Examples Of Eyewitness In The Odyssey

As said by Italian Renaissance historian Niccolo Machiavelli, “Never attempt to win by force what can be one by deception.” By this he means that one’s brain is a powerful force, one to be reckoned with, and that it can outmatch any force. This is shown in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, and has held true in my personal life as well. Wise Odysseus displays his mental deftness throughout his perils in The Odyssey by outmatching opponents relying on his brain in lieu of beauty or brawn. This is demonstrated when Odysseus is faced with the strong and formidable opponent, the giant, Polyphemus. Odysseus is well aware he cannot win against the giant by using brute force, as he is largely outmatched physically. Odysseus and his men are stuck in quite the predicament because if they kill the giant, they will forever be
Finally, clever Odysseus comes to the rescue and comes up with an ingenious plan to save both him and his men. They give Polyphemus gifts of liquor, causing him to get drunk; drive a stake into his eye, blinding him; and finally, they sneak out of Polyphemus’s cave by stowing away under the bellies of the giant’s sheep. The cherry on top of this smart plan was that Odysseus lied to the giant by claiming the name, Nohbdy. When Polyphemus calls out to his fellow cyclops or help, he bellows, “Nohbdy, Nohbdy tricked me. Nohbdy has ruined me!” (905). Believing that their friend Polyphemus was alright, no one came to his aide. Another time Odysseus uses his brains to win is when faced with the sirens. With the help of the witch Circe, he devises a plan to make sure his men hear not of their sweet song. He instructs them to fill their ears with beeswax and tie him to the mast, so only he, Odysseus, may