Selflessness In The Odyssey

In The Odyssey, book nine and ten written by Homer, Odysseus constantly embodies the principal characteristics of a hero which are : cleverness, leadership, and selflessness. Thus, this character is regarded as an idol among the other characters and greatly captures the reader’s sympathy for his choices and the fruit to his actions in life. First, Odysseus displays cleverness in Book Nine when he tricks the Cyclops Poluphemus that his name is “nobody” in order to escape the horrors of the cyclop’s cave. He states: “Nobody--so my mother and father call me, all my friends” (Homer, 18). Second, Odysseus is a brave leader of his army especially in book ten when he displays leadership by motivating his comrades in keep trying to sail despite the

heavy winds which hindered their ability to sail. He states: “We won’t go down to the House of Death, not yet, not till our day arrives” (Homer, 25). Furthermore, Odysseus displays selflessness in Book Nine when he heavily relies on he strategically plays with the Cyclop, Polyphemus to ensure the safety of his men. They are nearly eaten alive by the Cyclop however he orders his crewmen to tie themselves under the rams in the cave: “slung a man under each middle one...to ride safely” (Homer, 16). Odysseus greatly shows his selflessness in this critical time and he is not afraid to risk his own life with the dreadful cyclop as long as it results in the safety of his shipmates. Althogher, Odysseus’s qualities of cleverness, leardership and selflessnesss combine to create a firm heroic figure for himself.