Comparison the performances of Odysseus and with regards to poetry seems to have a significant pattern. Odysseus and Achilles are similar in some of their heroic ways; however, they have certain notable differences. The reason attributed to this assertion is the fact that they both endure personal losses and they are both tested by gods. Among the many heroic traits that the two share include courage and sense of duty. The differences between these two heroes refer to a conflict between their personalities; that is, a battle of the qualities characteristic of Odysseus and Achilles. It is noteworthy that Agamemon delights in this scenario because it is a symbol from Zeus that Troy will fall under the Achaean forces; an occasion that ensures that both Odysseus and Achilles will be celebrated in this classical literature forever. The two heroes clash, an event which contributes to an illustration of the significances of two conflicting poems. This allows for the anticipation of the coexistence of the competing illustrative epics that will sustain the existence of Odysseus’ and Achilles’ memoirs, namely, the Odyssey and the Iliad . As such, the purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the two Homeric heroes, namely Achilles of the Iliad and Odysseus of the Odyssey .
Although Odysseus shares several qualities with Achilles, there is considerable contrast between the two: when Odysseus is faced with trials, he appears to be more cautious than Achilles. Moreover, Odysseus is more concerned about his people, specifically their safety. In this regard, Odysseus is concerned about how he has to come up with a plan that will see him reach home. He is always watching out not only of his personal safety, but also of the return of his men. As such, he warns them of any barrier on their way (Hom. Od. 132) . In brief, Odysseus is determined not only to save but also to protect his people from the dangers that they are likely to encounter on their way. Of course, Achilles is concerned about the safety of his people, but it is apparent that he is not as clever as Odysseus. In light of this, it is worth asserting that Achilles is more impulsive than Odysseus. Furthermore, Achilles is driven by his desire to take vengeance and does not seem to take care of the things that are likely to go astray in pursuit of his goals (Hom. Il. 65) .
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The performances of the two rulers foreshadows the form of renown that these kings will attain ultimately. Indeed, the stories that the rulers themselves share suggest sorts of narratives that will be told in the future concerning their reign. Achilles narrates an account abbreviated extensively in the Iliad . However, his performance insinuates that he is securing personal glory, which is more of self-sacrifice. This describes a foregone conclusion that the Achilles, in the Iliad , assumes and fails to portray the actual kingly glory. In contrast, Odysseus in the Odyssey describes an extended classical experience that concentrates on his failures to perform better than Achilles.
Both Odysseus and Achilles, in their respective epics, confront nihilism. On one side, Achilles depicts the problems associated with nihilism. On the other side, Odysseus offers a solution to it despite the fact that he is a tricky character who is led by his appetite (Hom. Od. 162) . In fact, Odysseus is a descendant of a trickster named Prometheus. However, regardless of the shortcomings that emanate from his awkward conduct, he appears to be favored by the gods during the journey to battle nihilism. Nihilism is noted to have been discovered by Achilles.
In summary, Odysseus in the Odyssey and Achilles in the Iliad compose a complete model of kingship in their ability to poetically define kleos . The couple of poetic societies that brought these leaders into existence not only may have been well acquainted with each other's efforts but may have also cooperated to develop alternative illustrations of their core ideal. These ideals represent portrayals that appeal to disparate audiences. This analysis regards kleos as a religious precept since the Homeric epics define it as a partial response to the existential inquiry of what happens to individuals after death. This query forms one of the cross-cultural spiritual questions described in the introductory part of the paper. It has been established in this paper that while the two characters have similar traits, they also differ. For instance, they are both concerned about the safety of their men, but Achilles is led by the need for vengeance whereas Odysseus is concerned about how to come up with a plan that will see him get home.
References
Knox, B. M. W. (1993). The Norton book of classical literature . WW Norton.
