In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is often considered a character who is flawed by some of his characteristics. However, throughout the course of the piece he continuously displayed qualities that prove he is, in fact, a leader. Odysseus, without doubt, is an outstanding hero due to his shrewdness, bravery and selflessness.
Odysseus faced many challenges throughout the poem, however, he was always sharp-witted when making decisions. In The Cyclops, Polyphemus grabbed two of the men, and savagely murdered them. Odysseus was consumed with rage and wanted to kill Polyphemus. Despite this, Odysseus contemplated to himself, “if I killed him/ we perished there as well, for we could never/ move his ponderous doorway slab aside” (248-251). …show more content…
In Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus showed valor while the rest of the crew stood in the back of the boat, petrified. As the boat drew nearer to the monsters, Odysseus thought to himself, “a sound the men heard, and it terrified them... Well, I walked up and down from the bow to stern” (759,763). Odysseus revealed his boldness because instead of hiding in the back with the rest of the crew, he continued wandering, thinking of a way to get the men back to work and beat Scylla and Charybdis. This boldness helped significantly because they eventually got by these monsters. In Odysseus’ Revenge, the Suitors were in his home; trying to win Penelope’s love. Antinous was the leader of them, and the most arrogant. Odysseus courageously shoots Antinous with an arrow. The Suitors were infuriated and screeched, “[f]oul to shoot at a man!...You killed the best on Ithaca" (1432,1434). This shows Odysseus’s audaciousness because he wanted to be home alone with his wife, Penelope, instead the Suitors are there trying to win her love. Odysseus is outraged and kills Antinous, to scare them and show the Suitors what he will do to them if they do not leave. In The Challenge, Odysseus is at home with the Suitors, arguing. Odysseus has had enough, and divulges his identity, and he exclaims, “[y]ou yellow dogs, you thought I'd never make it/ home from the land of Troy. You took my house to plunder/ You dared to bid for my wife while I was still alive...Your last hour has come. You die in blood” (1439-1441,1444). This shows Odysseus’s fearlessness because he challenges the Suitors and reveals his identity without hesitation, in attempt to get his home and his beloved Penelope back. Odysseus is a renowned leader for his lion-heartedness, because of this he is able to keep his men and himself safe, and claim back his home and wife. Additionally, Odysseus is more than courageous, which
Odysseus faced many challenges throughout the poem, however, he was always sharp-witted when making decisions. In The Cyclops, Polyphemus grabbed two of the men, and savagely murdered them. Odysseus was consumed with rage and wanted to kill Polyphemus. Despite this, Odysseus contemplated to himself, “if I killed him/ we perished there as well, for we could never/ move his ponderous doorway slab aside” (248-251). …show more content…
In Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus showed valor while the rest of the crew stood in the back of the boat, petrified. As the boat drew nearer to the monsters, Odysseus thought to himself, “a sound the men heard, and it terrified them... Well, I walked up and down from the bow to stern” (759,763). Odysseus revealed his boldness because instead of hiding in the back with the rest of the crew, he continued wandering, thinking of a way to get the men back to work and beat Scylla and Charybdis. This boldness helped significantly because they eventually got by these monsters. In Odysseus’ Revenge, the Suitors were in his home; trying to win Penelope’s love. Antinous was the leader of them, and the most arrogant. Odysseus courageously shoots Antinous with an arrow. The Suitors were infuriated and screeched, “[f]oul to shoot at a man!...You killed the best on Ithaca" (1432,1434). This shows Odysseus’s audaciousness because he wanted to be home alone with his wife, Penelope, instead the Suitors are there trying to win her love. Odysseus is outraged and kills Antinous, to scare them and show the Suitors what he will do to them if they do not leave. In The Challenge, Odysseus is at home with the Suitors, arguing. Odysseus has had enough, and divulges his identity, and he exclaims, “[y]ou yellow dogs, you thought I'd never make it/ home from the land of Troy. You took my house to plunder/ You dared to bid for my wife while I was still alive...Your last hour has come. You die in blood” (1439-1441,1444). This shows Odysseus’s fearlessness because he challenges the Suitors and reveals his identity without hesitation, in attempt to get his home and his beloved Penelope back. Odysseus is a renowned leader for his lion-heartedness, because of this he is able to keep his men and himself safe, and claim back his home and wife. Additionally, Odysseus is more than courageous, which