Character Analysis

Odysseus is a Greek King that has been trying for 10 years to reach his home in Ithaca after fighting in the battle of Troy. Despite his trials and tribulations, he is resolved and dedicated in attaining his goal to be reunited with his wife and family.  In epic poem The Odyssey, Homer, portrays Odysseus as handsome, with a god-like appearance, having the great strength and power of a warrior.

“I bound them in threes. Each middle sheep carried a man underneath, protected by the two on either side; three sheep to a man. As for me, there was a ram, the best in the flock. I grabbed his back and curled up beneath his shaggy belly. There I lay, hands twined into the marvelous wool, hanging on for dear life and so, muffling our groans, we waited for dawn.” OD IX, 427-434

“He was pitched clear of the raft and shivered it timbers. The rudder flew from his hands, the mast cracked in two under the force of the hurricane winds and the yard arm and sail hove into the sea. He was under a long time, unable to surface from the heaving swell of the monstrous wave, weighed down by the clothes Calypso gave him. At last he came up, spitting out saltwater…for all his distress, though, he remembered his raft…" OD V, 315-326

“Odysseus picked up the arrow from the table and laid it upon the bridge of the bow, and still in his chair, drew the bowstring and the notched arrow back. He took aim and let fly, and thebronze-tipped arrow passed clean through the holes of all twelve axeheads fromfirst to last. “ OD XXII, 444-450.

“Remember him, a godly king as kind as a father” Od II, 254

“ You’re a hard man, Odysseus, stronger than other men, and you never wear out, a real iron-man, who won’t allow his crew, dead tired from rowing and lack of sleep,to set on shore, where we might make a meal we could enjoy. No you just order us to wander on through the swift darkness, over the misty deep, and be driven away from this island.“ OD XII, 286-296.

“I went off by myself up the island to pray to the gods to show me the way.” OD XII, 341-342

In the beginning of the epic poem, King Gilgamesh is a powerful and proud leader whose primary concern is being forever remembered by building monumental buildings and towers in his city, Uruk.  He is arrogant with no regard for the citizens. Later in the poem and when his friend Enkidu dies, he grieves and becomes concern about his own mortality.  The first known author of this poem, Sin-leqi-unninni, portrays Gilgamesh as beautiful, strong, the most handsome of men and royal in appearance.

“ I am Gilgamesh, who killed theguardian, who seized and killed the bull that came down from heaven, Who felledHumbaba who dwelt in the forest of cedars, who killed lions in the mountainpasses.” Tablet X, 22-25

Who is the handsomest of young men? Who is the most glorious of males? Gilgamesh is the handsomest of young men? Gilgamesh is the most glorious of males! Tablet VII, 164-166

“I was frightened. I have grown afraid of death, so I roam the steppe.” Tablet X.53-54“Shall I not die too? Am I not like Enkidu? Oh woe has entered my vitals! I have grown afraid of death, so I roam the steppe." Tablet IX, 3-5

“And, as for me, now that you are dead, I will let my hair grow matted. I will put on a lion skin and roam the steppe.” Tablet IX, 70-71 “Enkidu, as your father, your mother,I weep for you bitterly.” Tablet VII, 33-34 “I am heartsick for my friend.  What are you saying, tavern keeper, I am heart sick for Enkidu!” Tablet X, 84-86“Six days and seven nights I wept for him, I would not give him up for burial, until a worm fell out of his nose,I was frightened, I have grown afraid of death, so I roam the steppe. Table X, 190-195

“You created this headstrong wild bull in ram parted Uruk. The onslaught of his weapons has no equal. His teammates stand forth his game stick. He is harrying the your men of Uruk beyond reason. Gilgamesh leaves no son to his father! Day and night he rampages fiercely. This is the shepard of ramparted Uruk. This is the people’s shepard. Bold, superb, accomplished and mature! Gilgamesh leaves no girl to her mother.” Tablet 1, 70-79 

Gilgamesh is the protagonist as is plainly seen by the title of the epic poem. In Tablet one the scene is set and Gilgamesh is announced as "he knew his ways, was wise in all things" as a leader. It also shadows what his strengths, weaknesses and challenges will be as the main character throughout the poem.

In the beginning Gilgamesh thinks only of himself and building lasting monuments and events that will bring him great fame. When he is deeply affected by the loss of his friend Enkidu, he changes and begins to seek the answer to mortality.

Gilgamesh's life centers around his world as a King and a judge. He is unconcerned about his actions and thoughtless when it comes to his decisions on the treatment of his citizens. With the introduction of Enkidu, Gilgamesh began to have dreams of the future that disturb him. When Enkidu dies, he becomes remorseful. He is suddenly frightened and aware of his mortality. This changes him into discerning his ways and he becomes a seeker of immortality.

Odysseus is the a protagonist in this epic poem. Book 1 sets Odysseus as the main character by speaking of his past and telling the tale of the "wanderer, blown off course time and again after he plundered Troy's sacred heights." The poem continues to the end with a theme of Odysseus making his way and getting home to Ithaca.

Towards the middle of the epic he becomes a better person by losing his pride.

Odysseus' dynamic change spreads throughout the epic poem as he is overcome by trials and tribulations. Eventually, he starts to look inward and realizes what pride has cost him. He changes from prideful to more appreciative and humble. There are several incidents that show this by Odysseus when speaks as well as when he sheds tears.