Character of Odysseus

English make up quiz 01
The Odyssey (Books IX, X)

Q. Give a character desorption of Odysseus based on the two books, what would you identify as his most essential, defining character traits? How would you describe him as a leader/commander?

I find Odysseus as a very complicated character. He is strong, courageous, Intelligent, confident and most importantly very cunning character with judgmental problem. As I read book IX, I find him as a self assured man, so proud of identifying himself. The form that Odysseus’s revelation of his identity takes is interesting. Reputation is of paramount importance in this culture. Odysseus begins by saying that it is a great thing to listen to such a minstrel perform his songs, but that by asking for the cause of his sorrow he causes more grief. Odysseus doesn’t simply utter his name; rather, he attaches to it an epithet, or short, descriptive title. For example, in book IX (p313), after he made Cyclops blind, he says, “Cyclops- If any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so- Say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye, laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithica!”
Odysseus is here going through the motions of confirming his glory, he wants to make sure everyone knows about his great deeds as Odysseus believes that the height of glory is achieved by spreading his name abroad through great deeds.
Most importantly, we find Odysseus as a cunning character. Odysseus’s quick thinking helps him out of some very tough situations, as when he escapes from the cave of the Cyclops in Book IX. When the Cyclops returns, Odysseus cunningly offers him wine and tells him that his name is "Nobody." As soon as Cyclops collapses with intoxication, Odysseus and a select group of his men drive the red-hot staff into his eye. Cyclops wakes with a shriek, and his neighbors come to see what is wrong, but they leave as soon as he calls out, “Nobody’s killing me” (9.455). So they did not come to see what is happening and Odysseus and his man were able to escape from that place before anyone could get them. Odysseus is also intelligent and patient. When Cyclops devours two of Odysseus’s men on the spot and imprisons Odysseus, Odysseus could take his sword to Cyclops right then, but he knows that only Cyclops is strong enough to move the rock that he has placed across the door of his cave. So he plans things accordingly and succeed in it.
Judgment is a crucial problem as the Odysseus and his man very nearly get home to Ithaca only to see their goal vanish in a storm. As we read through book IX, we see Odysseus and his men arrive at the home of Aeolus, master of the winds, where they were greeted and as he was pleased, he gave Odysseus a pouch to help him go home faster. But we see Odysseus loses control of his men. While he sleeps, curiosity and mistrust overcome them. They suspect that the ox skin contains great treasure, which they feel should be shared. Tragically, they release all the adverse winds and are blown back to Aeolus. But I think, after all these stupidity of his man, he manages to get home though it took him more time and had go through more obstacles.
Overall, I think Odysseus as a good leader. When he was faced with the choice to sacrifice life of his own or his man, he willingly chooses the latter and uses his creativity and intelligence to get his men or him to safety. In Book IX, when they were nearly eaten alive by the Cyclops, Odysseus uses his quick mind and since there was no one to tie him, he sent the rams with the men tied beneath out of Cyclops' cave holding on to the lead ram for dear life. So we can say, he was a leader who cares about his people. I would also address him as a responsible leader. In book IX, we read, he and his men land on the island of the Lotus Eaters, and they were so excited that some of the men started eating the lotus flower which made them lose their memory of home and family. All they wanted to do is to stay there forever. As soon Odysseus found about it, he quickly rounds up his men, including the three lotus-afflicted guys, and leaves. That proves that he is responsible, which is a great quality of a leader. In both books, Odysseus uses his extreme ingenuity to plot his and his crew's narrow escapes. In each instance, Odysseus also exhibits bravery and courage, as well as his importance for others' safety above his own. These are some characteristics prove Odysseus to be a leader, who could be an idol to the people of his time.