Odysseus Intellectual Abilities In Homer's The Odyssey

In the epic The Odyssey, by Homer, the main character Odysseus shows how using your intellectual abilities, you can overcome many tough obstacles. However, using your toughness usually only makes the problem worse. Odysseus is also very arrogant, which leads to him angering the Gods and being set back on his journey home. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, displays his ability to trick his enemies, but also shows that toughness and arrogance can steer you in the wrong direction. Odysseus is very intelligent, which he uses to outsmart his enemies. While Odysseus and his crew are sailing home to Ithaca they encounter a series of difficult events, where Odysseus saves his crew by using his intellectual abilities. “Here, cyclops, try this …show more content…
324-326). Polyphemus makes a show of hospitality at first, but he soon turns hostile. He eats two of Odysseus’s men and traps Odysseus and the rest of his men in his cave. When Odysseus and his crew come upon the Sirens Odysseus wants to hear their voices and could have endangered his men. “I alone was to hear their voices…” (12. 175). If Odysseus was tempted to go to the island, and force his way out of the rope his men tied him in, he could have put them all in danger. Odysseus’ toughness results in two of his many of his men being killed, and almost his whole fleet of men being killed if he fell for the Cyclops’ trap.
Odysseus utilizes his intellectual prowess to overpower his enemies, and ensure his crew is safe. However, Odysseus also portrays negative traits by showing he is superior to the Cyclops, and his men at the time when he decides to hide what is in the bag. His toughness causes him to face greater difficulty, by thinking he is overpowering and not using his smartness to overcome the problem. In the Book the Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus shows that toughness and arrogance can steer you in the wrong direction, however his ability to trick his enemies saves he and his