Classifying the main characters of The Iliad and The Odyssey as heroes may be a daunting task. Heroes satisfy a wide variety personal preferences and cultures therefore creating difficulty in determining who the true hero is. However, most heroes share many of the same trends such as positive morals, admirable ideals, or some metaphysical abilities. With these god-like characteristics they are sent off on a mission or quest where they must face a challenge or some test. Agamemnon, Hector, Achilles, and Odysseus are to be put to the test once again to reveal who is the greatest hero.
Agamemnon, king of Argos, fights boldly for his brother’s wife. However, he is far from reasonable and tends to make foolish decisions. His selfish actions brought plague to Greek armies and his hostility towards Achilles could have changed the outcome of the Trojan War. He acted like a coward when Achilles
Odysseus, the great wanderer is like any normal human but the gods seems to pick and choose his destiny. He is not portrayed as your typical hero. He is illustrated as civilized man with average family values and descent morals. Fighting and conquering was not his forte instead he would use tricks and his craftiness to avoid any complications. Odysseus does make some minor mistakes such as taking vacations on islands rather than getting home although, it is difficult to find him guilty. Odysseus is a hero because he finishes his journey and recovers his home without much unnecessary damage.
Achilles is the hero of the Trojan War. He is more of a flashy super hero type unlike the other heroes mentioned. He is super powerful and almost indestructible although his attitude is ruthless and his rage is uncontrollable. These selfish and impulsive actions lead him toward regret and grief. For i
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