Odysseus Character Analysis

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Recommended: An analysis of Odysseus' characters

Have you ever been away from home for a long period of time? The main character Odysseus from Homer’s The Odyssey has been away from his kingdom fighting in Troy and sailing from island to island for twenty years. While at sea, Odysseus deals with both alienating and enriching experiences as he is surrounded by monsters who want to eat him and his men, and women who want him to love them. Odysseus survives the troubling situations and finally realizes how much he misses the love of his wife who is caring loving, and patient. She gave birth to his son who he has not yet met, which makes him anxious to return to his kingdom. Sometimes being away from what you think are the little things can give you a better perspective of what is around you.
Many of the struggles that Odysseus faces enrich him in ways that he doesn’t realize until he returns home. When Odysseus hears of the battles they will face in book 12, he prepares his men with the tools necessary for dealing with the situations. They come across a monster known as the Scylla. The Scylla is a six headed monster that eats six men from every passing ship. Odysseus does not tell his men that six of them will be eaten, showing the readers his intelligence and wit. “Heads up, lads! We must obey the orders as I give them. Get the oarshafts in your hands, and lay back hard on the benches; hit these breaking seas.” (12. 150-153). Odysseus shows great leadership and learns how to keep his fellow shipmates calm. In order for the men to tackle this battle and remain alive no one can become frazzled. A storm is brewing and a funnel is growing around them. Although Odysseus loses six men he still has a strong crew to survive the next trial. Odysseus and his men discover the island w...

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...s was not there to parent his child, his son accepts him as if he'd known him all of his life. They stand side by side when Odysseus returns home, and together they defeat all of the suitors that tried to take over his kingdom, wife, and fortune. While sailing across the different seas, he does not have the love and support of his family. Now Odysseus sees the bigger picture, his family, kingdom and comfort are his home. on many things. Odysseus grows as a person and as a leader. During the whole trip Odysseus misses his wife Penelope and realizes how much she means to him. After being reunited with her he can finally continue on with life as a father, husband and ruler. Odysseus learns how to love his family and kingdom again. Many of the trials Odysseus faces are enriching for him as a person. A few of the situations alienated him and gave him a new perspective

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