Brute Force In The Odyssey

In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, the hero Odysseus has to find his way home after ten long years fighting in the Trojan War. Odysseus, the speaker, is telling his journey to King Alcinous and his court. In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer changes Odysseus's cleverness in order to reveal his message that intelligence is better than brute force when solving a conflict to his ancient greek audience and the reader. Cleverness develops by Odysseus escaping the Cyclops to seeking advice then taken back his palace. Even through many of the characters often use brute force to get their way Odysseus cleverness helps him solve conflict.

Odysseus cleverness helps reveal intelligence is better than brute force through Odysseus escaping the Cyclops. …show more content…
The blind prophet Teiresias can see in the future. The mentor Teiresias says that Odysseus needs "restraint of shipmates" (625). Odysseus would try to use this and we work in many different situations. Restraining the crew is clever to get them on task. Odysseus before the section might have not seek advice do to his pride. Teiresias continues to warn about future dangers. He told Odysseus that "anguish lies ahead" (620). Odysseus can now prepare for difficulties ahead. Preparing for difficulties can often can help you overcome challenges in the future. Odysseus using his intelligence by preparing is better than going in with no plan but to use force to get your way. Teiresias also warned that it would be hard to keep everyone alive. He said that to escape Poseidon there is "one narrow path" (624). Since the journey is hard ahead, Odysseus must be clever to keep the crew on task. This advice will help Odysseus in the future get back to Ithaca. Prior to this section, Odysseus might do his own thing instead of taking advice seriously. Odysseus cleverness that helps reveal intelligence is better than brute force, shows that seeking advice is wise and will help him in the task of taking back …show more content…
To take back the palace, Odysseus had to get the trust of some of his helpers. Odysseus told Telemachus "you can trust me" (1152). Getting trust of people is what you need if you want them to help you. Without there help, Odysseus could not take back the palace. To prove himself, Odysseus had to shoot a bow that the average person could not do. Odysseus could string the bow because he is "skilled in many ways" (1185). Odysseus was very calm when stringing it. Staying calm in tough situations is not easy. When Odysseus was shooting the arrow, he asked Apollo for help. Odysseus said right before he shot the arrow "Help me Apollo" (1226). Odysseus was smart to ask for help in a tough situation. This also suggests he was clever enough to know this is important. Odysseus using cleverness to take out the brute force of the helps to reveal the theme that intelligence is better than brute