Wisdom vs. Strength in Odyssey.
The Trojan army was slightly stronger than the Greek army. They had the god Ares, god of war, supporting them against the Greeks. At the same time, the Trojans had godlike warriors such as Hector and Aeneas. On the other hand, the Greeks had Athena, goddess of wisdom, to support them against the Trojans. Despite these facts, the Greeks, in the end, won the Trojan War, because of strategy. Therefore, it can be said that wisdom is superior to strength. Though Polyphemus is stronger than Odysseus, Odysseus escapes him through his shrewdness.
Odysseus tricks Polyphemus through temptation. Odysseus exploits two of Polyphemus's senses. Odysseus attempts to fascinate Polyphemus's sense of taste. For example, Odysseus allures Polyphemus with his wine by describing how it would be comfortable to drink with human flesh. Then, Odysseus tempts Polyphemus's sense of hearing. Odysseus talks about his name. Odysseus tells Polyphemus "Cyclops, try this wine- to top off the banquet of human flesh you've bolted down!"(9.388-3.389) Shrewdness's superiority over force is shown in his tempting Polyphemus to drink the wine, because Odysseus is able to make Polyphemus change his desire from wanting to eat them immediately to drinking the wine Odysseus has immediately.
In addition to temptation, Odysseus takes full advantage of Polyphemus's gullibility. First, Odysseus makes Polyphemus believe events that genuinely did not occur to Odysseus. For example, Odysseus falsely tells Polyphemus that his ship was in ruins, because of Poseidon crushed it. Odysseus is able to Odysseus is able to make Polyphemus believe the foolish things he says about himself. For example, Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is "nobody". Also, Odysseus is able to foolishly make Polyphemus believe that bad things are actually blessed items. For instance, Odysseus tells Polyphemus about the greatness of wine, although it can be harmful to Polyphemus, yet despite the harms of wine, Polyphemus believes Odysseus/
Odysseus tricks Polyphemus through temptation. Odysseus exploits two of Polyphemus's senses. Odysseus attempts to fascinate Polyphemus's sense of taste. For example, Odysseus allures Polyphemus with his wine by describing how it would be comfortable to drink with human flesh. Then, Odysseus tempts Polyphemus's sense of hearing. Odysseus talks about his name. Odysseus tells Polyphemus "Cyclops, try this wine- to top off the banquet of human flesh you've bolted down!"(9.388-3.389) Shrewdness's superiority over force is shown in his tempting Polyphemus to drink the wine, because Odysseus is able to make Polyphemus change his desire from wanting to eat them immediately to drinking the wine Odysseus has immediately.
In addition to temptation, Odysseus takes full advantage of Polyphemus's gullibility. First, Odysseus makes Polyphemus believe events that genuinely did not occur to Odysseus. For example, Odysseus falsely tells Polyphemus that his ship was in ruins, because of Poseidon crushed it. Odysseus is able to Odysseus is able to make Polyphemus believe the foolish things he says about himself. For example, Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is "nobody". Also, Odysseus is able to foolishly make Polyphemus believe that bad things are actually blessed items. For instance, Odysseus tells Polyphemus about the greatness of wine, although it can be harmful to Polyphemus, yet despite the harms of wine, Polyphemus believes Odysseus/