French Revolution Diary Entry

My name Lauren, and I live in France during the time of the revolution. Everyone is rebelling against our king and it is scary. Since it is scary, I sit back and watch. Many people go outside and speak there minds. I later see them being beaten and taken to be imprisoned, and then a couple days later they face the guillotine. A crazy person named Robespierre took over as leader. I believe he is crazy. Every single person that has spoke against him or the rebellion, have been sent to the guillotine and beheaded. 

When I walk around the country, I must be careful of the people who I associate with. If I associate with the rich people, I could be accused of being against the rebellion and then beheaded. It I associate with the Protestants, them people will assume I am all for the rebellion and try to convince me to get involved. 

At this point, it is easier for me to just not talk to anyone, and stay to my self. I just witnessed the beheading of King Louis, and Marie Antoinette. I didn't think that they were corrupt rulers, I just feel that they used the money unwisely. If people would have told them to stop spending a lot of money on worthless parties instead of killing everyone! I am very scared, and hopefully I can survive through the revolution!

Is Odysseus an Epic Hero?

     Odysseus can be considered as an epic hero, or not an epic hero. He has some qualities that make him a hero. However, some of his qualities make him a person that is nit honorable, couragous, or intelligent. Those are three of the most important characteristics of an epic hero.
     One characteristic that Odysseus has is his courage. He is always willing to explore, and do tasks to help save the lives of his crew. One example of this is when Odysseus tries to save his men from the cyclopes cave. He risked his life by being the last man to ride a sheep out of he cave. He was alo courageous, and risked himself to stab the giant in the eye. Another example is when he goes to find his men in the goddesses island. Odysseus had recieved a warning about her from the messenger god. He was told that she practices witch craft, and turns people into pigs. But, Odysseus still voluntarily went in to save his men.
     But, in many times of the story Odysseus does some things that are far from honorable. An example of this is when he is in the cave as well. Odysseus and some of his men hide behind a rock when the giant is angry, this causes other three other people of hud crew to be eaten alive. Another exsmple is when they set sail from Circe's island for the second time. She warns Odysseus that there will be a large six headed creature in the water. She also tells him that it will want to eat one live human for each head. Odysseus takes this warning into consideration for himself, he does not tell his crew though. When they reached the site of the monster, Odysseus sends six of his men to the front of the ship. The monster pops out of the water and grabs the unexpecting men. She swims fast back to the cave and Odysseus and his men listen in horror as his fellow crew members are eaten alive. This was not a very honorable thing to do. Instead of going around he sent six of his men to be killed so it wouldnt take as long.
     Odysseus has some characteristics that differ. It is up to you to decide whether he is heroic.

Is Odysseus a Hero?

     Odysseus is portryed as a very strong and brave character. The actions that he does, and the desicions that he makes shows his true character. However, the choices also show some of Odysseus' personality flaws that could lead him and or others to death.
     Since Homer writes about Odysseus being a brave Trojan War hero, it makes him seem like the perfect character to be a hero. Many times when his crew and him landed on a random island, Odysseus had to rescue his men. For example, the land of the lotus eaters. Odysseus had to drag his crew members back to the ships. Without him coming back for them, they would have unknowingly stayed due to being drugged by the addictive lotus fruit.
     He is also a good hero becuase of the decisons he made on the island of the giants. Odysseus though of a logical plan to safely rescue all of his men out of the giants cave. He put himself at risk to save the lives of his crew members. Odysseus was the one who offered the giant wine, and proceeded to make him drunk to the point of sleeping. After, he held the large sharp pole in the fire until it was glowing red hot. Odysseus then used all of his force, and jabbed the stake into Polyphemus' only eye. He waited for the giant to role the boulder out of their way. He then tied his men to the bottom of the largest rams. When the giant opened the pens to let the sheep out his men where able to ride under them and escape unnoticed. Then Odysseus held onto the bottom of a ram, but his was stopped by the giant. He sat there and pet it, Odysseus was sure that he was dead. This shows that Odysseus is a very strong and brave character.
    But, Odysseus also has some characteristics that could be his hamartia or fatal flaw. One of them is him thinking that he is so strong and brave. He just ventures off in random places leaving himseld and his crew in danger. Odysseus is also very trusting towards people that he just met. For example, he immediatley ate the flower handed to him by the messenger god. He also quickly agreed to stay at the Goddesses house. Decisions like these can get him and his crew members killed.