The Tragic Hero Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

Rather than applying physical strength, Odysseus uses his intellectual prowess to his advantage in order to overcome several obstacles he is faced with throughout his journey back home to Ithaca. Odysseus is often times looked at as an admirable hero since he uses his brain power and cleverness rather than vigor to overcome several complications he confronts which clearly portrays the traits he has that proves that he truly is a heroic character. In book 9 when Odysseus stabs Polyphemus, the vicious man eating cyclops, in the eye rather than killing him all together by applying his mighty brawn, it demonstrates one of the many situations where Odysseus’ cleverness benefits him hugely. Also, in book 12, Odysseus’ intellectual strategy of safely

Before stabbing Polyphemus in the eye, Odysseus gets him drunk first to ensure he would not have enough coordination to attempt to kill him and his remaining crew members. The triumphant plan of intoxicating Polyphemus before impaling him so that his coordination will be disoriented rather than actually fighting him portrays why Odysseus is often times looked at as an respectable character. In attempt to get the cyclops tipsy, Odysseus says, “Three bowls I brimmed and three he drank to the last drop” (9.405). Subsequently, Polyphemus asks Odysseus what his name is and Odysseus responds saying, “Nobody-that’s my name. Nobody” (9.410). By keeping his identity a secret and saying his name is nobody is a tremendously intelligent move by Odysseus because that way once he stabs him in the eye, Polyphemus will not blame the situation on him and gain help from the other cyclops. Once Odysseus thrusts the burning stake into Polyphemus’ eye, the enraged beast yells, “Nobody’s killing me now by fraud and not by force” (9.455). Using his brawn in a situation like this rather than using his intellectual prowess could have cost Odysseus and his crew their lives. Ultimately, Odysseus exemplifies an admirable hero

Even though Circe’s guidance does not seem extremely cogent at first, Odysseus uses his intelligence to understand that standing up to Scylla and fighting her, as Circe advised him not to, would result in failure for him as well as his crew members. The first direction Circe gives is to avoid the path containing the moving rocks since it is impossible for any ship to successfully get through it. By following these directions instead of trying to create his own method of surviving the dangerous rock path shows Odysseus’ restraint on using his strength, and applying his brainpower instead. In describing the dangers of the moving rock path, Circe says, “The Clashing Rocks they’re called...not even birds can escape them” (12.68-69). Succeeding the first piece of advice given by Circe, she also tells Odysseus to advance through Scylla’s path as quickly as possible without attempting to fight her off. By listening to Circe’s directions and avoiding contact with Scylla, it shows how Odysseus used reason over his strength to overcome the difficult task at hand successfully, conveying the concept of a hero. Giving helpful advice, Circe says, “Hug Scylla’s crag-sail on past her-top speed” (12.119).