herody Free Essays Homers Odyssey: Odysseus as Heroic Archetype :: Homer Odyssey Essays

Odysseus as  Archetype of a Hero  in  The Odyssey      Odysseus, of Homer's Odyssey, is an appropriate hero and ruler of Ithaca. He does not act irrationally but contemplates his actions and their implications. Odysseus is an appropriate hero because he embodies the values of bravery, intelligence, astuteness, and competency. Odysseus is an appropriate ruler for Ithaca by virtue of his hereditary right to kingship as well as his diplomatic skills, familiarity with his male subjects, discipline, and his impartiality and compassion. However, he is a character that does make a foolish decision. There is a rare instance when his pride supersedes his intellectual ability. Odysseus is an appropriate hero for he embodies the values of bravery, intelligence, astuteness, and competency. While he trying to return home from Ilium, numerous suitors attempt to seduce his wife, Penelope. However, when he returns Odysseus cleverly plans and carries out the demise of the evil and wasteful suitors with the help of Athena, goddess of wisdom: "Come on [Athena] weave me a plan to punish them [the suitors]." Odysseus' wisdom is admired by Athena, the goddess of that aptness. Athena is also impressed by his battle heroics and so she endeavors to provide him with succor: "And you didn't know Pallas Athenaia the daughter of Zeus himself, your faithful stand-by and guardian in all your labours!" With Athena's assistance Odysseus becomes a true hero. Odysseus is the epitome of honor and virtue for his Ithacan subjects. Odysseus' kind and stalwart leadership is revealed by Eumaios, his faithful swineherd, and Philoitios, his loyal cowherd, who have both remained loyal to him for twenty years. Eumaios praises Odysseus as "A rare fine master." "Indeed I do not mourn so much for them as for him [Odysseus], though I long to see 'em again and my native land, but I do miss Odysseus since he went away. I don't like to speak his name, man, although he is absent, but I call him 'his honour,' even when he is far away." Odysseus is a befitting king because it is his ancestral right, for he is familiar with his male subjects and understands their desires. Odysseus' equity and mercy is displayed after his triumph over the suitors, whom he executed because of their lawless behavior. However, Odysseus shows compassion by allowing Phemius, the minstrel suitor, and Medon, a herald suitor to live. "Cheer up, my son has saved your life.

