Nathaniel Wolsky

Mrs. Parrott
English 1H; Period 3
19 March 2015

What Makes a Hero

Most people think that heroes are people with supernatural powers and fear nothing. Well
thats not always true, because not everyone can have superpowers. Some real characteristics of
a hero are cleverness, loyalty and bravery. These traits can be found in the Odyssey, Oedipus
Rex and real life.

Every hero needs to be loyal to something or someone. In Oedipus Rex when Oedipus
is addressing the children, he says only too well. I know you are all sick, yet there is not one of
you, sick though you are, that is sick as myself (Sophocles 68-70). This means that Oedipus is
telling his people that he relizes how sick they are. This matters because it shows that he is
willing to stick by them no matter what.In the Odyssey, when Odesseus is teling the king who
he is, he says Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his
parents?(Homer 144-145). This means that Odysseus is questioning why he should be unloyal.
This matters because its showing that he is still loyal to his roots. In real life men and women
overseas show loyalty everyday by fighting for our side. This means that instead of them fighting
for the enemy, they are risking their lives for our country. This matters because if they started
fighting for the other side, they could give away tactics and key locations. As you can see
bravery isnt just shown in stories, its also in real life. A hero must also be brave.

A hero can not be scared, he must face his fears head on. In Oedipus Rex, when he is
talking to the man who witnessed Oedipus kill his father. He states, And I of frightful hearing.
But I must hear (Sophocles 1342). This means the Oedipus is braving up to the truth. This
matters because its showing that everything you brave up to is not a creature or a person. In the
scene right before Odysseus defeats the Cyclops, in the Odyssey, he says lugging it near the
Cyclops as more than natural force nerved them, straight forward they sprinted, lifted it, and
rimmed it deep in his crater eye (Homer 375-378). This means that Odysseus is stabbing the
Cyclops in the eye so he can escape with his friends. This matters because its showing that the
bravery shown by Odysseus against the Cyclops, who could easily kill him. Everyday
firefighters and policemen show bravery by risking their lives. This means that they go out of
their way to make sure we live to see tomorrow. This matters because if they werent there then
the world would be a very dangerous place. As you can see bravery is a very respectful trait. A
hero not only has to be brave, but he must also be smart and clever.

A hero can be strong but he also must be clever enough to act quick. In Oedipus Rex,
the priest tells Oedipus You came and by your coming saved our city, freed us from the tribute
which we paid of old to the Sphinx, cruel singer. This you did in virtue of no
knowledge(Sophocles 39-42). This means the Oedipus defeated the Sphinx with no
knowledge of the riddle she would ask him. This matters because it shows the Oedipus can use
his brain to get through obstacles instead of his braun. In the Odyssey, Odysseus does not
show cleverness. During the scene after Odysseus blinds the Cyclops, he yells at the Cyclops and

tells him his real name (Homer 502-504). This means that the Cyclops can now tell all his bad
guy friends about Odysseus. This matters because now Odysseus has even more enemies to
worry about and so next time he needs to use his brain. Its been proven over and over again,
brains always beats braun.

As you can see if you have heroic traits, then good things will happen to you. Three good
traits are bravery, loyalty and cleverness. So next time you have to be a hero remember, stay
loyal, think about what you're doing, and never back down.

Works Cited

Homer. The Odyssey. Holt Literature and Language Arts. Austin,TX: Holt, Rinehart,
Winston,1998.