Essay: Heroes in literature

The significance of being a hero in real life or in literature are certain elements of their characters such as a belief in certain moral ideals, a voluntary act of concern for someone else knowing there’s a risk to themselves without regard and not seeking a reward for this risk, that bring out the qualities that allows those around them to follow faithfully; without doubt or question. Beowulf and Odysseus, a hero from Homer’s The Odyssey both have their own individual paths that they have taken in their quests, while Beowulf begins the building of his reputation for his life, Odysseus begins his long journey back home to his family; during these quests they are able to establish to those around them through their acts the establishment of their hero status.
“Odysseus, also known by the Latin name Ulysses, was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey” (Encyclopedia Britannica). “Beowulf is an epic poem from Old English relating to the hero exploits of Beowulf and his battles. It is set in the pagan world of sixth-century Scandinavia, but it also contains echoes of Christian tradition” (The British Library). “These legendary heroes in literary terms exist, as they are celebrated characters in ancient legends and are men beyond ordinary skill, strength and courage” (Encyclopedia Britannica).
The comparison between Beowulf and Odysseus’s leadership and the elements of their characters will show that they were able to develop loyalty from those around them during their life that eventually made them heroes. Odysseus’s defining character qualities is that he has physical strength, bravery, confidence, endurance and loyalty along with being intellectually sharp, while lacking no thirst for the glory of any battle he encounters. “The loyalty he has is not just for his men, but also for his wife and his household, he left behind many years prior” (E.W.L.  2.13). While he has the ability to be a quick thinker and is resourceful which helps him in many situations, he also uses this same ability and some shrewdness to manipulate, such as when Calypso would not let him go, so he manipulated in his best interests only, a planned act of pity to get what he needed and convince those around him to his needs without regard for any future consequences. Even with the accomplishments he has completed in his adventures in eventually establishing himself; as an exceptionally hero, he does has some flaws that include overconfidence and a lackadaisical concern at times  that make him a mortal hero having human like flaws.  These acts do test his mortality, but also grows his hero status. “Odysseus at times is notoriously annoying the Gods who often interfere in the life of mortals, as when he specifically provokes Poseidon, but still understands that they control factors of his life; he does have a special protector in Athena, but more often than not, mortals matter little to them” (Dobel 219).
Beowulf’s has many defining character qualities that establish him as a warrior and later as a leader amongst his men, these include his fighting strength and bravery in battle. He is honorable and skillful in his tasks, but also has a hint of arrogance on the battlefield. “He is of good heart and has a gentleness about him also being very generous to those who have served him providing them with gifts over the years for their service to him; though in the end they abandoned him in his greatest moment of need” (Hall X).  “He takes pride in his actions on the battlefield, even when he helps to rid the world of God’s enemies” (Bodek 131). “Beowulf on the advice of Hrothgar, in response to an advice laden-sermon, should focus on the old traditional ways that will allow him to have a good life, which Beowulf commits to this path” (Bodek 132). “While he is shown to be a hero and a great king, he is also an agent of God, who has a clear conscience and upon his death his soul flees “to its destined place among the steadfast ones””       (Bradley Cambridge Quarterly 30.1 85).  “Beowulf is an ideal combination of brawn and brains, with his strength and courage and the agility and subtlety of his mind, providing him with wisdom beyond his young years” (E.W.L.  5.2)
In Odysseus’s journey home he is able to establish loyalty to those around him in his quests. “When Odysseus arrived with his men in the Lotus Eaters land, several become intoxicated from the eating of a lotus plant. This intoxication caused them to lose any thoughts of returning home. This is where Odysseus decides his loyalty to his men is very important and persuades them to leave the island and board the ships to home” (Dobel 221). The arrogance along with his pride can be concerning when it begins to show in his decision making that eventually causes harm to those around him.  