Odysseus Character Essay, Research Paper

The Odyssey is an heroic poem verse form, which revolves around Odysseus and his journey place

from the war at Troy. Throughout his travels he is met with many obstructions and

escapades. There are times when he thinks he will ne’er do it place. But

through doggedness, religion, ripening and heroics, he manages to last and

make his fatherland of Ithaca as a changed adult male. In The Odyssey, Odysseus, the

chief character must travel from Troy to his fatherland of Ithaca. Throughout this

journey he learns many lessons, faces obstructions proving his physical and mental

strength and grows from an chesty, egoistic hero into a low,

respectful subsister. With the aid of the Gods he is eventually able to return to

Ithaca as an honest adult male. In Book VI of the Odyssey, Odysseus wakes on the

shore of Phaecia. The Goddess Athena has sent the beautiful Nausicaa a dream

teaching her to rinse apparels in readying for an approaching matrimony. Athena

makes Nausicaa brave and Odysseus handsome conveying them together in order to

aid Odysseus to the house of the male monarch. In this peculiar book the Supreme beings

aid Odysseus and he manages to come closer to acquiring place. Athena helps him

out over and over once more in Book VI. Everything seems to be done to assist Odysseus

and so he is lucky to hold the Gods behind him. ? but the grey-eyed Goddess

Athena made her tarry, so Odysseus might lay eyes on her beauty and win her counsel

to the town? ( 175 ) . Here Odysseus is really being led where he needs to travel

by Athena indirectly. All the topographic points with exuberant verdure and the resting-place of

Odysseus has even been made by Athena. ? The Sun was traveling down when they went

by Athena? s grove? ( 181 ) . The use by the Gods appears to take t a

common end, the endurance of Odysseus and the aid of acquiring him place.

The Gods may non be able to halt destiny but they help Odysseus learn to utilize their

counsel to his advantage for his endurance. In Book VIII, King Alkinoos calls an

assembly inquiring the Phaeacians to assist Odysseus. During this meeting there is

competition to entertain Odysseus. After being insulted by one of the Phaeacians,

? ? The ground being, as I see it, friend, you ne’er learned a athletics, and have

no accomplishment in any of the competitions of contending work forces? ( 185 ) . With that, Odysseus

throws a discus farther than anyone of all time has. ? Anyone else for an border for

competition seek me now? ( 186 ) This proves Odysseus has a job with his

pride. Although this pride does assist him throughout his journey, he uses it here

as a frailty to demo others his illustriousness. His haughtiness truly shows through here.

By dissing his abilities, Phaeacians insulted his manhood and he defended it

to the highest grade. In Book IX, Odysseus encounters the Kyklops and uses his

cunningness and courage to get away. Here we see a new side of Odysseus. First he

vividly narrates his love for his place in this book. ? I shall non see on Earth

a topographic point more beloved? ( 198 ) . ? Where shall a adult male happen sweetness to excel

his

ain place and his parents ( 198 ) ? Odysseus seems able to last by utilizing all his

energy to happen his manner place. He uses this energy in his secret plan to acquire off from

the Kyklops. His program is both brave and clever. He tells the Kyklops his name

is Nohbdy. Then after being blinded, Odysseus and his work forces are able to get away.

The Kyklops cries to his friends, ? Nohbdy, Nohbdy tricked me, Nohbdy? s

ruined me? ( 207 ) ! With this, he gets no aid and Odysseus is free. However

once more his pride gets the best of him for as they are get awaying he yells, ? If

of all time a mortal adult male ask how you were put to dishonor and blinded, state them

Odysseus, plunderer of metropoliss, took your oculus? ( 210 ) . This once more proves to ache

Odysseus and makes his journey more hard. His folly proves to be a

irritant in his side throughout The Odyssey. By uncovering his name he sets himself

up for the angry God Poseidon. In Book X, folly once more causes Odysseus

problem. As his Odyssey seems about over and the work forces are close to Ithaca, a

poke of air current given to Odysseus by Aeolus is unleashed. This blows their ship all

the manner back to where they started. Odysseus so ends up with Kirke, girl

of the Sun. Kirke turns all the crewmates into hogs and lures Odysseus into her

bed. Odysseus? s frailty here seems to be his manhood as he ends up kiping with

Kirke for one twelvemonth until she promises to assist him acquire place. ? O Kirke now you

must maintain your promise, it is clip. Help me do canvas for place? ( 224 ) . Kirke

Tells Odysseus the way to take place and so he is off for another escapade,

lasting with the mere idea of finally returning to his distant place.

? Homeward you think we must be sailing to our ain land ; no, elsewhere is the

ocean trip Kirke has laid upon? ( 227 ) . Odysseus seems to be larning from his

errors. His virtuousness is to understand his fate, carry through it and finally acquire

where he needs to be. He learns that touting can convey people against him as

was seen with the Kyklops. He is besides utilizing his ability to accept aid from the

Supreme beings to his advantage. In Book XI, Odysseus sails to the border of the universe and

he finally encounters the unsighted sear who warns him about the dangers for his

journey place. ? But anguish prevarications in front ; the God who thunders on the land

prepares it, non to be shaken from the path, implacable, in resentment for the boy

whose oculus you blinded? ( 230 ) . He so visits with the in a heartfelt way departed who

cause him to fly to his ship in anguish merely with greater hopes of returning

place. ? I whirled so, made for the ship? ( 246 ) . Odysseus uses his frailties and

virtuousnesss a subsister to get the better of his obstructions and to do it place. On his

Odyssey, he receives aid from the Supreme beings but they besides at times impede his

advancement. His haughtiness at times plants against him and his manhood about

destruct his opportunities of seeing his fatherland but through strength and the wisdom

of experience, he manages to do it. He must larn from these frailties and virtuousnesss

and for this he is able to last the journey.