Odysseus Essay

On June 21st 2006, Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti’s 16 men patrol was being attacked. He engaged his enemy with his rifle and grenade. Fifty enemy soldiers were waiting for them to step out from behind the rocks. He was providing a distraction so that all of the 16 men could escape. The 16 men escaped, but he was mortally wounded. Three years later on September 17th 2009, he won Congressional Medal of Honor. Jared C. Monti is a hero. He sacrificed his life to save the 16 soldiers. A hero is someone who saves lives with least lives lost. Odysseus is on the other side of the coin. Odysseus is not a hero.

Odysseus is not a hero because he does not risk his life to save his men. Odysseus is too self centered. Odysseus thinks that just because he is the king of Ithaca, he can risk his men’s lives to save his own. When someone becomes a king, he is expected to do what is best for his people: the people should not do what is best for their king. Odysseus needs to realize that twelve lives are more important than one life. A king protects his people; he does not plan to kill others when the war is lost. A hero also puts his life before others just like Jared C. Monti.
Odysseus is not a hero because he leads his men into risky situations. A hero does not lead his men into risky situations. In the movie, The Odyssey, Odysseus leads his men into risky situations.