Valuing The Mind Over Physical Strength In Homer's Odyssey

In Homer’s poem The Odyssey, the theme of valuing the power of the mind over physical strength is prevalent. Throughout the course of the poem, the hero Odysseus uses his intelligence and clever-thinking to navigate the obstacles he faces as opposed to facing them brute fighting and strength. At many points in the story, Odysseus demonstrates that the power of one’s own creativity and wit can be more beneficial than using uncalculated fighting when faced with difficult situations. Although the character is more than capable of using his physical strength to combat opponents, instead he uses his own mind and cleverness to face opposing forces.

The first example of this is shown when Odysseus’s ship is destroyed by Poseidon, and he his throw

into the sea. After Athena guides his from the deep sea and towards the coast, he is washed into a river away from the jagged rocks of the Grecian coastline. He then leaves the river and heads into the forest where he collapses for the night. The next day, he approaches the riverside to find Nausikaa, a Phaeacian princess. Odysseus cleverly calculates the best way to get her to help him, and convinces Nausikaa to help him find Queen Arete. Although Odysseus was portrayed as a strong and brute warrior in the prequel, The Iliad, in this poem his character takes a drastic turn and is humble and guarded in his actions and words. Through being cautious and gentle with his actions, Nausikaa shows him great kindness and generosity. This is shown in the quote in which Nausikaa states: “But now, since it is our land and our city that you have come to, you shall not lack for clothing nor anything else, of those gifts which should befall the unhappy suppliant on his arrival.” (6.191-193) As Nausikaa begins to develop feelings for Odysseys and councils him on how to approach the Queen, and how to find the palace. In this situation, it is shown to the audience how deeply clever the hero if the story is.
The next example of the theme of the power of the mind over physical strength is in the flashback in which Odysseus recounts his travels to the Phaeacian court.

He tells of how him and his men came upon the cave of the cyclops Polyphemus. Odysseus convinces his men to not steal the vast provisions in the cave, and instead wait to see if it’ owner would be hospitable. Polyphemus denounced Zeus’s laws of hospitality, and proceeded to eat two of Odysseus’s men. When Polyphemus passes out after eating the men, Odysseus prepares to kill the cyclops in his sleep. However, he realized that a great boulder blocks the entrance to the cave: If he killed Polyphemus, he would be unable to leave the cave. So, he devised a plan to escape. As the cyclops left to tend to his flock of sheep, he fashioned a great spear out of wood. Then he offered some of his wine, given to him by a priest of Apollo to Polyphemus, and tells him that his name is Noman. Polyphemus then passes out drunk. While the cyclops is unconscious, Odysseus stabs the wooden spear into Polyphemus’s eye. When the cyclops finally passes out, Odysseus and his remaining men tie themselves underneath Polyphemus’s sheep. When the sheep are herded outside the cave, Odysseus and his men untie themselves escape the island. This part of the story shows how clever Odysseus truly is. If Odysseus had been thinking as a warrior, him and his men most likely would have tried to overpower the cyclops or kill him in his sleep and try to use

their strength to remove the boulder. However, instead he uses his intellect to devise a plan to escape. By having Odysseus develop a clever plan to escape instead of beating Polyphemus in a bloody fight, Homer shows that the power of the mind can be far more efficient and powerful than using force or physical strength.
My final example of the theme of the power of the mind over physical strength is when Odysseus disguises himself as a poor beggar man when returning home to avoid revealing his identity to Penelope’s suitors.

Odysseus could’ve came home, and demanded that the suitors leave which would have most likely ended in a blood bath. However, instead he decided to be more calculating in his return. He stayed disguised, and enlisted the help of his household servants to take his house back. He prepares his son, and attending a feast with the many suitors. After much planning and playing the role of a beggar, he enters the contest to win Penelope’s hand. The suitors argue and ridicule him, but he takes the bow and successfully strings it. Telemachus order’s the women inside to prevent them from hearing the soon to occur sounds of battle, and Odysseus shoots his arrow through the twelve axe heads. He then reveals his identity, and begins slaughtering the suitors. Although he did use strength in the end in battle to win Penelope back, Odysseus used careful planning and was very careful in developing a plan to succeed in his goal. This is the largest example in the poem of the theme of using the mind over physical strength, because without using his mind and wit Odysseus would not have succeeded in his

quest.
In conclusion, in Homer’s The Odyssey the theme of valuing the power of the mind over physical strength is prevalent and often occurs. Throughout the course of the poem, the hero Odysseus uses his intelligence and clever-thinking to navigate the obstacles he faces as opposed to facing them brute fighting and strength. At many points in the story, Odysseus demonstrates that the power of one’s own creativity and wit can be more beneficial than using uncalculated fighting when faced with difficult situations.