The Odyssey

Odyssey

Homer's Odysseus is a very complex character, this becoming obvious throughout the Odyssey, which provides more detail than the Iliad regarding the character. Odysseus' intelligence stands as his key attribute but, at some points, this ability is weighed down because of the character's enormous thirst for glory. The Homeric hero's behavior is motivated by his quest for triumph and by his strong determination to reach his home of Ithaca. He enjoys life, seeing that he is kept on Calypso's island and somewhat reluctantly accepts the nymph's support, being unable to leave her for seven years. With "his Ithaca refused from favoring Fate" (Homer 301), Odysseus is unable to enjoy his stay in Phaecia, even with the fact that conditions in the land are more than welcoming and Phaecians themselves do not hesitate to provide him with everything he needs.

Odysseus's determination to be glorious has no boundaries and he is apparently primarily interested in his own well-being, with his companions being little more than tools for him. He irresponsibly raids the Ciconians, losing "six brave companions from each ship" (Homer 135) as a result. His great pride is gradually put down consequent to going through a series of events from which he learns that temper is much more important.

2. Odysseus cannot resist the temptation of prolonging his stay in the cyclops' cave and ends up having himself and his men as his prisoners, risking death. The Homeric hero eventually compensates for his mistake and fools the Cyclops into drinking a strong wine to which Polyphemus is no match and that renders the Cyclops unconscious. Before Polyphemus falls to the ground, Ulysses tricks the beast into thinking that his name is actually "no man," as a method of preventing the Cyclops from realizing the threat Ulysses represents. Odysseus continues to employ his superior intellect in this situation and again fools the Cyclops by influencing him in freeing the Greeks. However, when the Greeks reach their boats, Odysseus cannot help but once again proving his devotion to achieve glory wherever he goes, informing Polyphemus in regard to his true identity and thus infuriating the gods. This is Odysseus' biggest mistake, since it is because of this act that Poseidon is reluctant to let the Greek hero live, with the god of sea constantly stressing Odysseus and making his journey even longer.

3. Poseidon is obviously Odysseus's biggest enemy, given that he is in control of the waters and that Odysseus has no choice but to travel by water in order to reach his homeland. As Polyphemus' father, Poseidon is determined to punish Odysseus and struggles to prevent the Greek hero from achieving his goal. Poseidon's wrath could have been avoided if Odysseus had not insisted in revealing his identity to the Cyclops, who was thus enabled to inform his father concerning the individual who blinded him. In addition to Poseidon being his greatest "physical" enemy, Odysseus is his own enemy, considering that it is because of his character that he constantly gets into trouble.