Batman/Odysseus

Odysseus and Batman are too similar heros. Odysseus is more accepted in his culture than Batman. Batman is an anti-hero, while Odysseus is a regular hero. Odysseus and Batman are both helpful for their homes, but Odysseus is loved in Ithica, while Batman is hated in Gotham. Both take long journeys back home, and then fight to save their home.

Heros in the ancient cultures were widely accepted. There were many different heros, and they often crossed each others paths. An example of that was with Achilles and Odysseus in the Trojan War. The hero was honorable, and he was respected by all the people, including gods. Odysseus is only punished because he was selfish, and he let his pride overpower his wisdom. Odysseus often engages in dishonorable acts, but he does it to help himself get home to his wife.

Batman isn't accepted in his culture. The people of Gotham don't want him to fight for them, and their city. Batman was seen as a selfish man, who regarded for himself over others, even though that wasn't true. When Batman is sent away to prison, he works himself to get strong and return to save Gotham. People want Batman to be arrested, but he still saves the people that disrespect him. He isn't a honorable hero because he often feels sorry for himself, and stops fighting for his people.

The challenges Odysseus faced were natural disasters, and monsters sent from the gods. The gods interfered in his vouage home, some helped, and some made it harder for him to get home. Batman's obstacles came from other people. He mostly faced technologial weapons, that were far more advanced then what he had to fight back with. Batman faced more the more difficult challenges. Odysseus was fighting to get home, while Batman was fighting to save his city.

Batman and Odysseus are very different hero stories, but the have the same basis of the story. A hero is away from home, he has to fight to get back, and then save his home. Batman had the harder obstacles, but Odysseus had more obstacles to fight against. Overrall the stories have many similarities, and may differences.

   Odysseus has been gone for years. The thrown of Ithaca is open and the beautiful Penelope is unwed. The only thing holding Penelope back from finding her new partner, is her hope that Odysseus will return from his journey. Odysseus is obviously dead, in the suitors eyes, but Penelope still feels in her heart that he will return. All of the suitors returned from Troy years, and years ago. The only blood member of Odysseus's family left is his son, Telemachus.
   The suitors have been in Ithaca for years, all trying to claim the thrown, and be king. They treat the land likes its their own, and they have no regard to the other citizens. Telemachus has grown from boy to man, but he doesn't show disapproval of the suitor's actions. Telemachus just announced that he will leave on a odyssey to find his father. In the suitor's eyes, there is no chance of him returning with news of Odysseus being alive. When he returns with news of Odysseus's death, one of the suitors will be able to get control of Ithaca.
   Odysseus and Mantethemus fought together in Troy. They both had a mutual hate for one another, but they also had a respect. They fought in harmony, but the day the war was over, they split ways with no desire to see one another again. Now, Mantethemus was trying to gain rule of Odysseus's home country. Mantethemus always knew that if he had a battle with Odysseus, he would lose miserably. So, when he learned of his death, Mantethemus immediately left for Ithaca.
   With Telemachus gone, it opens up an even bigger opportunity for Mantethemus to gain rule of Ithaca. All of the suitors have been trying to impress Penelope, with gifts and lies. Many of the suitors have been secretly involving themselves in activities that would be punishable, including Mantethmus. But, there is just no one to overpower the suitors and take control..

An archetype is a universal symbol recognized all around the globe. Archetype's are recognized everywhere. They happen in many different stories throughout society.
One common archetype is the shadow. This archetype is featured in the Batman trilogy. Batman is also a self archetype. Both of these archetypes are depicted throughout the movies. If you try to look for them, they are easily found.
The shadow archetype represents the bats in the movie. After Bruce gets trapped in a cave with bats, he develops are deep fear of them. His fear is represented all through the movie as the shadow. batman abolishes his fear by facing the bats, and it becomes his best attribute. The courage he had was represented by the self archetype.
The use of the archetypes are important to the movies because it's the movie's base. Without them, Batman wouldn't be what he was. Batman is not correctly accepted by society, but he is okay with it. That is where the anti-hero archetype is shown throughout.