His men prefer to stay, leading to a defeat at the hands of reinforcements. After the victory over the Cicones, Odysseus wisely wants to take the plunder and depart quickly (9.50). The most notable example being his difficulty in controlling his men. In other ways, however, he seems slow to learn. His self-control while dealing with the suitors’ insults is exemplary and contrasts, for example, with his earlier irresistible urge to announce his name to the Cyclops in Book 9. As Menelaus tells Telemachus in Book 4, it was Odysseus’ legendary ruse of the Trojan horse that led to the defeat of Troy.Ĭertainly Odysseus does grow in wisdom and judgment throughout his ventures. It was he who disguised himself as an old beggar and infiltrated the enemy. His participation in the war was crucial to the Greeks’ victory. When Odysseus left for Troy, he had already established his reputation as a hero. The Odyssey is not a lesson plan for growth the episodes are not didactic examples of the importance of prudence or anything else. While he does seem to grow throughout his wanderings, the reader should not look at each event as a one more learning experience for the hero. He is, in every way, “the man of twists and turns” (1.1). During the battle with the suitors, for example, she could easily and quickly prevail but she makes Odysseus earn the victory.Īppropriately, Odysseus’ development as a character is complicated. Even when Athena intervenes on his behalf, she often leaves ultimate success or failure up to Odysseus. Odysseus often has only two choices: death or victory. In Homer’s world, where there are no police or justice systems, might usually makes right. His concern with victory is also cultural, as well as practical. He wants to return home and live well in Ithaca as a result, every step along the way is another test, sometimes, another battle. It is easy to see why some critics like to call him the first “modern man.” He is deeper than Achilles, more contemplative, but still capable of explosive violence he is almost certainly more interesting. He creates his own code of conduct through his adventures. Odysseus can be merciful, as when he spares the bard Phemius, or brutal, as he seems when dealing with the dozen disloyal maidservants. He is willing to pay a price for knowledge for example, he insists on hearing the Sirens’ call, even though to do so, he must have himself excruciatingly strapped to the mast of his ship so that he cannot give in to the temptation. Although he is self-disciplined (refusing to eat the lotus), his curiosity is sometimes the root of his trouble (as with the Cyclops). When it proves effective, Odysseus lies (even to his own family), cheats, or steals in ways that we would not expect in an epic hero. Often he openly evaluates a situation, demonstrating the logic he employs in making his choices. He lives by his wiles as well as his courage. Odysseus, in The Odyssey, is much more complicated. Achilles, of course, chose the glorious life therefore, he achieves a kind of immortality through valor and intense, honest devotion to a cause. According to the myth the Homeric Greeks would have known, Achilles was given a choice by the gods to live a short, glorious life full of excitement and heroism or a long, tranquil life with little recognition or fame. He has a tragic flaw, which can best be identified as hubris (an overbearing arrogance or misguided pride) as one of several distinguishing traits. We can contrast Odysseus, for example, with the great warrior Achilles in The Iliad.Īchilles himself is not a two-dimensional stereotype. He is also a living series of contradictions, a much more complicated character than we would expect to find in the stereotypical epic hero. He is confident that he represents virtue even when a modern audience might not be so sure. Even the wrath of Poseidon does not keep him from his homecoming. He is favored by the gods and respected and admired by the mortals. Odysseus is a combination of the self-made, self-assured man and the embodiment of the standards and mores of his culture.
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