Odyssey :: essays research papers

"Furthermore, we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time here gone before us." (p.1 A HeroesAdventure). This quote from Joseph Campbell tells you the tenderness of a hero. Odysseus might be a hero in the book butTelemachus was the one who went through the real journey.Campbell defines a hero one as "who has found or done something beyond the normal range of achievement and experience. Ahero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." (p.1 A Heroes Adventure) Now if you considerthe fact that Odysseus was put in this series of predicaments but outside forces that would consider him a hero, wouldnt you? But,he did not believe in or accept those gods as power above beyond himself. Now if he does not believe as the gods as a higherpower so he is not a hero because Campbell specifically states that "a hero is one who accomplishes something bigger than onesself." If Odysseus does not believe that the go ds are a higher power, than he did not accomplish something above and beyond anabnormal adventure by defeating the spite of Poseidon.Campbell defines a hero by the type of adventure as well. " intimately there are two types of deed. One is the physical deed, in whichthe hero performs a courageous act in battle or saves a life. The other kind is the spiritual deed, in which the hero learns toexperience the supernormal range of human spiritual life and then comes back with a message." p.1(A Heroes Adventure) So thisdoes produce that Odysseus is a hero to some degree, but who is the real hero? Telemachus is the real hero. He went both through thephysical journey searching for Odysseus and the spiritual journey. He went on the spiritual journey of becoming a man. Facing thehardships of keeping his mother safe from freeloaders and somewhat of keeping a kingdom in golf-club until the return of his father.With juggled his period of adolescents, he showed that he had the strength not in his muscles because one on one he would getbeaten badly, but in his heart to overcome his hardships to the best of his ability.Campbell yet again flat out says that Telemachus is a hero on page 129, "Odysseus son Telemachus was told by Athena, "Go scratchyour father."That father quest is a major hero adventure for young people.