Epic vs. Tragic †Macbeth and Odysseus Essay

When different literary works are examined similarities and differences are noniceable. This corpse veritable in The Odyssey by Homer and The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The Odysseys main character is a intrepid soldier patternd Odysseus who faces many 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 pipe dreams and their positions in society, but they also contrast ascribable to the fact that Odysseus is an big hero and Macbeth is a tragic hero.Odysseus and Macbeths similar ambitions drive them to get what they want. In Odysseuss case it help him to return to his home, All hands aboard/ Come, clear the beach and no one(a) taste/ The Lotus, or you lose your home of home (Part 1, 52-54). Odysseuss ambition leads him to understand that get home is the most important thing to focus on. This ambition keeps Odysseuss mind on his odd custodyt and drives him to eventually return to Ithaca. Macbeth has the same ambition when it comes to him reaching his goal of forever being king, We have scotched the snake, not killed it (III. ii. 13). Macbeth is explaining how killing one man has not completed his plan to ensure his reign as king. Macbeths ambition drives him to kill anyone that stands in his way of the throne. These men have opposite overall goals but the ambition that drives them to their goals is virtually the same.Odysseus and Macbeth also have broad importance in their societies. Odysseus a king and a bold soldier holds much importance to the people of Ithaca, Odysseus my lord among the rest./ If he returned, if he were here to care for me,/ I might be happily renowned (Part 3, 116-118). Here Odysseuss wife, Penelope, is making it clear how this hero of the trojan War and keen king of Ithaca is a big(p) lord to his people. He is a courageous soldier as is Macbeth and they both are kings over their people. Before Ma cbeths dip, he kills the Thane of Cawdor in a courageous battle, What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won (I. ii. 67). Macbeth is the king of Scotland and starts off as a heroic and sunny soldier. He is not the best 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 heroic poem 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 faithful company/ Rested on their oars now, peeling off/ The wax that I had laid thick-skulled on their ears/ Then set me free (Part 2, 59-62). At the beginning of the story you can see Odysseuss crew is faithful 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 the work while Macbeth falls. Macbeth starts out as a g reat 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 marks the beginning of Macbeths downfall as he lodges his first selfish murder. Macbeth only falls farther as he continues to commit these murders only to get him farther in life. This difference is one of the most significant as one character rises to become a better man and the other falls to his death due to his lose 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.