An Example To Follow - Odysseus And John F. Kennedy
Although the Odyssey, written by Homer, is a one in a lifetime story, there are many modern day heroes that relate to Odysseus. John F. Kennedy and Odysseus are two people that would classify as being similar. Kennedy and Odysseus have been through journeys that could change a lifetime. Kennedy and Odysseus are well known by many people, and started changing the world at a young age. Kennedy and Odysseus both have changed the world in great ways, and those qualities make a great hero. These traits include the call to adventure, test and allies, and the return with the elixir.
Kennedy and Odysseus both have the call to adventure. Kennedy has the call to adventure when he decided to become president. As said by Kennedy, “A rising tide lifts all boats”. This means he is rising to the adventure to become president. Odysseus has the call to adventure when he had the urge to fight off any monster that came his way. In book one, Odysseus is introduced and it says, “Of these adventures, Muse, daughter of Zeus, tell us in our time…”. Tell us of these adventures means that Odysseus went on a lot of adventures in his time, and got tremendous amounts of advice from many people. Both of them had the call to adventure to be heros and both of them succeed.
Kennedy and Odysseus both had test they had to face and allies on their journeys. Kennedy always had allies while involved with any big events, especially wars. Kennedy once said, “The most powerful single force in the world today is neither Communism nor Capitalism, neither H-bomb nor the guided missile – it is man's eternal desire to be free and independent. ” shows that even with differences anyone can become allies. Odysseus has allied with Athena and that is the main reason Odysseus returns home safely. Athena said, “‘Hold back, men of Ithaca, from the wearisome fighting, so that most soon, and without blood, you can settle everything. ’” This quote shows that Athena is watching over them, and being there allie helped them make it back home. It is good to have allies, in this case for the better, for Kennedy and Odysseus.
Even after the journey, Kennedy and Odysseus have to work even after there great journey. Kennedy got shot during his last few years in office, and left a great journey for others to live up to. Said by Kennedy, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death. ” Kennedy is saying that even after a monumental event happens you have to move on and take action. Odysseus had to fight when he gets back, but he cannot stay on that journey for long. “‘Keep your joy in your heart, old dame; stop, do not raise up the cry. It is not piety to glory so over slain men. These were destroyed by the doom of the gods and their own hard actions. . . '”. Odysseus has finally realized, there was still so much conflicts even when he got home. Kennedy and Odysseus have to battle or fight even after they get done with their main journey.
Kennedy and Odysseus have changed the world in more than one way. Doing that has made the world a better place, or in The Odyssey a better life for his home. Kennedy and Odysseus are alike in many ways even if it is from the call to adventure, facing test and allies, or the return of the elixir. The biggest significance is that people can look at these two people and be a better person. By following their footsteps as a hero maybe one day they can be a hero themselves.
