Essay On The Character Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey
Odysseus is the protagonist of the epic poem The Odyssey, and a hero from the Trojan War years before. The Phaiakians describe him as seeming to be "strong as a bull" (VIII.144), and he sends a discus "beyond all others" (VIII.202) in a throwing competition. While Odysseus is clearly strong, it is his wits that allow him to return home to Ithaka in Books IX and XVI, "Nohbdy’s Smarter".
Odysseus escapes the Kyklops using mainly his wits in Book IX. He visits the island with several of his men, and discover Polyphemus, a “brute so huge...he seemed rather a shaggy mountain reared in solitude” (IX.203, 206). Hoping that he is benevolent, the men wait in Polyphemus' cave, but Polyphemus eats two of Odysseus’ men. The remaining men escape from the …show more content…
Odysseus is gone from Ithaka for many years, and his hall is now teeming with suitors who wish to marry his wife, Penelope. Odysseus learns of this comes up with a clever plan with his son to reclaim his household. Odysseus and his son are outnumbered, and they know they cannot reclaim their house with just weaponry. With the help of Athena, Odysseus is disguised as a beggar. wearing “an old tunic, a foul cloak, upon him, / tattered, filthy, stained by greasy smoke, / and over that a mangy big buck skin” (XIII.543-546). This disguise greatly contrasts what is associated with great Odysseus, fooling everyone, and “the swineherd later on will take me down the port-side trail--a beggar by my looks; hangdog and old” (XVI .322-324). He infiltrates his home unnoticed, and this allows him to find out who is loyal to him through the words they speak. For example, he learns the cowman is devoted to him, saying that “tears came to my eyes, remembering / Odysseus: rags like these he may be wearing” (XX.225-226). The thought of his old king in rags, away from home causes him to tear him up, revealing that he is loyal. Odysseus also tells his son to “round up all armor, lances, gear of war / left in our hall, and stow the lot away” (XVI. 337-338) and to “put aside two broadswords and two spears / for our own use” (XVI 352-353). Odysseus is shrewd, knowing that he must hide away the weapons so the suitors cannot fight back when he strikes. Odysseus’ plan allows for him to take back what he lost, showing that Book XVI, where Odysseus introduces his plan, should be in the subsection, “Nohbdy’s
Odysseus escapes the Kyklops using mainly his wits in Book IX. He visits the island with several of his men, and discover Polyphemus, a “brute so huge...he seemed rather a shaggy mountain reared in solitude” (IX.203, 206). Hoping that he is benevolent, the men wait in Polyphemus' cave, but Polyphemus eats two of Odysseus’ men. The remaining men escape from the …show more content…
Odysseus is gone from Ithaka for many years, and his hall is now teeming with suitors who wish to marry his wife, Penelope. Odysseus learns of this comes up with a clever plan with his son to reclaim his household. Odysseus and his son are outnumbered, and they know they cannot reclaim their house with just weaponry. With the help of Athena, Odysseus is disguised as a beggar. wearing “an old tunic, a foul cloak, upon him, / tattered, filthy, stained by greasy smoke, / and over that a mangy big buck skin” (XIII.543-546). This disguise greatly contrasts what is associated with great Odysseus, fooling everyone, and “the swineherd later on will take me down the port-side trail--a beggar by my looks; hangdog and old” (XVI .322-324). He infiltrates his home unnoticed, and this allows him to find out who is loyal to him through the words they speak. For example, he learns the cowman is devoted to him, saying that “tears came to my eyes, remembering / Odysseus: rags like these he may be wearing” (XX.225-226). The thought of his old king in rags, away from home causes him to tear him up, revealing that he is loyal. Odysseus also tells his son to “round up all armor, lances, gear of war / left in our hall, and stow the lot away” (XVI. 337-338) and to “put aside two broadswords and two spears / for our own use” (XVI 352-353). Odysseus is shrewd, knowing that he must hide away the weapons so the suitors cannot fight back when he strikes. Odysseus’ plan allows for him to take back what he lost, showing that Book XVI, where Odysseus introduces his plan, should be in the subsection, “Nohbdy’s