A Comparison of Oedipus and Odysseus Essay - 1901 Words

Similarities Between Oedipus and Odyssues Since the beginning of time epic tales have been passed on from generation to generation as a form of entertainment. Even though each epic is different in its plot, every epic has certain features in common. The prime example of their similarities is their main character, the hero of the epic. The heros behavior changes from the beginning to the end of the tale. Since the plot revolves around the epic hero, in most cases, they are made to seem God-like, or larger then life, in their capabilities and strengths. The hero constantly has to conquer major obstacles to achieve their initial and final goal. Usually the hero is tremendously suspicious of other characters intensions.†¦show more content†¦Oedipus and Odysseus are both considered heroes. They are extremely similar in their actions as well as their personalities. For example, Oedipus and Odysseus are both extremely suspicious of others for fear of their own lives. Their suspicious nature is not unprovoked. W hen Odysseus visits Hades, Agamemnon tells him, Never be too trustful even of your wife, nor show her all that is in your mind (Homer 172). Agamemnon had lost his life by the hand of his own wife, Clytemnestra. In the Greek story, Agamemnon, written by Aeschylus, after Clytemnestra murders Agamemnon she says, †¦I feel no shame†¦for me, I have had long enough to prepare this wrestle victory, it has come at last (Aeschylus 44). Clytemnestra was happy that her premeditated murder of her husband succeeded. Agamemnon does not want Odysseus to face the same consequences he faced. Odysseus is following this advice even before Agamemnon gave it to him. Odysseus never told a stranger who he really was. He always made up a story of where he was from and who is. Then he would bring up the name Odysseus to see what they really thought of him. He did not want to put himself in danger if the person did not like him. When he returns to Ithaca he also did this to his wife, Penelope. Athena turned him into a beggar. Penelope approached him in this form and asked about her distant husband. When Odysseus said, He is still alive, a tear fell downShow MoreRelatedComparison Of Odysseus In The Odyssey And Oedipus The King819 Words   |  4 Pagesnever do we touch on intelligence. Is it a trait amongst all hero’s? No, however two stand out due to their cleverness. Odysseus from Homers’ the Odyssey and Oedipus from Oedipus the King. Now these two share the fact that they are intelligent, however this shows in different ways; Odysseus has a more interpersonal sense of intelligence and Oedipus’s whit is more linguistic. Odysseus ends up in a parlous predicament. 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