Odysseus Essay

Odysseus has defining traits as a Homeric leader. He has strength, nobility, confidence, courage, and a thirst for glory in authority. However, he seems to have a distinguishing trait of a sharp intellect. It is his quick thinking that assists him in hard situations. His ability to make quick decisions helps him escape from Cyclopes's cave and slaughter from suitors. Odysseus has also been depicted as a convincing character, an articulate speaker, and one who can easily win and manipulate an audience. He is a self-made and self-assured man. He is more of an embodiment of standards and morals in his culture. Favor and respect of gods and mortals follow him throughout the story. Moreover, the wrath of Poseidon does not prevent his homecoming. Odysseus's character is outstanding due to his courage.

Odysseus is extremely hardworking, which appears clearly in Menelaos' statement, "No one of the Achaians labored as much as Odysseus labored and achieved" (Griffin 106). Eurylochos says, "You are a hard, man, Odysseus. Your force is greater; your limbs never wear out. You must be made all of iron" (Griffin 279). Odysseus is not only strong but also more hardworking than anyone else. Most importantly, he does not ask other men to engage in tasks that he would not engage in and asks more of himself. Such qualities make him a good leader. Although Eurylochos complains of being overworked, he continues to respect Odysseus. Odysseus strives to make every man working for him hardworking and dedicated in their tasks. He tries to maintain his authority through his hard work and dedication. This indicates that Odysseus is willing to make others dedicated to their tasks.

Odysseus has also been shown as an audacious man. These qualities make him heroic. He can take risks in his adventures. For instance, in Cyclopes' adventure, Odysseus states, “We climbed, then, briskly to the cave. But Cyclopes had gone afield, to pasture his fat sheep, so we looked round at everything inside” (Griffin 232). His audacious trait is illustrated since he is unaware of everything inside Cyclopes. He enters his habitat without raising any signals to louts. He is ready to take a big risk since Cyclopes have been depicted as uncivilized giants that can be unpredictable. Therefore, getting into that cave without asking for permission would be a risk that gets Odysseus in trouble as the Cyclops begin attacking his crew. He tries to stop Cyclopes even knowing they could hurt him. This is an indication of his audacious and bravery traits.

Homer introduces Odysseus as a savior, and this supports his heroism. This can be seen in the adventure of Lotos Eaters, where Odysseus saves three men he selects to learn about people on an island. They have to stay on the island without going home, and after eating the Lotus flower, it is written, “They longed to stay forever, browsing on that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland” (Homer, and Lombardo104). Thus, Odysseus becomes a savior, guiding them towards the ship, tying them under rowing beaches. He also advises the crew to avoid eating Lotos or they would lose their hope of getting home. This indicated that he possessed the traits of a savior. If he failed to direct the men and tie them to their boats, they would have remained on the island, forgetting their journey and duty to return home.

Moreover, it is clearly that Odysseus is sly. His slyness also made him emerge heroic. He continues to demonstrate slyness when he accepts that he is a beggar man after Telemakhos suggests to swineherd, “Lead this poor man down to beg” ( Louden 12). However, Telemakhos fails to realize all he talks about and that he is talking to his father since he has not set his eyes on Odysseus for many years. Odysseus decides to keep quiet. From this time, he is perceived as a beggar and the king of Ithaca. Being sly is being a misleading individual. Odysseus shows this trait through his convincement that he is a beggar and fails to tell Telemakhos that he is the father. Therefore, Odysseus' slyness makes him capable of hiding his identity and even calls himself a “nobody” to Cyclopes.

In addition, victory motivates him. He wants to get back home as well as live in Ithaca. This way, every step he engages in along his way is a test and even sometimes a battle. His great concern about the victory can be cultural and practical. Odysseus lives with only two choices to make in life, death or victory. Despite Athena’s intervention, she leaves the ultimate failure of success to him (Shmoop 102). For instance, she can prevail during a battle with suitors, although it makes Odysseus acquire victory. Odysseus has been depicted as a man of twists and turns. It is evident that Odysseus has strong characteristics, but major character flows follow his life. The struggles Odysseus faces make his growth throughout the story realistic and more credible than before, since it is not absolute or simple. These have been caused by his constant struggles to be perceived as an epic hero of his time, and it is through his activities that he engages in flaws (Baldwin 12).

However, Odysseus also has his negative traits. He has excessive pride as well as faithfulness. Due to his pride, he reveals his engagement in blindfolding Poseidon’s son, and Poseidon tries to seek revenge by making it hard for Odysseus and his men to travel home. Odysseus states, “Cyclopes, if ever a mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son whose home is on Ithaca!” ( Louden 542). He has also been depicted as an easily angered man. This is clear since whenever an individual asks questions about his authority, he feels that that individual is hurting his pride. A clear example appears when Odysseus requests his men to move to the halls in Kirke as Eurylokhos tries to challenge him. In this case, Eurylokhos dislikes going to the halls because he fears being changed into an animal, swine. Therefore, Odysseus is angered by this challenge and states, “When I heard this I had a mind to draw the blade that swung against my side and chop him, bowing his head upon the ground-kinsman or no kinsman, close to me though he was” (Homer, and Lombardo 126). Therefore, Odysseus is enraged by anyone who tries to challenge his authority. Odysseus succeeds in becoming a hero through slyness. Throughout the story, he continues to use it to prevent himself from being cursed by the Cyclopes and misleading friends and family.

In conclusion, Odysseus’s character traits are clear in Odyssey, Homer. Odysseus has been depicted with both positive and negative traits. Odysseus has positive traits that make him an epic hero, including bravery, cunningness, and honor that can be considered his primary arête, strength, articulation and courage. He has many redeemable characteristics, although many natural contradictions make his character very complex. Certainly, he grows in judgment and wisdom throughout his ventures. He is strong and brave. He leads his men to victory. He can save the men from the island since he realizes they have forgotten their mission. Odysseus faces many challenges in the course of his journey that make his real characteristics become clearer. Despite his courage, bravery, confidence and intellect, Odysseus engages in activities that bring out his negative characteristics. He does not entertain anyone that tries to challenge his leadership and is quickly annoyed. He has excessive pride and trusts everything he does. As Eurylokhos tries to challenge him, he is angered and perceives this action as undermining his power and authority. Odysseus's character has strengths and flaws. It is clear that certain characteristics of being audacious, sly, and savior make him a hero of his time and establishes a character of the Odyssey.

Works Cited

Baldwin, Stanley P. Cliffs Notes on Homer's Odyssey. Chicago: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2011. Print

Griffin, Jasper. Homer: The Odyssey. Cambridge University Press. 2004. Print

Homer, and Lombardo, Stanley. The Essential Odyssey. New York: Hackett Publishing. 2007. Print

Homer, and Lombardo, Stanley. Odyssey. New York: Hackett Publishing. 2000. Print

Louden, Bruce. The Odyssey: Structure, Narration, and Meaning. Boston: JHU Press. 2001. Print