A Comparison of the Morality of Ulysses to Odysseus

Throughout the Odyssey, we find that Odysseus consistently tricks his opponents and uses his superior wit to achieve success such that he overcomes obstacles like the Cyclops, the Sirens and various others relatively unharmed. Therefore, it is obvious that he also feels pride and hubris preceding each of his successes, which causes him unnecessary obstacles, yet in the end, he is victorious. In contrast, Ulysses may be extremely prideful, but on several occasions, he is defeated in both intellect and force, since he is scammed and beaten by Big Dan, the equivalent of the Cyclops, and is later defeated in a fist-fight. 

Also, it is interesting to compare the heroic aspects of both characters, since the Odyssey portrays Odysseus as a god, at many times overcoming obstacles in a supernatural way, such that the results impress the general audience. Exciting feats of ingenuity such as blinding the Cyclops and attaching himself and his crew to the undersides of sheep to escape, or being tied down to hear the Siren's song and survive give the thought that Odysseus is trying to con the system that the Greek gods have emplaced.

Superficially, Ulysses appears as a treasure-hunting con man to his friends, who therefore escape with him in the hopes of attaining wealth. In the end, we see the hero blunder in defending his family against the threat of a suitor taking his place, in protecting his wealth from Big Dan Teague, and truly in the final challenge against the sheriff, yet it seems as if he has a supernatural force behind him that saves him from these situations in a similar way that Athena aids Odysseus. In the superficial respects, the two protagonists are quite similar, yet we see that Ulysses cannot be considered a hero for his successes.