Throughout Homer's account of his return from Troy to Ithaca, Odysseus demonstrates courage and persistence as he strives to journey home. For example when he had no choice but to believe what Cadmus was telling him, Cadmus she is the daughter of Ino who was once human “Now do as I say- you’re in no position to refuse: Take off those clothes and abandon your raft to the winds will” (5.345-355). Odysseus was really courages to listen to Cadmus and to trust her word that he will not be drowned by abandoning his raft. He also went up against Poseidon and got into the raft and tried to get home. Another example of Odysseus’s determination is when his good friend Menelaus told a story of how Odysseus did something very brave
to help in the Trojan war, “First, he beat himself up- gave himself nasty bruises then put on a cheap cloak so he looked like a slave, and in this disguise he entered the wide streets of the enemy city” (4:262- 256). He was very cleaver to do this to get back at the Trojans. No one else had thought about it. He also promised to not tell anyone from Troy his real identity. He made himself look like a lower class to enter the city. A final example of bravery is when he refused to stay on the island. “You’re destined to suffer before getting home you’d stay here with me deathless” (5.206-207). He refuses to stay on the island with Calypso because he wants to go home. Instead of receiving immortality he would rather suffer out on sea and get home.