Revelations and transformations are the most important part of the Hero’s Journey. Without it, there’s no lesson learned or progress made. In Count of Monte Cristo, The Odyssey, and The Alchemist, the three heroes have many psychological, behavioral, and physical transformations. They all have different experiences, but learn something and change in the end. Edmond Dantes, Odysseus, and Santiago had profound revelations and transformations in their journeys. Edmond Dantes had a less profound transformation in his hero’s journey. He is very focused on the revenge of his best friend, who stole his wonderful life from him and caused Dantes to be sent to a horrible prison and be beaten for years. “Don’t rob me of my hate- its all I have”, Edmond …show more content…
By killing all of the suitors, he reclaimed the life that was stolen from him, and reinstituted himself as King of Ithaca. Besides getting his revenge, Odysseus does have some physiological and behavioral transformations. While he was away from his life as king with his beautiful wife, newborn child, and peaceful lifestyle, he learned to appreciate his fortinality. “By nights he would lie beside her, of necessity, in the hollow caerns, against his will, by one who was willing, but all the days he would sit upon the rocks, at the seaside, breaking his heart in tears and lamentation and sorrow as weeping tears he looked out over the barren water.” (Homer Book 5 154-158), Odysseus longs for his life back home his entire journey. He also learns to be patient. When Odysseus returned to Ithaca, he could’ve very easily charged into his house and killed all the suitors, and probably would’ve died doing so. Instead, he thoughtfully planned out his revenge and executes it perfectly. Finally, during his 20 year adventure, Odysseus convinces himself, and proclaims, that he doesn 't need the gods to succeed. He overcomes his hubris and is humbled, and makes peace with the …show more content…
Throughout his journey, he unearths the truths of life, discovers his meaning of living, and what connects life all together. In the grand scheme of things, psychological changes are much more valuable than physical changes, and Santiago went from a shepherd boy with no view of the future to a man knowledgeable of the hidden truths all around us. Nevertheless, our three heroes are different men now than from when they began their
Odysseus is able to surpass the appeal of all of these obstacles and return to his homeland Ithaca out of loyalty to his home and family which proves that a strong will and
The physical journey, filled with malicious obstacles, Odysseus endures on his journey home to Ithaca is symbolic of a much greater development, both mentally and emotionally, which reinforces his identity. In the Odyssey, Homer has a knack to describe each character with profound detail. Odysseus especially has innumerable characteristics that describe his personality. However, his endeavor and struggle miraculously helps him to discover a new identity. Odysseus’s true identity, Dimock, too, undoubtedly believes that Odysseus’s journey back is a road to establish his identity.
The journey of the hero is a long and arduous one, but not all journeys are that of the hero. One novel that is an example of a hero’s journey is The Odyssey by Homer. A novel that is an example of a journey that is very far from a hero’s is Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. The protagonists of these stories may seem different at a glance, but upon further inspection there are many similarities between not only the characters, but also their stories. Holden Caulfield and Odysseus are similar yet different in their personalities, the fact that they both have to deal with death, face intense struggles, become more mature, and go on a journey to change themselves.
For years, people have viewed Odysseus as a lousy hero with many faults and mistakes. His flaws include his arrogance, his treatment to his crew, and his lack of faith to the gods and his family. While initially reading the Odyssey, these reasons are obvious, but once reading the whole epic I was able to see through his flaws which actually led him home. Although Odysseus tripped on many occasions, he stood up and protected his men, escaped many monsters and immortals, and made wise and clever decisions. Odysseus went through a long, rough adventure and survived the entire voyage while managing to keep his family intact.
All through The Odyssey, the characters develop in a certain way that interchanges the outcome of the book. Odysseus is able to develop knowledge and wisdom to deal with his men during the battle and the suitors who were frustrating his wife. In addition, he came back home as a hero after the Trojan War. Telemachus developed into a mature man who could deal with any problem in his father’s absence. However, based on the story, it is evident that, Telemachus demonstrates a great change basing upon the times the characters were away from Ithaca.
Odysseus has grown from the man he was before, as now he finds comfort and safety in obeying the gods when in the past he did not consider their wishes. Odysseus has only returned due to Athena and he has recognized that and his compliance is founded in his appreciation and respect for her. Odysseus is now a hero due to the obedience he now has to the gods, founded in a sense of humility. Through Odysseus’ experiences on his journey, he learns the value of obedience and dangers of arrogance and ultimately, become a hero through the lessons learned.
He also loses many loyal people whether it was leaving them back in Ithaca or losing them through the journey, like Elpenor. While coming back from Troy, Odysseus also makes many enemies and angers the gods. One tough challenge for
He does not only change mentally, but he also changes physically and emotionally. In the beginning of the play, Odysseus is a very brave and prideful man, but as the numerous events occur he changes. He is an impulsive man because he thinks that he doesn’t need the gods, and he is very prideful because he boasts on his achievement, and he also does not think about what he says because he is reckless. While being stuck on Calypso’s island, Odysseus has seven entire years to think about the many things that he could have or has done. When Odysseus has to do deal with the curse that Poseidon put on him, he realizes that it is better to swallow your pride instead of
Throughout books 21-22 of the Odyssey, Odysseus changes by becoming more determined. In the beginning of book 21, Odysseus comes up with plan on how to get Penelope back. The plan seemed quite difficult, almost impossible, but Odysseus was determined to make it happen. “...when the time comes, those gentlemen, to a man, will be dead against giving me bow or quiver.” (21.95-96).
Odysseus eventually learns that wisdom comes from long thought, suffering, and experience. As a result
In the book called The Odyssey by Homer, it mainly follows the story of a king of a village called Ithaca, hundreds of years ago-This man, is named Odysseus. Odysseus goes through many adventures after the victory of the Trojan War. However, this is where Odysseus, is not being as strong as a great war hero and a king as he should be. Although Odysseus was seen as a very strong person, physically and mentally, he lacks the appreciation and the care of his crew throughout the trials and didn’t think through many of his actions thoroughly and how they would affect not only his crew but people around him.
Naturally, he has much to be proud of: his sexy and loyal wife, his bravery, and his victorious battles from the Trojan War and beyond. However, his arrogance creates a weakness in his character that negatively impacts himself and the people around him. The evolution in Odysseus’s personality turns him from an arrogant flaunter to a humble man, and demonstrates that the strifes he encounters during his journey home is not simply new experiences, but also his beginning of a profound revelation. Starting from the middle of the mountain, Odysseus’s new transformation will allow him to soar to the top with eagle
Santiago's journey. In the beginning of his journey to the pyramids, he realizes he is going to need to find a guide, because he is a simple shepherd who knows little to nothing about the pyramids. Even at this point he could just say “ I am a shepherd and I know nothing about the pyramids, why try”, but decides to follow his dream
Ultimately Santiago has developed his identity through the soul of the world and alchemy and has achieved his personal legend
Odysseus has clearly learned not to be impulsive in his decision-making from his past errors, for example on the island of the Laestrygonians and that of the Cyclops, his bad decision making cost many of his men their lives. This decision to wait and contemplate where he is and think about his decision is very smart because at his palace, there is a “world of pain” (11.132). If he ran home, he might have been killed by the suitors. This question shows that after suffering so much, he finally has learned patience. In response to this, and his whole speech, Athena praises him and says he is “so winning” and he is “worldly-wise” (13.377,77).