Heroes in Epic Journeys through the cultures - Term Paper Example

Firstly, Aeneas from the epic Aeneid is depicted as the most upright demigods. His survival of the siege of Troy was prophesized earlier and from the very beginning he was described as a pious individual, who was devoid of any vanity; which was often a defining trait in almost every other classical hero. After escaping Troy, as it was eventually razed to the ground by the Greeks, Aeneas fled with his family to Italy to start anew. Even when he is leaving Troy, Aeneas is projected as an epitome of filial piety as he carries his frail father on his back and escorts him to safety.

(Virgil, p. 74) Throughout the epic, Aeneas’s defining feature is his selflessness and piety. He is not rebellious towards the gods, which is why he is favored by them. He recognizes and acknowledges the qualities he possesses, but he is not sure of his fate and fails to understand the greatness of the prophecies that were made for him. He devotes his life to the poor and works for their betterment. He is an excellent leader, who is sensitive to his people’s needs and is devoid of any character flaws.

His piety sets himself apart and makes him an ideal man in every aspect. On the other hand, Odysseus from the Epic Odyssey is a quintessential depiction of a hero, who is charismatic, strong, brave and proud. Odysseus was famed for guiding the Greek army into victory during the Trojan War. However, the Odyssey then relates his struggle as he is trying to make his way home and narrates the many obstacles that are put in his way that prolong journey to his home. His problems usually trigger from the fact that he has no regard for the divine entities and in the process he angers Poseidon, the god of sea, who plants most of the challenges in his path.

However, unlike Aeneas, Odysseus was more popular for his cunning nature. He was not a demigod but he was blessed and favored primarily