Odysseus Ambition In Homer's Odyssey

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Goals are the epitome of a person, often the very thing that drives him forward and leads him to pursue his passion in life. Often, ambition is what defines him. However, in the same vein, it can be his downfall when set too high on a pedestal. Instead, it is wiser to take a leisurely approach in terms of placing small objectives along the journey. This method allows one to reward himself with minor successes whenever he’s discouraged, build toward the larger dream, and come to the realization that not everyone is destined for greatness. First and foremost, aiming within one’s capabilities is not an act that should be looked down upon. While it’s portrayed as pulling oneself back, it would be more accurate to say that a person’s talents are …show more content…

Hopping from mastering from one thing to another is not a feat anyone can execute with ease; in actuality, it makes one a master of none. Instead, like Homer’s Odysseus from the Odyssey, nurturing a specific talent he shows proficiency in proves to be more beneficial in the future. Even before the Trojan War, Odysseus had an affinity for deception, often using his cunning to his advantage, even if it didn’t always work. As an illustration, when other cities of Greece were rallying up people to fight the Trojan War, Odysseus devised a plan to avoid joining it by pretending to be mad. He did this via sowing salt into the ground instead of seeds and having his plow pulled by a horse and ox. If his son wasn’t placed in front of his plow, making Odysseus break character, his plan would have undoubtedly worked. Additionally, over the years, Odysseus hones this ability to the point he is able to use his wit to get out of tricky situations, such as escaping a man-eating cyclops; without it, he would’ve never made it out alive. It proves that a dedication to one area of expertise, while may be trivial at present, will always turn out to be useful in the

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