How Is Odysseus Selfish

Odysseus is a self-centered leader who allows his own personal desires to cloud his judgement as a leader which puts not only himself, but his men in danger. When Odysseus and his men come upon a cave full of sheeps and crates full of cheese, Odysseus decides to enter the cave. Even when his men advise him to take some cheese and drive the lambs to the ship and set sail, odysseus lets his curiosity get the best of him and decides to wait for the giant to return. “...We looked around at everything inside…. My men came pleading, take these cheese, come back, throw open all the pens, and make a run for it. …. I refused, I wished to see the caveman.” (Page 85, Odyssey, Homer). First of all, it is a very tactless idea to go into an unknown Cyclopes cave, especially when he is already aware of their dangerous nature and abilities. …show more content…
This decision is perhaps the most selfish decision that Odysseus makes during his whole journey since it leads to the loss of 8 men.. To make matters worse, even after finally escaping the island of the Cyclopes and capturing the sheeps, Odysseus lets his pride get to him when he feels the need to share his real name and where he comes from with Polyphemus so that he can take credit for his strategy of escaping the cave. “I would not need them in my glorying spirit, but let my anger flare and yelled: ‘If ever immortal man inquire how you were blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities,took your eye: Laertes’ son whose home’s on Ithaca” (Page 85, Odyssey,