", "No one, no Achaean labored hard as Odysseus labored or achieved so much. Penelope, Odysseus's wife, and their young son, Telemachus, are powerless before her arrogant suitors as they despair of Odysseus's return from the siege of Troy. I fear wild beasts will drag me off as quarry.". He is a thinker and he is a hero, and we see these attributes whenever we read about him. This shows that he truly cared about his men and kept their wellbeing in mind no matter the circumstances. Agamemnon has had a dream and is confident the gods are now on the side of the Achaians against the Trojans; he decides to test his army and announces that they are free to go home if they wish. Then every wind roared into hurricane; the ships went pitching west with many cries; [their] land was lost (X. When Odysseus commands his men to go back to sea to voyage, he is a good leader because he is telling his men what to do. Odysseus is visited by Athena and reminded of the losses the army has already suffered; leaving now would make those deaths a waste rather than a sacrifice. Thus, the question of leadership supersedes the topic of Arete. Latest answer posted January 22, 2021 at 1:12:04 PM, Latest answer posted December 06, 2020 at 10:35:48 AM. What role does war play in the Iliad? They readily address him as their king and leave many responsibilities in his hands. We learn that Odysseus is driven off course many times on his perilous voyage home. Give us your email address and well send this sample there. Accessed 5 Mar. His ability to remain courageous in the face of brute beast, the actions of gods and demi-goddesses, and in almost impossible natural and supernatural circumstances certainly admirable. All rights Some readers argue Odysseus should have shown them the bag in order to avoid the situation, Temptation had its way with [his] companions, and they untied the bag. After stabbing the cyclopes in the eye and the cyclopes moving the boulder Odysseus had to think of a way to get his men out safely and this quote shows his intelligence and leadership skills "I tied them silently together, twining cords of willow from the cyclops's bed; then slung a man . In Homer's 'The Odyssey', the forces of fate, destiny, and justice factor into Odysseus' journey home. We should care about this topic because it is pertinent in our world today. Hospitality. He is a man who inspires others to do the right thing by speaking well and wisely, even though he has not yet had his own experience with suffering or loss. ", "and no one knew him at all I alone, I spotted him for the man he was. The Odyssey, Book 5, lines 236-246. Proteus tells Menelaus that Odysseus is being held captive on a remote island by the lustful goddess Calypso. Only Alcinous daughter held fast, for Athena planted courage within her heart, dissolved the trembling in her limbs, and she firmly stood her ground and faced Odysseus, torn now Should he fling his arms around her knees, the young beauty, plead for help, or stand back, plead with a winning word, beg her to lead him to the town and lend him clothing? By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. What makes Odysseus a good leader in The Odyssey? Leaders come in all shapes and sizes, however, what gives someone the title of a good or bad is decided by the decisions they make and how those decisions affect others. In a bird simile she is compared to a "shearwater on the wing." After three of his men ate the Lotus, they wanted to keep eating more and did not want to leave the island. Homer (around 800 and 600 BCE) to show the numerous adventures and experiences Odysseus goes through. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. I wished to see the cave man, what he had to offer- no pretty sight, it turned out, for my friends (155-157). Get your custom essay from professional writers. Od. I went up to this club and cut off about six feet of it; I then gave this piece to the men and told them to fine it evenly off at one end, which they proceeded to do, and lastly I brought it to a point myself, charring the end in the fire to make it harder. . Eumaeus and Philoetius, the servants, remained faithful servants to their master. He was emotionally strong and made his crew strong. Get your custom essay. Let's fix your grades together! "What are some good quotes about Odysseus being a hero who thinks things through in the Iliad by Homer?" In order to save his men, Odysseus, drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest. Here, however, he does not suffer the missteps he will in The Odyssey. ", She pitied Odysseus, tossed, tormented so she broke from the waves like a shearwater on the wing, lit on the wreck and asked him kindly, "Ah poor man, why is the god of earthquakes so dead set against you? "Odysseus' favourite pose had been to pretend that he was a man like other men, but there were none like him, and now that he was dead, there were none at all. Heroes orders are followed and pursued, but Odysseus wasn't. Even though others may claim that Odysseus is not a good leader because of the amount of hubris he shows, the positive qualities such as his good judgement, bravery, and his ability to inspire others prove otherwise. Odysseus lacked to be a good leader when him and his men were on the way to Ithaca. For example, Odysseus wisely told the Cyclops his name was noman so that he could not properly call out for help once he was impaled. At the beginning of the poem the narrator invokes the Muse the Muses were ancient Greeces goddesses of literature, science and the arts. Odysseus' sharp wit distinguishes him from other heroes of his era, who only use strength to overpower their enemies. But when the other [Menelaos] drove to his feet, resourceful Odysseus,he would just stand and stare down, eyes fixed on the ground beneath him,nor would he gesture with the staff backward and forward, but hold itclutched hard in front of him, like any man who knows nothing.Yes, you would call him a sullen man, and a fool likewise.But when he let the great voice go from his chest, and the words camedrifting down like the winter snows, then no other mortalman beside could stand up against Odysseus. Odysseus . The Odyssey, Book 