Willy Loman & the American Dream

Even this dream has changed In recent times, particularly after Instead of perseverance and audacity, salesmanship enters the erroneous dream's basis. Salesmanship indicates an evident aspect of trickery: the art of selling a product no matter the usefulness of the product. Profit is ultimately the justification to making a sale (Coalman 132-133). Repercussions can be catastrophic to all people surrounded and supported by a person who is affected by a false dream. Miller proposes two thoughts on the American Dream in Death of a Salesman.He starts off saying that we all have dreams, whether they are singular or numerous, straight forward or shady. Miller impresses upon the viewer that dreams control everyone's lives, but it is when people have the wrong dreams, it slowly starts to eat away at the person following the dream and his/ her family(Obduracy 89). Throughout Death of a Salesman, Miller criticizes two aspects of the modern American Dream and the people following it by showing how they affect Wily and the people around him.Miller first finds fault with the aspect of â€Å"hitting it big† and exemplifies this throughout Willis career. Wily relies on two things to keep him going during his endless time as a road man. The first of which is hard work. Unlike some of the salesmen that Wily knows who make large commissions with very little effort and the people who buy from him that laugh at all the trouble he goes through, Wily, each year, manages Just enough to keep scraping by. Though, he hopes that one day he will hit It big.When Wily realizes that his dream Is unattainable, he focuses his emotions on Biff, who becomes victim to Wally's dream of the â€Å"get-rich-quick† Idea. (Obduracy 90-91 ) No matter what case, business success Is not achieved through being regarded as a Goodman, success Is achieved through the art of salesmanship. The contrary to this false assumption Is seen In the three most affluent men In the play. Howard, Wally's emp loyer, does not want to cope with his dream, and Instead of handing Wily the promotion that Wily believed he deserved, he lays Wily off of his sales position because of his inability to produce.Ben, Will's brother, the most affluent of all characters, obtained his wealth through the contrary thought of occupational opulence no matter if he was liked or not. Lastly, Charley, Will's neighbor, does not want to listen to his views on business success, but he does supply Wily with a job so e can somewhat continue to support Nils Tamely (Mosey ) I en only Deluge In ten play to have succeeded off his character in the business world was Dave Signalman (Mosey 16). After the premier of Death of a Salesman, critics often describe the play as a denouncement of post-depression capitalism.The blue-collar Loan family had become prey to the false chase of wealth. After 34 years of Willis struggle to hit it big, he was thrown out a failure. Willis monetary achievement should have depended on the arb itrary nature between salesmen and clients. Miller clarifies that Willis dilemma is not only the societies fault, but also his own (Dungarees 68). Miller's next denounced aspect was Willis false notion that being well liked was ultimately the goal of occupational success. Despite many situations pointing toward the contrary, Wily fails to recognize the fault in his plan.Being well liked, to Wily, means more than making money. Willis kids are caught in the midst of his dream and develop different opinions about their father's failing dream. Biff, the oldest son, recognizes his father's false hopes and is driven to make sure he does not fall down he same path(Coalman 134-135). In. Order to achieve Willis view of business success on the basis of being â€Å"well liked,† he must have strong personality traits in the essential social aspects, and these traits are not evident in Wily.The dream of business success was well in Willis mind although, â€Å"The meaning of that need ext ends beyond the accumulation of wealth, security, goods and status† Jacobson CTD. In Mosey par. 10). Many financial troubles arose for Wily, but he never sought to relinquish these debts by striving for business success by means of salesmanship. Like Dave Signalman, Wily wants to be remembered as a big name who was well liked by everyone. In the end, he imagines that numerous crowds would show up at his funeral, but only five people showed up.Unlike true business success, Wily was still caught up on being well liked. Business success, in Will's mind, comes solely from character, and it is seen when he complains to his wife Linda (Mosey par. 10), â€Å"They seem to laugh at me†¦ ‘ don't know the reason for it, but they pass me by. I'm not noticed†¦ ‘ Joke too much†¦ Elm fat. I'm very-foolish to look at, Linda†¦ Lam not reusing to advantage, maybe† (Miller 37). While Wily might represent a product from the American society, society is no mo re at fault than Wily is himself.If people are in this similar predicament, society should not be looked at for the resolution of the problem, but they, themselves, should be looked at for the solution. Will's moral principles are lacking in every aspect. His want to be well liked among his peers overrides work (Dysentery 117-118). Dysentery writes, â€Å"Like Wily, the successful American from the time of the pioneers has had grandiose visions of success, but unlike Wily he has labored to ring them to reality' (118). At the time of Willis death, he accepts, but does not understand that he has failed in life.The reason for why had been evident for years, but Wily does not accept the idea that he is a, â€Å"Poor salesman with corrupt dreams† (63). Wily goes through his career believing that he was popular among the others, but Miller conveys quite the contrary, when five people attend his funeral. Wily dies under the assumption that his life insurance money will be used to c ontinue his conformed dream (Dangerous 63 ) Dangerous writes, â€Å"In toner words, Wily Tall to make ten outside world a home because he has always presented a fake front to the outside† (64).Every person around the world who has ever experienced loneliness and removal from society, and has ever dreamt of being congruous in what seems to be a malicious world, is displayed in Wily Loan. Miller morphs both past and present and puts the viewer into Willis mind to exhibit the faults in a persons idea of a â€Å"get- rich-quick-scheme,† and the false inclination of the American Dream deprived of knowing how invalid and empty the values that clings to in the corruptible American society.Instead of owning up to his mistakes and failures by following this false notion, Wily attempts to elude responsibility by solving these complex problems with simple unattainable solutions (Central paragraph 18). Miller's criticism of the American Dream ultimately condemns the people for fal ling into the false notion of the get-rich-quick scheme and the idea of business success based on the premise of being well like. T. E. Lawrence, a British military strategist, once wrote, All men dream: but not equally.Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses f their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible (CTD in Obduracy 94) This exemplifies the corruptness of Willis dream that was brought about overnight and the realism that is underlying in everyone's dreams. Initially, it appears preposterous to question some dreams to be unattainable and egotistic, but shouldn't dreams be unattainable?

