Comparing Odysseus of Homer's Odyssey and Moses of the Bible
Heroes and their stories have been at the center of almost every culture throughout history. There are vast differences among these legends since they have to serve each particular culture's needs. The events, settings, and other characters may change dramatically, but the hero is basically the same for all. And the understanding that the use of violence is always justified in the name of the `Gods'. The universal hero is initially one of questionable moral standing. This person doesn't decide to be a hero, which is much different than deciding to be a leader; rather, he is chosen by a greater force or entity to become one, perhaps a god. He performs the same three tasks: to fulfill a destiny handed down by divine inspiration, undertake a journey where great sacrifices are made on his part to overcome difficult obstacles like Odysseus traveling home after the Trojan War or Moses leading his people out of Egypt. Finally, the mission is not complete until the message learned throughout is shared for the greater good of the people whom the hero represents. Ultimately, the measure of the hero's success is whether the legend stands the test of time. ODYSSEUS AND MOSES: IMPERFECT HEROES While Greek culture diers from Hebrew traditions, and their respective mythologies vary greatly, their heroes are one and the same. Odysseus and Moses, as well as Jacob, represent archetypal heroes that could appear in any culture at any point in time. Our universal hero is not a perfect one; he commits a crime, lies, or does something of questionable moral action, or is this merely using his metis? Though married to faithful Penelope, Odysseus continually has affairs, rapes, and pillages, and even sacrifices his own men. Similarly, young Moses killed an Egyptian who was pestering a Jew (Exodus, 45), and Jacob forced his starving brother out of his birthright by giving him some food.
These actions do not tarnish the hero; they are necessary for the development of his/ her character. In Moses' case, the murder serves as a metaphor for his destiny - to save the Jews. Even modern real-life heroes have this aspect of themselves. It is no secret that Martin Luther King, Jr., a modern-day civil rights hero, was a bit of a womanizer in his day. But despite the improprieties, Reverend King was "called" to duty by his god to help his people. Likewise, Moses spoke directly with his lord and was given specific instructions on what to do and how to do it. He didn't choose to lead the Jews out of Egypt; his god chose him to be their savior. While reluctant at first, Moses soon rose to the challenge. Faced with many challenges of his own, Odysseus also received a divine message, this time from the goddess Athena (via his seductress captor). This recurring theme of being chosen by a powerful spiritual entity is consistent in various hero stories throughout the world. THE HERO QUEST No matter when or where in...
