Epic vs. Tragic †Macbeth and Odysseus Essay

When diametric literary works are examined correspondingities and differences are noticeable. This remains true in The Odyssey by Homer and The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The Odysseys main character is a courageous soldier named Odysseus who faces worldy obstacles on his journey home. The Tragedy of Macbeth includes a power obsessed king with the name of Macbeth. Homers Odysseus and Shakespeares Macbeth compare in their dreams and their positions in society, but they in like manner contrast repayable to the fact that Odysseus is an epic hero and Macbeth is a sad hero.Odysseus and Macbeths similar aspirations drive them to get what they want. In Odysseuss case it help him to surpass to his home, All hands aboard/ Come, constitute the beach and no superstar taste/ The Lotus, or you lose your home of home (Part 1, 52-54). Odysseuss ambition leads him to understand that getting home is the most important thing to nidus on. This ambition keeps Odysseuss mind on his goal and drives him to eventually lapse to Ithaca. Macbeth has the same ambition when it comes to him reaching his goal of forever being king, We make believe scotched the snake, not killed it (III. ii. 13). Macbeth is explaining how killing one man has not completed his externalise to ensure his reign as king. Macbeths ambition drives him to kill anyone that stands in his way of the throne. These custody have opposite overall goals but the ambition that drives them to their goals is virtually the same.Odysseus and Macbeth also have outstanding importance in their societies. Odysseus a king and a brave soldier holds much importance to the pile of Ithaca, Odysseus my lord among the rest./ If he returned, if he were here to care for me,/ I baron be happily renowned (Part 3, 116-118). Here Odysseuss wife, Penelope, is making it clear how this hero of the Trojan War and spectacular king of Ithaca is a great lord to his flock. He is a courageous soldier as is Macbeth and th ey both(prenominal) are kings over their people. Before Macbeths downfall, he kills the Thane of Cawdor in a heroic battle, What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won (I. ii. 67). Macbeth is the king of Scotland and starts by as a heroic and brave soldier. He is not the outmatch leader but he still holds great importance. both men share their standings in society and the heroic acts they perform for their people.Odysseus and Macbeth are also different because one is an epic hero and the other a tragic hero. Odysseus, an epic hero, protects his men throughout The Odyssey and continues to grow as a character, My closemouthed company/ Rested on their oars now, peeling off/ The wax that I had laid thick on their ears/ Then set me free (Part 2, 59-62). At the beginning of the story you can see Odysseuss crew is unwavering and they stand by Odysseus showing that he starts out as a great man and continues to progress.Odysseus and Macbeth are opposite because Odysseus grows throughout th e work maculation Macbeth falls. Macbeth starts out as a great soldier but by the end he slowly fades into an evil man, Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand? (II. ii. 60-61). This tag the beginning of Macbeths downfall as he commits his first egoistic murder. Macbeth further falls farther as he continues to commit these murders only to get him farther in life. This difference is one of the most portentous as one character rises to become a better man and the other falls to his death due to his lack of moral compass.Both of these important characters, Odysseus and Macbeth, have their similarities and their differences. Their ambition drives them to reach their overall goals and their importance to their people remains similar, yet they are different because one is a tragic hero while the other an epic hero. Comparing these to seemingly different works has allowed for many similarities and quite a few differences to come to light.