Who Is The Hero Of The Hobbit - 1313 Words

1. Who is the hero of The Hobbit? J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit or There and Back Again implements many forms of heroism; whether it be Bilbo, Bard, Gandalf, or even Thorin and his dwarves. Relating to this, there is no one hero per se but rather multiple; the heroes face both internal and external challenges. This essay will argue that the heroes of The Hobbit are Bilbo, Gandalf, Bard and Thorin respectively, in addition, this essay will also analyse the first stage of the hero’s journey structure according to Joseph Campbell regarding Bilbo. Firstly, the main protagonist Bilbo Baggins sets a benchmark to the notion of an archetype hero. Kennedy, Gioia and Bauerlein describe an archetype as â€Å"a recurring symbol, character, landscape, or†¦show more content†¦Just as Campbell notes, the figure encounters a series of dangers, in this case being the trolls, the goblins, escaping from Gollum and going into Smaug’s lair. With assistance from Gandalf the group is saved from the goblins; howe ver, the dwarves and Bilbo are separated. The interaction between Gollum and Bilbo demonstrates a quality trait exhibited by a hero and, as a result, Bilbo’s actions are seen to outweigh his individual characteristics. Simultaneously, Bilbo displays wisdom in answering Gollum’s riddles and in turn exhibits cunning; â€Å"Bilbo seeing what had happened and having nothing better to ask stuck to his question† (74). In the same way, Bilbo’s adventure is seen according to Pearce as a â€Å"pilgrimage of grace in which he grows up† (3). Therefore, Bilbo’s main goal of his adventure according to Pearce is to eliminate evil amongst themselves (3); thus, identifying an internal quest. Particularly after Smaug’s death, the corruption of the gold leads the dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield to suffer from dragon sickness; â€Å"the obsessive possessiveness of dragons† (Pearce 83). The actions of Bilbo and internal qualities such as wisdom an d cunning thus concludes that he is a hero in The Hobbit, however, other characters exhibit heroic qualities. Gandalf henceforth can also be depicted as the hero of the story, heroism therefore can be determined by actions. Moreover, his role as theShow MoreRelatedThe Lord Of The Rings Series845 Words   |  4 Pagesheroism is a prominent theme throughout. There is not one sole hero. Tolkien doesn’t present the books with just one hero, but a combined effort of many different heroes. He could have easily made the story just about Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo, or Sam A hero is a person who overcomes adversity to achieve a quest that changes his society for good in the dramatic way. In classic literature a hero is usually portrayed as an epic hero. The epic hero is usually male, royal, starts at a position of calm stasisRead MoreThe Heros Journey : Stages Of The Heros Journey Archetype988 Words   |  4 Pageshill and over the hills my paths led. And through the air, I am he that walks unseen’† (The Hobbit). When the dragon Smaug asks Bilbo of his identity, our hero speaks to him in riddles as to not give away who he is. Bilbo has snuck into Smaug’s lair, using a magical ring to become invisible. This part of his adventure is called the â€Å"Ordeal,† one of the twelve stages in the Hero’s Journey Archetype. The Hobbit, an animated film directed by Rankin and Bass, fits the Hero’s Journey Archetype by followingRead MoreGandalf as the Guide Archetype1222 Words   |  5 Pagesform; prototype. J.R.R Tolkiens The Hobbit is a story of growth that centers on Bilbo Baggins a Hobbit who is perfectly happy in his Hobbit hole eating, drinking and smoking. Everything in Bilbo’s life is as he likes it, until the day that Gandalf the Grey strolls into his life and although Bilbo doesnt know it Gandalf is his Guide. The Archetype of The Guide points the hero in the direction he is destined to go. Gandalf is the one who chooses Bilbo as the 14th and luckiest memberRead MoreAnalysis Of Bilbo s Hobbit 1712 Words   |  7 PagesAfter beginning his adventure, Bilbo faces one of his most difficult challenges in The Hobbit when Bilbo Baggins faces the Inmost cave stage he fights with Gollum in the cave. Holmes describes the Inmost Cave as â€Å"the abyss. This is the greatest challenge that faces the hero† (Holmes). This stage is literally in a dark cave, one that provides a morally challenging and terrifying experience for Bilbo. In the cave, he deals with the Gollum and finds the Ring, changing his character forever. Only onceRead MoreThe Hero Of The Hobbit1528 Words   |  7 Pageswith the hero being introduced in their ordinary world. 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A little friendly, good-natured, brilliant hobbit. To putRead MoreA Comparison Of The Hobbit And The Story Of Sigurd1400 Words   |  6 PagesAs the English poet Robert Graves said â€Å"One gets to the heart of the matter by a series of experiences in the same pattern, but in different colors. This quote is exemplified in the stories of The Hobbit and â€Å"The Story of Sigurd† when they have action and use the same hero’s journey pattern to create a great story. Both authors of the stories use strong and resilient characters in their stories to take down the monsters. In this case, there are two heroes taking down a greedy dragon. Based on theRead MoreThe Tolkien s The Hobbit1246 Words   |  5 PagesThe events associated with J.R.R Tolkien’s book The Hobbit resembles a hero’s quest journey, step by step until the final stage. Bilbo Baggins is the main character in this book and his life sonorously fits into in a typical hero quest journey. The three primary components of Bilbo’s quest are, the call to adventure, tests, allies and enemies, and the reward. In the book The Hobbit, Bilbo’s life is very plain and simple until he embarks on a marvelous journey with thirteen dwarfs and the wizard GandalfRead MoreAnalysis Of Bilbo Baggins s The Hobbit 1480 Words   |  6 PagesThe word â€Å"hero,† might conjure an image of somebody dressed in shining armour holding a sword and slaying the terrible dragon guarding a hoard of gold. In The Hobbit, there is indeed a heinous dragon guarding a hoard of treasure, and a hero who embarks on a journey to defeat the dragon and reclaim his stolen birthright. However, there is not just one hero, but two: Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who plays the role of the non-traditional hero, and Thorin Oakenshield, a strong-minded dwarf who representsRead MoreThe Unexpected Epic Of Bilbo Baggins s The Odyssey 1297 Words   |  6 PagesEpic Hero Praised for his or her brave deeds and noble qualities, a hero has distinguished courage and ability. An epic hero is a unique type of hero who is often depicted in an epic poem. Homer initiated the concept of an epic hero in the person of Odysseus in the epic poem The Odyssey. Through his works and other author s works, the traits of an epic hero emerge. An epic hero embodies certain traits or characteristics; a strong love for their people, courage and being humble. The hero also