Arête and Metis
Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, has been blessed with magnificent abilities, cunning wits and combat superiority. Throughout his journey, he showed many examples of excellence and wits, or what Greeks called Arête and Metis. He battled giant Cyclops and raging sea monsters. He even fought a whole army of suitors with only the help of his son and two loyal herds. Not only did he display amazing skills, or Arête, he also showed great Metis. He tricked a Cyclops into thinking that his name is “Nobody,” and he built a boat that eventually saved his life. Although he performed many of these remarkable acts, the dominance of one trait over another is still debated. Can he survive with only one of these abilities? Without both of …show more content…
A man that would fit into this category would be Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Polyphemus may not seem like the one who would show Arête, however he is excellent in strength. Polyphemus could lift a huge boulder with ease. “Then to close the door he hoisted overhead a tremendous, massive slab- no twenty–two wagons, rugged and four-wheeled, could budge that boulder off the ground”(219). This quote demonstrates the superior strength that Polyphemus possessed. He was capable of lifting a tremendous boulder, which shows his Arête. Even though he has excellent strength, he is still seen as a monster, as described by Odysseus, “The hearts inside us shook, terrified by his rumbling voice and monstrous hulk” (219). So this means Polyphemus has the strength, but not the heart nor personality of a hero. Instead, Polyphemus uses his strength to throw rocks at Odysseus ship, which doesn’t seem righteous at all. He also displays rude manners towards his guest, which also doesn’t seem heroic. Therefore, having the trait of Arête doesn’t make you a hero, you also must need Metis too, in order to be a
Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, has been blessed with magnificent abilities, cunning wits and combat superiority. Throughout his journey, he showed many examples of excellence and wits, or what Greeks called Arête and Metis. He battled giant Cyclops and raging sea monsters. He even fought a whole army of suitors with only the help of his son and two loyal herds. Not only did he display amazing skills, or Arête, he also showed great Metis. He tricked a Cyclops into thinking that his name is “Nobody,” and he built a boat that eventually saved his life. Although he performed many of these remarkable acts, the dominance of one trait over another is still debated. Can he survive with only one of these abilities? Without both of …show more content…
A man that would fit into this category would be Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Polyphemus may not seem like the one who would show Arête, however he is excellent in strength. Polyphemus could lift a huge boulder with ease. “Then to close the door he hoisted overhead a tremendous, massive slab- no twenty–two wagons, rugged and four-wheeled, could budge that boulder off the ground”(219). This quote demonstrates the superior strength that Polyphemus possessed. He was capable of lifting a tremendous boulder, which shows his Arête. Even though he has excellent strength, he is still seen as a monster, as described by Odysseus, “The hearts inside us shook, terrified by his rumbling voice and monstrous hulk” (219). So this means Polyphemus has the strength, but not the heart nor personality of a hero. Instead, Polyphemus uses his strength to throw rocks at Odysseus ship, which doesn’t seem righteous at all. He also displays rude manners towards his guest, which also doesn’t seem heroic. Therefore, having the trait of Arête doesn’t make you a hero, you also must need Metis too, in order to be a