This same bravado of arrogance can be another detractor of his character when provoking an enemy, as in the case of Polyphemus; “after inducing Polyphemus to get drunk, Odysseus stabs the Cyclops in the eye. When other Cyclopes ask Polyphemus if he is in trouble, he screams, “Nobody’s killing me,” because Odysseus has informed Polyphemus that his name is “Nobody.” He and his men escape by tying themselves to the underbelly of sheep. Sailing away, Odysseus proudly shouts to Polyphemus, “Say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye”. The boast reaches Polyphemus’ father Poseidon,’ god of the sea, who pursues Odysseus with implacable hatred” (Dobel 219). “This act would later cause Odysseus and his men, who would eventually perish, to experience extreme suffering as a result of this arrogant act. His men eventually mutiny after opening a bag of winds provided to them by King Aeolus, which lands them in the land of the Laestrygonians. The Laestrygonians destroy all, but one ship that lands at the island of Circe” (Dobel 221). “Upon arriving at the island of Aeaea, Odysseus’ men are turned into swine by Circe. So in an effort to gain the true return of his trusted men, he asks Circe, what is needed of him to have this done where she insists on him eating and drinking with her. When Odysseus and the last of men arrive at the Island of the Sun, Odysseus struggles to survive and bring home his men. He could not save them, as hard as he tried, the fools destroyed by their own recklessness when they ate the oxen of Hyperion, who snuffed out their lives” (E.W.L 2.13). “Odysseus shows his true care for his men when he discovers his comrade Elpenor had fallen to his death from a roof and returns to Aeaea to get his body so that he can give him a proper burial. Upon his return to Ithaca with the assistance of Athena, he disguises himself so as to blend in better, while he assesses what he needs to do to take back his home.  “Odysseus gives Eumaeus and Philoeteus a final test to convince himself of their true loyalty, even though he has known of their love of him.  In this test to see whether or not he can count on them to help him complete his task of retaking him home back he asks them several questions. They not knowing his identity at this time are asked what manner of men would you be to stand by Odysseus, if some god should bring him back here all of a sudden? Say which you are disposed to do–to side with the suitors, or with Odysseus? Once he receives an answer that is favorable to him is when he is able to really trust them and show his true self to his loyal staff” (EWL 2014). “While planning his revenge, Odysseus’s wife Penelope sets up a challenge; whoever can string Odysseus bow and shoot ten axe heads can have her hand in marriage. The suitors fail at the challenge and Odysseus dressed, as a beggar strings the bow and subsequently along with his son, Telemachus slaughters the suitors” (Dobel 222).
Like Odysseus, Beowulf journeys through life we see the growth of his character in confidence and courageousness in each endeavor he takes up that starts the building of his reputation, for Beowulf any battle that he has been involved with becomes not just about skill when battling the opponent, but about good versus evil. “Beowulf sets off to assist the Danes against Grendel, a monster that has terrorized them for twelve years” (Hall 7). “He has chosen fourteen companions based on their trustworthiness” (Hall 7), to accompany him in this quest to rid the Danes of this nuisance. “When he battles Grendel, he does so on his own and does not make use of weapons” (Hall 7); expect for his strength. “After the defeat of Grendel, he must battle Grendel’s mother and defeats her also and when he declares to Hrothgar that his victory would have been impossible, save for the grace of God. He expressed in doing this work. Beowulf has purged the kingdom of any monsters where upon he graciously lavished with gifts” (Bodek 130). Upon his return home, Beowulf is considered a hero by those around him and his people, stemming from the growth of his reputation over time and would eventually help him become King. The end of his reign is sealed when he has to battle a dragon and in this battle both, Beowulf and the dragon are killed while those men tasked to be with him to help, retreat in dishonor. “The only positive of this encounter in the last minute is the only one to stay behind is the emergence of Wiglaf, who is appointed and invested by the dying Beowulf to be his successor, as it will be soon known that there is no lord or hero to rally a defense against those massing at their borders soon” (Bradley Cambridge Quarterly 85).  In an honor of their grief and their honor and loyalty to Beowulf a memorial is built, as a reminder of Beowulf’s prowess in battle (E.W.L. 5.7/5.8).
The comparison of Odysseus versus Beowulf begins with Odysseus’s character that throughout this epic poem has to grow up more in that some of his decisions making skills were lacking. This eventually caused him and those around him to suffer the consequences of those actions; even death.  While he was successful in finally taking back his home and reuniting with his wife and son and reclaiming his throne it came at a cost. “Odysseus portrays the qualities of mortal leadership- leadership that must be ethical even though exercised in an imperfect world where decisions may literally mean life and death” (Dobel 215). Beowulf’s character in this epic poem doesn’t need to grow, as Beowulf’s skill’s and battlefield courage remain the same till the end, even if he makes things harder for himself.
The presence of leaders like those of Odysseus and Beowulf in situations, allows people to achieve things they may not have on their own. “This type of leadership is the foundation of character, judgment and leadership in a mortal world, if the leader failed; the community died” (Dobel 217). In the end, a leader or hero will from an honor code of their own react to any misdeed to those around them without regard for their own lives. This honor they create leaves an impression on those saved from any situation forever. This is how hero’s achieve the status they do; Odysseus and Beowulf were able achieve this status through their acts of leadership and developed loyalty to them, while Beowulf began the building of his reputation, Odysseus began his long journey back home.