Odysseus Character Traits

Strength and vulnerability are contradicting characteristics, but some situations may drive a person to express both. If someone is feeling emotional and weak, another person or a situation might spark an instinct to be strong and persevere. In chapters 5-8 of The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus’ personality drastically changes depending on the position that he is in. After fighting in the Trojan War for 10 years, Zeus wrecks Odysseus’ ship and leaves him without a boat or any crew members. He washes up on the shore of Ogygia, an island inhabited by the nymph Calypso, and finds himself trapped there for eight years. Despite the fact that Odysseus is not with his family during the war, he is the smartest hero and demonstrates these qualities. However,

throughout his time on Calypso’s island, Odysseus begins to display his weakness. He longs to be back on Ithaca with his wife Penelope and son Telemachus. After finally leaving the island with help from Athena, Zeus, and Hermes, Odysseus’ journey brings him to Phaeacia where he meets a princess named Nausicaa. He uses his story to make Nausicaa pity him, but also displays his intelligence by using flattery as a means for receiving help. Odysseus goes to the palace of Alcinous, the king, and once again provides multiple examples of his contradicting personality so that Alcinous will help him get home. After going through many hardships, Odysseus’ strength and intelligence that he developed as a war hero is replaced by a longing to give up and cry, however, in certain situations Odysseus proves to be the man he once was.
After Zeus wrecks his ship, Odysseus’ desire to be with his family causes him to take pity on himself and weep.

Beginning on Calypso’s island, Odysseus acts helpless in many ways and relies on others to help him get where he wants to be. Luckily this works, and after 8 years on Ogygia Athena asks Zeus to help free Odysseus. Zeus sends Hermes to the Island where he finds Calypso in her home. “As for the lion-hearted Odysseus, Hermes did not find him in the cave, for he was sitting disconsolate on the shore in his accustomed place, tormenting himself with tears and sighs and heartache, and looking out across the barren sea with streaming eyes” (p.65). He cries while looking at the sea because it reminds him of how he is trapped and away from his family. Although Odysseus is released on this particular day, sitting by the shore and crying is a regular occurrence. Calypso treats Odysseus well on the island, and he can try to control his emotions instead of let them get the best of him. However, his vulnerability is exposed and Odysseus behaves in a way that makes others pity him instead of respect him. He continues to conduct himself this way even when he reaches the Palace of Alcinous in Phaeacia. Laodamas, a Phaeacian man, asks Odysseus if he would like to participate in their competition, and he declines with the excuse that he is too sad. He says, “‘I am too sick at heart to think of games. I have been through many bitter and exhausting experiences, and all I seek now is my

passage home, which is why I am sitting here in your assembly to plead help from your King and your whole nation’” (p. 98). Rather than using his intellect to come up with a solution on his own, Odysseus continuously begs for help from others. He makes people feel sorry for him, and conceals his true identity out of a fear that people will not help him if they are aware of his capabilities. The pain that Odysseus feels when he is away from his family unmasks a deeply emotional side of his personality, but the brave hero inside of him never completely fades.
Although Odysseus is not as lion-hearted and as he once was, in some circumstances outside forces provoke him and it is evident that he is still an intelligent hero at heart.

Odysseus is sad and disconsolate on Calypso’s island, but when Hermes frees him on behalf of Zeus, it is the perfect opportunity to prove his determination. After spending 4 days building a boat, Odysseus takes off on a long and difficult journey across the sea. “It was with a happy heart that the noble Odysseus spread his sail to catch the wind and skillfully kept the raft on course with the rudder. There he sat and never closed his eyes in sleep.... So for seventeen days he sailed on his course and on the eighteenth there came into view the shadowy mountain of the Phaeacians’ country, which jutted out to meet him” (p. 69-70). Not only does Odysseus prove his sailing expertise, but he does not sleep for two weeks. This is a feat that not many humans can accomplish. He is demonstrating a completely different side of his personality than he showed on the island, and this is driven by the idea that he may have a chance of going home. However, after Poseidon sends a wave that destroys Odysseus’ boat, he sinks back into his slump. The successful and strong Odysseus does not return until the end of book eight when the Phaeacian men are urging him to compete in their games. The games are an attempt by King Alcinous to impress Odysseus. He wants Odysseus to praise the Phaeacians to the people of Ithaca when

his men sail Odysseus home. Odysseus does not give in until Euryalus criticizes his athleticism; he picks up a discus only to throw it farther than all of the Phaeacians. He says, “‘Now beat that, you young men! But presently I expect to send along another just as far or even further. And since you have thoroughly provoked me, come out, if any of you like the idea and have the spirit, come out and take me on- at boxing, wrestling, or even running, I don’t care which’” (p.99). In this instance, Odysseus forgets that he is using pity as a means for receiving help from the Phaeacians. Because of this he displays his strength to protect his own pride. Odysseus recognizes that the way he has been acting does not represent who he wants to be. However, if Odysseus still wants help on his journey home, he has to revert to the lame version of himself and tell Alcinous how impressed he his by the Phaeacians. The sides of Odysseus’ personality directly contradict each other, but his one motivation is to return to his family and he acts in this inconsistent way because of them.
The task of fighting in the Trojan war distracts Odysseus from the fact that his wife and son are not with him. Because of this, the courageous side of his personality prevails. However, Odysseus’ time at sea and on Calypso’s island provides him with an opportunity to think about how lonely he really is. From this point on, all of his actions and complex emotions are a result of trying to get home. Books five through eight describe the stops on Odysseus’ journey, but also provide insight into how he is feeling. When Odysseus feels vulnerable and needs others to further him along, he tends to pity himself. He makes others feel empathy toward him so they will want to help. Contrary to this, when an outside force is provoking him, Odysseus proves that the toughness he once displayed is still inside of him. These forces can be people like Euryalus or life-and-death situations. This paradox can be explained by Odysseus’ willingness to do everything in his power to return to Penelope and Telemachus. There is often a reason for people to act inconsistently, and it is not always family. Positive or negative experiences can cause people to express themselves in many ways. When someone cannot be defined by a single characteristic, finding out the motivation for their actions can help to better understand their true identity.