Odysseus: Intelligence, Foolishness and Bravery Explored

Laney Hutchings

10-18-15

Dottarar

Period 5

Characteristics of Odysseus Nowadays, most people think of a hero as a mentally/physically strong person with superpowers and the ability to save people. Odysseus from the book, Odyssey, represents a hero through his intelligence, slightly foolishness, and bravery. During Odysseus’ journey back home to Ithica, him and his shipmates encountered many difficulties along the way resulting in Odysseus getting back home with a few cuts and bruises. Odysseus managed to get himself through dozens of obstacles, and in his often success, he showed intelligence, foolishness and bravery. One of the traits that describe Odysseus most is intelligence. To begin, one night while talking to Polyphemos, Odysseus

He is one of the bravest heroic soldiers of the Trojan war, had he not been so strong and brave, he could not have held such respect among his men. For starters, when Odysseus approaches his next obstacle, he chooses between either Skylla, a hungry six headed monster, or Charybdis, a whirlpool. Odysseus chose Skylla because as he explains it, “Better to mourn six men than lose them all, and the ship, too.” (12.129-130). As was stated previously, Skylla takes six of his best men. This represents his bravery by showing how he was brave while approaching Skylla, and was prepared her to take six men. Following this, after Zeus kills all Odysseus’ men, he has to go through the monsters once again, but this time, he chooses Charybdis. He leaps up and grabs onto the branch hanging over to prevent himself from getting sucked into the whirlpool. He reports back, “But i clung grimly, thinking my mast and keel would come back to the surface when she spouted.” (12.540-541). Odysseus came out of this mess alive, and paddled away on what was left of his destroyed ship. This shows bravery because he had to get through Charybdis on his own with help from no one but himself. Last but not least, Odysseus goes to far measures just so he can be with his wife, Penelope. To reunite with his wife, Odysseus strings a bow that no man but him could string, followed by him, slaughters all the suitors who want her, ending with him fighting and surviving a battle against relatives of the men he killed. “In blood and dust he saw that crowd all fallen, many and many slain.” (22.430-431). This is crucial because it shows his vast amounts of bravery for his