5, lines 538-545. He then grabbed one of Odysseus' men "and made his meal, gaping and crunching like a mountain lion-everything: innards, flesh, and marrow bones" on him without regret. If I beg and pray you to set me free, then bind me more tightly still." This is perhaps the most famous example of leadership by Odysseus. To calm them down, Odysseus told them what to do next. (2019, Nov 18). Odysseus forcibly tied his men to the ship to save them from Lotus that they became hypnotized by. The lack of obedience and respect for Odysseus shows the lack of leadership role that he has between he and his followers. In order to serve as a good leader one must have certain qualities about their personality and abilities. Od. In the Circe episode, Circe persuades Odysseus and his men to stay with her. Odysseus knew that he would encounter this monster because Circe warned him about her. (Hom. However, Odysseus did not disclose any information to his crew. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus a prominent Greek epic hero is on a quest . Noman is my name, and Noman they call me, and my father and my mother and all my fellows. What are they here violent, savage, lawless? Log in here. Would to god Id died there too and met my fate that day the Trojans, swarms of them, hurled at me with bronze spears, fighting over the corpse of proud Achilles! 16 students ordered this very topic and got original papers. Traits of being a good leader are being determined, being intelligent, and using good judgement. . Odysseus is scraped by the rocks on the Phaeacian shore. The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 272-277. this Quote Book 6 Quotes . The Odyssey, Book 5, lines 436-441. Gradesfixer , Analysis Of Odysseus As A Good Leader [Internet]. Latest answer posted September 04, 2020 at 11:53:03 AM. Look at my wise Penelope. They use their power of trickery to trick and deceive humans, to fulfill their wishes. But they themselves- in their depravity- design grief greater than the griefs that fate assigns." Homer, The Odyssey 228 likes Like "Ah how shameless - the way these mortals blame the gods. An important figure in Greek mythology is Metis. 2023 gradesfixer.com. Stranded on the shore of Phaeacia, Odysseus debates where the safest place to sleep is. Odysseus declines the goddess' offer to stay with her and be immortal. This shows how powerful a woman Penelope is. Line 223-301). Odysseus is a prominent figure in the story about his journey home after the Trojan War,The Odyssey; however, he is merely a supporting character in the Iliad by Homer . or friendly to strangers, god-fearing men? Then, he planned for his men to escape concealed by being bound under the bellies of sheep. 2021 Dec 16 [cited 2023 Mar 5]. In The Odyssey, how does the character of Odysseus change from the beginning of his quest until the end? Odysseus sometimes lacks self-awareness when he would kill his men or people just because it was a faster way to reach his goal. According to Helen's description, Odysseus is the son of Laertes (a well-respected . The Odyssey Quotes and Analysis "Tell me, why do you weep and grieve so sorely when you hear the fate of the Argives, hear the fall of Troy? At that moment to there shock this Cyclops does not for tray the "rules" of the Gods. She helps him fight his way out of the breakers driving him towards the rocky coast. For instance, Odysseus speaks with Circ and discovers that their journey ahead will not be easy. He also tries to bring home his comrades, but fails. 2021 StudyDriver.com - Big database of free essay examples for students at all levels. He prays that the gods will grant her hearts desires and an ideal marriage. And how did his struggles end? Instead of killing Odysseus and his men, the hilltop made a big wave that brought the ships back to shore. Without these qualities, a leader is not being the best they can be towards their people. Odysseus had what it takes to be a good leader because he was intelligent, fair and fearless and he supported and did not do anything that would blemish his men's courage. - Odysseus. He might be intelligent but really he tolerably manipulated his crew by saying things such as dont you want to go back to your home again?. These traits causes his men to die, him suffering, and trouble. And no one there could hope to rival Odysseus, not for sheer cunning at every twist of strategy he excelled us all. Odysseus is meeting with Tiresias (a blind prophet) to learn his future. But one man alone his heart set on his wife and his return Calypso, the bewitching nymph, the lustrous goddess, held him back, deep in her arching caverns, craving him for a husband. Odysseus barely managed to escape this, but his actions put him and his crew at a huge risk. The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 142-153. And may the good gods give you all your heart desires: husband, and house, and lasting harmony too. You can also use our tools to come up with interesting topics and points to argue in your 16. He confronted Circe and slept with her in order to have his men turned back into humans, proving his fearlessness and reliability as a leader. Odysseus is a Leader It chronicles the long journey home of Odysseus, after his time spent fighting in the Trojan War. This resulted in some of his men being eaten by the Cyclops, due to Odysseus curiosity. What qualities in each are revealed? Let us have but the one leader, the one true king, to whom Zeus, the son of Cronos of wily counsel, gave sceptre and command, to rule his people wisely.". Odysseus is quick to decide that they should stay even if it meant potential danger. One of the reasons Odysseus is an unfit leader is because he puts himself above others. Example 2 "At first, my comrades urged me to grab some cheeses and return.but I did not agree" (Book 9. What epic elements do you find in Homer's Iliad? ", "but what a feat that hero dared and carried off in the land of Troy where you Achaeans suffered! Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. This shows Odysseus as a good leader because he tied his men down to the ship and left the island because he knew it was the best way to save them from the Lotus.