Odysseus: a Man of Great Intelligence

Odysseus: A man of great intelligence

The epic narrative, The Odyssey, By Homer, was written by the creator of its philosophy, Homer. It is a magnificent story of lust, deceit, greed, and heroism. Its journey of determination, patience, and virtue, tells the tale of Odysseus, the main character, on his voyage his kingdom in Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War. Throughout the story, Odysseus undergoes many trials and tribulations, which test his character. Though it may be tested, he does not intervene. He remained vanguard, and that is where he planned to stay.
During these happenings; such as Odysseus being imprisoned on Calypso’s island, Ogygia, the longing of returning to his wife and son, Odysseus makes decisions that do not correspond to his character. His character is much like a hero of great veneration. In Homer’s world, a hero is more than just is a symbol of strength, but has unlimited courage, honor, respect, intelligence, and good morals/values. Values were very important to the Greeks. The Greek values vary from; hospitality, bathing, food, and feast.
Throughout the Odyssey, some of these characteristics are showed, and some are slightly changed. His journey starts with Troy. This is where Odysseus and his men, battle with Cicones. Odysseus, knowing their skills, backed out of the battle at sea. They refuse, and in return, many are killed. Here, Odysseus’s intelligence would have saved the men, if they would have listened. Though they didn’t obey, Odysseus had the patience not to blame them. They then are taken to the land of the Lotus eaters.
The lotus eaters are like a poison which causes men to forget the thoughts they have of leaving the island. Odysseus, with his intelligence, knew the powers of the Lotus flower. So, he ordered his men to stay away from the flowers. Though he told them this, three of the men went abscond, and took it upon themselves to try the flowers, and they had to be dragged back to the ship kicking and screaming.
“A storm sent by Zeus sweeps them along for nine days before bringing them to the land of the Lotus-eaters, where the natives give some of Odysseus’s men the intoxicating fruit of the lotus. As soon as they eat this fruit, they lose all thoughts of home and long for nothing more than to stay there eating more fruit. Only by dragging his men back to the ship and locking them up can Odysseus get them off the island.”(Book 9)
Another one of Odysseus’ trials would be when he and his men were faced with the Cyclopes. On finding a large cave, Odysseus and his men entered the cave, where they helped themselves to food and drink, and then fell asleep. After a time, a Cyclops, whose name was Polyphemus, returned to the cave. Leading a group of giant sheep into the cave, he rolled a gigantic stone at the mouth of the cave so nobody could get out.
Cyclopes then got enraged and ate two of Odysseus men. Odysseus being as intelligent as he is, came up with the idea to give the Cyclopes wine; where he then became intoxicated and fell asleep. They then decide to all work together and take a giant sharp stick, and stab the Cyclopes in his one eye. The Cyclopes was blinded and the men were able to escape.
Even though this is just a few of the trials Odysseus and his men had to go through, we can see that Odysseus is a man of intelligence. People may not listen to him all the time; but we can see that if they would have, a lot of their trials would have been a lot easier. Though, this great intelligence may have caused Odysseus to be hubris and arrogant, I believe his intelligence to be a good thing. Through his whole journey, he didn’t want to lose his family, but he wanted to see the world as a hero with of veneration. Odysseus said “I long to reach my home and see the day of my return. It is my never-failing wish.” (Ipad) Seen by this quote given by Odysseus, he longed to reach home. He would do anything he had to do to reach his family. Without his intelligence, he would have never been able to do so.
In retrospective, Odysseus in this amazing epic narrative, it would not have been so epic. Odysseus wouldn’t have been able to control his men, wouldn’t have come up with all the ideas of the war, make it back home, or become the hero he always wanted to be.