Ulysses A Classic Greek

Hero

Student: Nicolas E. Roman GonzalezProfessor: Summer West

Hero of the Troyan War

Ulysses is the translation of the greek name Odysseus into Latin.

Ulysses is a classic hero, he is the maincharacter of “The Odyssey” written by thegreek poet Homer. Even thogh, is difficultto know the real author of this work, bythis reason is attributed to Homer. In otherhand, Ulysses is one of the characters of“The Iliad”, in this epic poem are narratedin a fictional way the events of the TroyanWar.

The Troyan War was caused by the kidnapping of Helen, wife of Menelao the king of Sparta.Helen was the most beautiful woman in the greek world. She was kidnapped from Sparta byParis, prince of Troy. This was a war between brothers of culture, who lived in both coast ofAegean Sea.

The Odyssey is an epic greek poem, it wascomposed near the end of the 8th century BC.This work describes the life of Ulysses after 10years finished the Trojan War. In this 10 yearsUlysses try to going back to his home in theIthaka Island. He couldn't back to hishomecountry after the war due to the oppositionof Poseidon. The God of the Sea it was againstUlysses destiny because He blind Polyphemuswith a wooden stick. Polyphemus was son ofPoseidon and he was a cyclops who lives alone inan island Ciclops: an one-eye giant.

The Odyssey: the long trip of a Hero.

Ulysses, king of Ithaka, was husband of Penelope andfather of Telemaco. His family suffered during twentyyears his abscense: ten years fighting in the war and tenyears sailing without direction in the Mediterranean Sea.He tried to come back, but he has to confront a lot ofobstacles and mythological entities.

This narration concentrates and represents the life, valuesand believes of a the Greek and Western Culture.Likewise Ulysses represents a Greek Culture, he is awestern Hero because his characteristics and featuresembodies the main concerns and challenges of HumanRace.

The Odyssey becomes a classic book by these reasons. Hisimportance is registered till nowadays and his readers aresurprised by his cultural richness.The Odissey is a fundamental book of the Western Cultureand the oldest literary treasure.

Main Episodes and Features

• Cleverness of UlyssesTrough his skills Ulysses can overcomes obstaclesand adverstities, with help of his intelligence andtrincking his enemies, Ulysses propose attack Troywith an woodden horse full of warriors, presentedas gift at the doors of the city. This was the TrojanHorse.

• Polyphemus and his blindess• In this Chapter Ulysses is punished by Poseydon.

Also, Polyphemus represents a pre-political world,he was a sheperd who lives alone without contactwith any kind of society.

• Oblivion and Lotus-eater/ Lotophagi

• Circe's Island

The Sirens. This picture shows Ulysses tied in the mast of his boat. In this way He heards the pleasants songs of T Sirens but at the same time he avoids be enchanted under their voices.

Scila and Charybdis

Two explanation about the role of Ulysses in westerncultureTheodor W. Adorno: The sirens, the opposition betweenwork and pleasure.

Auerbach: Ulysses and the conflinct of self counciense

Legacy and Influence

Ulysses (1922), James Joyce´s novel.

Movies2001: a space odissey (1968), Stanley Kubrick's film.

Latin American LiteratureUlises Lima, main character of the novel “WildDetectives”.Ulysses syndrome, title of the novel of Santiago Gamboa,colombian writer.

Problems and challenges about Ulysses syndrome

Ithaka

Constantine Kavafis

“Keep Ithaka always in your mind.Arriving there is what you are destined for.But do not hurry the journey at all.Better if it lasts for years,so you are old by the time you reach the island,wealthy with all you have gained on the way,not expecting Ithaka to make you rich. Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.Without her you would not have set out.She has nothing left to give you now. And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean”

(C.P. Cavafy, Collected Poems. Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard. Edited by George Savidis. Revised Edition. Princeton University Press, 1992)