The Odyssey Character Analysis

Throughout the book The Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates he is a hero through his cunning actions.Odysseus has portrayed how cunning he is when he and his men were trapped inside the Cyclops’s cave. Trying to escape,he comes up with a plan to get the cyclops drunk and blind him. The text states, “‘ Among all my schemes and machinations, the best plan I could think of was this.”(9). This reveals how Odysseus repeatedly used his crafty and sly personality to overcome challenging obstacles. When asked his name he disguises his identity to avoid getting caught by local Cyclopains, while he blinds the cyclops. So by cunningly thinking ahead when the Cyclops asks for his name, he replies, “Noman is my name; Noman is what mother and father call me and ally my friends.” (9). By pretending his name is “Noman” he is tricking the Cyclops so he would not get discovered when the Cyclops is yelling loudly in agony as he blinds him.
After many years held prisoner on Calypso’s Island, she allows him to leave. However she also offers him an option to stay with her and become immortal. He cleverly answered , “Gracious goddess, don’t be cross with me! I know all that as well as you do. My wife is nothing compared to you for beauty. I can see that for myself. She is mortal, you are immortal, and never grow old. But even so I long for the day of my homecoming” (5).This shows that Odysseus is clever because he knew he must think carefully when speaking to a goddess so he makes sure not to offend her, or he will suffer great consequences,for example, never being able to return home to his family. So by saying , “My wife is nothing compared to you..” he is politely declining her offer and she allows him to leave without being offended by his