f suitors who seek Penelope's hand so that they may take Odysseus' place as ruler of Ithaka. At this point, we finally see the warrior in the man emerge. The struggles of his journey had merely involved beating men in trials of sport, outwitting demons and temptresses, and battling the elements; now Odysseus shows that in the business of killing his enemies and reclaiming his authority, he is at least as proficient as Achilles. The sharp contrast between Odysseus and Achilles as epic heroes suggests that for the ancient Greeks, the real greatness of a man lay mainly in the ability to overcome injuries and insults, so as to triumph over enemies and redeem one's honor. For Achilles, this meant forgetting his wounded pride and jealousy, and returning to the battlefield to avenge his slain companion Patroklos. Although he never doubts for moment that he can vanquish Hektor, there is real courage in his decision, since he knows that his own death will shortly follow that of the man he kills. It is difficult to admire Achilles personally after we have seen him sulking and snarling at his companions, but every reader must respect the loyalty and devotion he shows his friend, and the bravery of his final decision to come out of seclusion. In contrast, Odysseus is a many-sided character whose commitment and devotion to his family represent all that is best in a man. His sufferings are more serious and deeply-felt than those of Achilles, whose only fully human attachment is with his friend Patroklos. The main difference between these two epic heroes, ultimately, is that Achilles' story involves the death of many better men than himself, and ends unhappily in spite of his victory. The story of Odysseus ends most happily with the hero telling Penelope, "Dear wife, we both have had our full share of numerous trials now, yours have been here as you cried over my much longed-for homecoming, while as for me, Zeus and the other gods held me back f...
