In The Next Land Odysseus Character Traits

Odysseus. A name known by some as a glorious hero and known by others as a trickster who uses intricate schemes. During the story of The “Cyclops”, and many stories before it, Odysseus goes on a many adventures and creates many sticky situations for himself in which he finds ways to gets out of. “In the next land [what] we found were Cyclopes, giants, louts, without a law to bless them” (1050). Odysseus knows that the cavemen are uncouth and aggressive, yet he chooses to enter the cave- endangering himself and his men. A man who jeopardizes his crew's safety and does many other tricks, is a man who is not a true ideal. A true hero saves others. He does not look to start trouble but rather he finds trouble that is already happening and he fixes it. On page 1050, “A prodigious man… [is] remote from all companions, knowing none but savage ways… he
They do not trick it or anything. The fight is fair and just; everyone has a chance. When Odysseus “fights” Polyphemus he does not give the cyclops any chance. “[S]leep took him like any creature. Drunk, hiccuping, he dribbled streams of liquor and bits of men” (1056). Odysseus tricks the giant into drinking the nectar and ambrosia so he would fall asleep. To add, Odysseus also tricks Polyphemus after he is blinded. “Blinded, and sick with pain from his head wound, the master stroked each ram, then let it pass, but my men riding on the pectoral fleece the giants blind hands blundering never found” (1059). When the cyclops is at his worst, Odysseus deceives him more and escapes. Another example of his cheating is when Odysseus says, “My name is Nohbdy…” (1056) by doing this Odysseus is lying and creating an unfair advantage against the giant so he cannot get help from the other cyclopes. All in all, Odysseus is not a true ideal and that is why he tricks the cyclops. He cannot fight without eluding someone or