Protagonist

Odysseus

Odysseus is our hands-down protagonist. For starters, the book is called the Odyssey. Homer also makes it explicit that Odysseus is handsome, brave, smart, and an all-around nice guy. Typical classical hero. We also spend the majority of our time following his plotline. We sympathize with him, hate Poseidon for making his life so difficult, and want him to get home already and so he can get rid of all those suitors.

However, Odysseus, like any man (or god, given what we’ve seen in the Odyssey), has flaws – one in particular: hubris, or excessive pride. It is this flaw that gets Odysseus into trouble several times with both mortals and immortals, imperils his journey, and complicates his difficulties – but it also makes him human and, in short, an ideal protagonist.