The definition of a hero to me is a legend, a man, god like, often of great heritage, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods. In looking at the stories of Gilgamesh, the Old Testament and Joseph, and the Odyssey and Odysseus they all fall into this definition of a hero.
In Gilgamesh not only did the Gods favor him but also they created him. In fitting with the definition the god of storm Adad "endowed him with great courage" (pg.19). The strength that he hold in unmatched " a goddess made him, strong as a savage bull, none can withstand his arms" (pg.19). Gilgamesh was a legend, but for the reason that he was created by the gods. In the definition of a hero it says often of great heritage but I wouldn't put Gilgamesh in this area because heritage is your background and Gilgamesh did not really have one. Also a hero wouldn't be a hero without some battles and victories under his belt. In having battled in war and so forth people do remember the achievements of a hero, who one has killed, etc. And when Gilgamesh goes talks to Siduri she asks him " If you are Gilgamesh who seized and killed the Bull of Heaven, who killed the watchman of the cedar
. . .
Yes Athena helps his son on a journey to find him, but I think she might be the only god routing for him to make it home. Everyone knew who Odysseus was and what he went through and the tragic story of him trying to get back home. Yes these men are heroes but not all heroes live the life of a hero. Some of the events that could have made Odysseus the hero are what he did to the Trojans 'for instance, is what he did- had the cold nerve to do inside the hollow horse, where we were waiting, picked men all of us, for the Trojan slaughter, when all of a sudden, you came by-I dare say drawn by some superhuman power that planned an exploit for the Trojans. In the first view of Gilgamesh he seemed as a bad ruler, arrogant, and brutal. When the famine was going to come Joseph made everyone aware of what was about to happen; now with all the things that he went through he didn't have to but he did anyway.
In the story of Joseph a hero is probably a little too big of a word to give him. " I say, with arrogance to his destruction.
Approximate Word count =
1141
Approximate Pages =
5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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