In The Odyssey, Homer chronicles Odysseus' journey and how he demonstrates characteristics, that are essential to navigating challenges that also apply today. Even though Odysseus goes through countless challenges and tests, it is his character and actions that define him as a person and shape his journey. Homer reveals the three main defining traits that Odysseus demonstrates throughout the entire epic as honor, courage, and guile. These traits which we witness Odysseus use consistently throughout The Odyssey, are also traits that can be pertinent in our current lives. Having honor, courage and the ability to overcome obstacles is as valuable now as in Odysseus' time.
Honor is one of the main themes addressed in The Odyssey. Multiple situations …show more content…
In modern times, many would believe that his guile is used in a manner that justifies actions that are unacceptable and felonious. Despite this rebuttal, throughout The Odyssey and in recent time, many would say that his guile is used to influence situations and what happens to himself during high-pressure events, marking it as tolerable. *Throughout the epic one thing we repeatedly witness is how different Odysseus’ world was from ours today and as shown throughout history different conditions and times can cause attributes to be seen differently*: “That flock, those well-fed rams with their splendid thick fleece...clutching him by his back, tucked up under his shaggy belly, there I hung, face upward, both hands locked in his marvelous deep fleece, clinging for dear life...desperate, waiting for Dawn's first light”(225.483-487). Odysseus’ quick witted idea for escaping Polyphemus, (the Cyclops) cave, was not only strategic but showed how his cleverness spared not only himself and his men from sudden death. In The Odyssey, though his guile is used in a manner that can be seen as inappropriate, a majority of his clever decisions stem from the defensible, desire to return home. Odysseus has to rely on his guile to get him out of trouble as often as other admirable traits that shape him as a person. This makes him relatable and …show more content…
During his journey, he takes on challenges that most would either fail or turn away from showing his courage to move forward. Throughout the epic, Odysseus comes up against many impossible situations that he makes possible because of this courage: "gasping as Scylla swung them upon her cliff and there at her cavern's mouth, she bolted them down raw-screaming out, flinging their arms toward me...of all the pitiful things I've had to witness, suffering, search out the pathways of the sea, this wrenched my heart the most" (279.276-282). This situation not only shows his will to persevere through this horrid encounter with a monster, but also how he uses the strength gained from his past encounters. For example, he classifies these situations as 'pitiful' and 'suffering' showing the journeys he ventured from were not pleasing, but he pushed through them looking for his end goal (reach Ithaca his home). Not only does this show how courage was essential in Odysseus' world but also how it plays a role now. This is seen in how we continually reference past difficult situations and use them to overcome obstacles in the present. In The Odyssey, even though facing a monster or a Cyclops is not a situation we would encounter in today's world, it symbolizes a large obstacle we must face not knowing the outcome. Courage allows us to face issues that we may not willingly do so on our own, opening us
Honor is one of the main themes addressed in The Odyssey. Multiple situations …show more content…
In modern times, many would believe that his guile is used in a manner that justifies actions that are unacceptable and felonious. Despite this rebuttal, throughout The Odyssey and in recent time, many would say that his guile is used to influence situations and what happens to himself during high-pressure events, marking it as tolerable. *Throughout the epic one thing we repeatedly witness is how different Odysseus’ world was from ours today and as shown throughout history different conditions and times can cause attributes to be seen differently*: “That flock, those well-fed rams with their splendid thick fleece...clutching him by his back, tucked up under his shaggy belly, there I hung, face upward, both hands locked in his marvelous deep fleece, clinging for dear life...desperate, waiting for Dawn's first light”(225.483-487). Odysseus’ quick witted idea for escaping Polyphemus, (the Cyclops) cave, was not only strategic but showed how his cleverness spared not only himself and his men from sudden death. In The Odyssey, though his guile is used in a manner that can be seen as inappropriate, a majority of his clever decisions stem from the defensible, desire to return home. Odysseus has to rely on his guile to get him out of trouble as often as other admirable traits that shape him as a person. This makes him relatable and …show more content…
During his journey, he takes on challenges that most would either fail or turn away from showing his courage to move forward. Throughout the epic, Odysseus comes up against many impossible situations that he makes possible because of this courage: "gasping as Scylla swung them upon her cliff and there at her cavern's mouth, she bolted them down raw-screaming out, flinging their arms toward me...of all the pitiful things I've had to witness, suffering, search out the pathways of the sea, this wrenched my heart the most" (279.276-282). This situation not only shows his will to persevere through this horrid encounter with a monster, but also how he uses the strength gained from his past encounters. For example, he classifies these situations as 'pitiful' and 'suffering' showing the journeys he ventured from were not pleasing, but he pushed through them looking for his end goal (reach Ithaca his home). Not only does this show how courage was essential in Odysseus' world but also how it plays a role now. This is seen in how we continually reference past difficult situations and use them to overcome obstacles in the present. In The Odyssey, even though facing a monster or a Cyclops is not a situation we would encounter in today's world, it symbolizes a large obstacle we must face not knowing the outcome. Courage allows us to face issues that we may not willingly do so on our own, opening us