope’s whole hero journey is not told to the readers in great details, you can see the similarities about what her and Odysseus journeys may have been in a similar fashion, by what the reading implies. For example, Penelope seems to have matched her husband in the area of mental cleverness, strength, and skills. Not only in this mindset are they similar, they are both full of determination and persistence. We find that these are two qualities that Odysseus and Penelope share, if we dissect the meaning and implication of the literature written.
For example, Odysseus ultimately wants to return home to his kingdom, wife, and son. Comparatively speaking, all Penelope wants is for her husband to return home and their family to be reunited. They think alike and are on the same course plan as each other over the twenty-year journey. What shows their character as parallel, is they are both strong willed leaders. They are both loyal to those they care about and to those who work for them. They are generous in their daily actions. Penelope is very clever and wise in her planning of long erm plans, just as Odysseus had done. An example of their loyalty and being strong willed leaders is when Penelope has the opportunity to remarry, she chooses not to. She instead, believes strongly, that one day her husband will return, even though it’s been twenty years. She chooses to remain loyal. Another example of Penelope strength is when she raises her son as a single mother and simultaneously takes care of her kingdom awaiting his return. There were times, she had found some of her servants to be disloyal, yet she still remained loyal to them.
This mirrors another side by side similarity of Odysseus’s loyalty when he personally goes after his crew to save them from becoming addicted to the islands locus. Their traits of loyalty make them both heroes. Another heroic trait that Penelope has is her generosity. For example, when Odysseus was disguised as one of the beggars, Penelope had taken a distinct attentiveness in helping him. One can only envision how many different beggars came to her home on nearly a daily basis. Penelope was always generous to them by feeding them, but after they were finished being fed or tended too, by Penelope, they would graciously leave.
Not this time with Odysseus disguised as a beggar, he, was bestowed upon, special treatment, by Penelope. Instead of sending him on his way, Penelope calls for a meeting with him. Furthermore, she advises her maid to help wash the stranger and make up a bed for him with clean blankets to keep him warm. This has shown Penelope to be very generous and shows her kind nature and sweet hearted spirit. Make no mistake, however, like her husband Odysseus has, Penelope has also endured plenty of hardships.
For example, it was very hard to raise their son alone and to run the kingdome alone. It was difficult, I am sure for Penelope to fight loneliness and fight against the thought of remarriage. It is true for both of these characters’ heroic journeys had many similarities. They were leaders and they were also loyal. They were clever in their strategic planning with every turn and adversity they faced. She is a woman, yet she is strong in her leadership and the way she rules. She is strong willed and yet she shows her soft side. This is what makes Penelope such a good hero.
She is relatable to the reader and I believe this makes her be more appreciated, no matter who is reading the myths, regardless, if male or female, all can appreciate Odysseus and Penelope. Odysseus is a hero in how brave he faced the evils of the underworld, the temptations of the sirens, pleading for the lives of his crew to the cyclops, winning the battle of Troy and many other examples, as we can read and learn from. Therefore, Odysseus and Penelope, have proven, in Greek mythology, these two are heroes’ hand in hand in more ways than the hand they took, in marriage