Traits Of Odysseus In The Odyssey

In the Epic poem, The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus displays traits proving he is a strong leader of men on his long journey home. One trait Odysseus exhibits is intelligence. For example, on Jerba Island, Odysseus and his men encounter the “Lotus-Eaters”, a group of people who inhabit the island and indulge on the native mind altering plant, the Lotus. Learning from his previous mistakes at Ismarus and trying to grasp more knowledge about their race, Odysseus uses the tactic of dispersing his men about the island. The final verdict to send out only three men, a runner and two messengers, will prevent a majority of his crew from dying in case of attack and corroborate his intelligence. Next, while nearing the Gulf of Salerno, or the …show more content…
Hence, Odysseus conceives a plan specific to these requirements and informs his men of it. He will have himself secured tightly to the mast of the ship while his men plug their ears with beeswax, therefore only Odysseus will hear the Sirens song and the crewmen can row on without interruption. The clever plan will not only allow Odysseus to fulfill the prophecy, it will also save his men's lives from temptation. Another trait is Odysseus’ physical strength, aiding with the ability to conquer many ordeals. One illustration is while awaiting the return of the three scouts Odysseus sent out on Jerba Island. Noticing they had been gone for some time, Odysseus heads out to search for them. Shockingly, he found all of the men with effects of the Lotus flower modifying their minds, making getting home seem like a distant memory. Unwilling to leave, Odysseus had to drag the three wailing men back to the ship, tie them down, and tell everyone else to row. Another example was on Erice, the land of the “Cyclops” when Odysseus’ physical strength protects him and his men from danger. While trapped in Polyphemus’ (the cyclop son of Poseidon) cave with twelve of his best men, they contrive a plan to