Odysseus and Western Ideology

[Sarah A]

I find many similarities between Odysseus and other twentieth century
American heroes- especially the cowboy. Whether the Hollywood image of
a cowboy is factual or not, I see the qualities valued by Western
society, independence, self-reliance, and fortitude, embodied in
Odysseus.

I think that is why he is so admired even though he was arguably a
lousy ship captain. Odysseus did whatever he had to do to get what he
wanted. We look past the facts that he abandons men on strange
islands, allows them to get so drunk they fall off a roof, and
sacrifices six of them to save the rest of the crew.

If the epic were told through anyone else's voice, Odysseus would
undoubtedly be the antagonist. He would have been the uncontrollable
captain who will sacrifice his loyal crew for his own sake. Since it
is in Odysseus' point of view, the reader is told that the crew dies
through their own fault.

Odysseus is flawed which makes him even more likable to a Western
audience. When I read the epic, I see a man who overcomes trials and
prevails instead of one who exploits his comrades for his own gain.