Recognizing a Hero How is the long suffering Odysseus and the clown fish Nemo alike? They are both considered archetypal heroes. All archetypal heroes have certain characteristics. The great Odysseus and the fish Nemo are both considered archetypal heroes because they experience an unusual birth, leave family to live with others and have atonement with their father. In the begging of The Odyssey, the royal son of Laertes Odysseus goes to fight at the Trojan War, at the end of the poem he finally returns to Ithaca after 20 years. The clown fish Nemo is also a hero. In the begging of the movie Finding Nemo, Nemo has a unusual birth because he is born with his lucky fin then he is taken by a diver. At the end of the movie Nemo returns to his dad. Nemo from the movie and Odysseus from Homer’s poem both show they are an archetypal hero because they go on a journey. The first stage of an archetypal hero is an unusual birth. First of all in The Odyssey by Homer Odysseus has a royal birth because Odysseus is the son of Laertes. Before Odysseus was king his father was the king of Ithaca. In Homer’s poem Odysseus says to Alcinous,” I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, known to the world for every craft -my fame has reached the skies” (Fagles 9.21-22). The great Odysseus has an unusual birth because he was born into royalty. On the other hand our hero Nemo also has an unusual birth. In the begging of the movie Finding Nemo Marlin and Coral live in their sea anemone, where they await four hundred eggs to hatch. A shark approaches the reef and eats Coral and the three hundred and ninety nine eggs. Marlin who survived the attack finds one egg left and decides to name him Nemo. Nemo was born injured because he had a fin much smaller than the other he name it his lucky fin. On the first day of school, Marlin tells Mr. Ray, “Just so you know, he’s got a little fin. I find he’s having trouble swimming, let him take a break. Every Ten, fifteen minutes” (Finding Nemo). Marlin knows that Nemo cannot swim very well because of his lucky fin. Marlin is a very caring father and always wants to protect Nemo from danger. Odysseus and Nemo both experience the same archetypal stage an unusual birth. The difference is that Odysseus is born into royalty and Nemo has a birth defect. Odysseus and Nemo are both considered archetypal heroes because they have an unusual birth. Most archetypal heroes leave their family to live with others. In the epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus left his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus to go fight in the Trojan War. The Trojan War started because Paris kidnapped Helen. In the begging of the epic poem Athena disguised as Mentor is talking to Telemachus and tells him, “ How often we used to meet in the old days before he embarked for Troy, where all Argive captains, all the best men, sailed in the long curved ships”(1. 242-243). Odysseus has been gone for ten years fighting in the Trojan War and every one misses him. On the other hand Nemo also leaves his family to live with others. In the begging of the movie Finding Nemo when Nemo is out in his field trip his friends dare him to go touch the butt (boat). Marlin sees Nemo touch the butt and demands him to come back. Nemo tells his dad he hates him. Nemo is being a rebel because he does not want to listen to his dad. As Nemo is swimming back a diver captures him, and Nemo shouting says,”Aaah! Daddy! Help me!” (Finding Nemo). Nemo is taken from his dad by a Diver, and Nemo desperately wants to go back home to his dad. Odysseus and Nemo both leave family to live with others. The difference is that Odysseus leaves his family to fight at the Trojan War