Is Odysseus the Kind of Hero We Want in Modern Times?

Odysseus is so revered by Homer in The Odyssey that he always is complimenting him on his smarts and even going to the extent calling him "godlike". Even though Odysseus lies and cheats, his bravery and perseverance overshadow all of his wrongdoings and make him a hero our modern society should embrace. Odysseus' good values are rare to find in someone nowadays, and when used together can allow someone to accomplish amazing things and provide a good example for fellow citizens. When Odysseus ventures into Polyphemus' cave, he is courageous enough to be able to think straight as he sees two of his men eaten alive in front of him. Even after witnessing that terrible ordeal, he comes up with an ingenious plan and pierces the only eye of the cyclops, effectively blinding him and allowing for escape. Only the combination of the intense bravery and efficient planning of Odysseus could have allowed for that outcome. In our current society, it is hard to find someone who has real courage enough to face something that terrible. The amount of obstacles that Odysseus had to go through after fighting a 10 year war are amazing in themselves. What is even more awe-inspiring is that he has the perseverance to  battle a cyclops, escape an evil witch, journey to the underworld, and many things more. He is tempted many times, with the option to stay and labor no more, but his never dying spirit urges him on. In these contemporary times, it is extremely commonplace to give up on something if it doesn't go right the first time, or you think it is impossible when you first try it. People would be much more successful at everything they attempt in life if they had the undying perseverance of Odysseus.

The character of Odysseus leis and cheats constantly throughout The Odyssey, but these flaws are miniscule when you compare them to his attributes. Every human has certain faults to them, and when you are gone from home for decades then certain longings become unbearable. When Odysseus cheats with Calypso and the witch Circe, it seems to the reader that he is being unfaithful to his wife Penelope when she is being faithful to him. In modern times, cheating on ones wife is one of the most horrid things a man can do, so people from this era see that as a terrible trait. Back then, it was not viewed bad at all to cheat on your wife, because your wife was considered to be your property. This particular flaw is still a bad one, but it is blown out of proportion in our society compared to ancient times, and when Odysseus cheated, it was not considered bad. The deceitful art of lying has been around since man could speak. Odysseus used this art as part of his cunning, and he used it well. He lies many times throughout the book, and one in particular is when he pretends to be a beggar in front of his wife, so that he can keep his identity a secret. When someone is in the situation he is in, lying stops becoming a deceiving flaw and starts becoming a way of survival. He has to lie in order to be able to surprise the suitors and permanently remove them from his house. It is only because of his crafty lies that he is able to survive so many perils over his decades long journey. The values of courage and perseverance are shrinking from society and would be greatly valued if someone were to posses them. Cheating is considered terrible these days, but back then it was just another normal example of extreme patriarchalism, and when you lie to stay alive it becomes a need instead of an untrustworthy flaw. Odysseus should be a hero for modern times because the context of his flaws differs from ancient times to now, and his positive attributes would be valued in the extreme today and gave him much glory in ancient times.