Here, take this scarf, tie it around your waist it is immortal. I believe that Odysseus is a good leader because he is very determined to get back home and back to his wife and son, he is intelligent while he used the idea to kill the cyclops by getting him drunk and putting him to sleep so his men could kill him and escape,and Odysseus uses good judgement when he keeps a secret from his men that six of his crew members are going to be sacrificed for the rest of his crew to stay alive. He is a valiant warrior, but he is most known for his skills as a wise orator as well as his wiliness (craftiness, slyness) in using words to make things happen. ", "You are our messenger, Hermes, sent on all our missions. Is it presented as a good or bad thing? The Odyssey Quotes | Explanations with Page Numbers | LitCharts Ino, as sea deity Leucothea, makes a dramatic appearance to save Odysseus from drowning in a violent sea whipped up by Poseidon. No, on a lashed, makeshift raft and wrung with pains, on the twentieth day he will make his landfall, fertile Scheria, the land of Phaeacians, close kin to the gods themselves, who with all their hearts will prize him like a god and send him off in a ship to his own beloved land, giving him bronze and hoards of gold and robes more plunder than he could ever have won from Troy if Odysseus had returned intact with his fair share. 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. . The examples that will presented will illustrate that Odysseus hubris, risk taking prowess, and at times unwillingness to follow instructions often placed his crew in danger as he journeyed Ithaca. 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! 'The Odyssey' Book 16 Key Quotes Flashcards | Quizlet What epic elements do you find in Homer's Iliad? Early in the poem we are informed that Odysseus had chosen one of his friends to be the overseer of his family and property. Strewing your way with such a crop of troubles! That is not to say that Odysseus is a one dimensional man; he does, at times, persist when saving his men from the Cyclops. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Also, Odysseus is evidently clever when devising the escape plan from the Cyclops cave. Odysseus is an admirable leader when he orders his men to tie him up and do not untie him because he is sacrificing himself for the good of his men. The brilliant U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur once said, A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. This description of a leader can be used when telling of the great adventures of Odysseus on his way home to Ithaca after fighting in the Trojan War. The first trait is that he is a very arrogant person and this often puts him and his men in danger. The lot fell upon the very four whom I should have chosen, and I myself made five. What relevance does the Iliad have in modern times? We respect this quality in a person because with leadership a person can lead a group of people and, However, examples within the literary narrative of the Odyssey leaves the discussion open with regards to his leadership. While Nausicaa stands her ground, her attendants run off down the beach in panic. When Odysseus is away from Circes island, Odysseus has a change of heart and suddenly wants to go back to Circes island to retrieve his crew. He is missing for 10 years and his wife Penelope [], The characters in Homer's The Odyssey are forever at the mercy of the Gods, those immortals who live in the heights of Mount Olympus, and who, on occasion, walk the lands of earth. 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help you just now, Odysseus exemplifies adventure, courage, and the values of the Greeks, is Odysseus a hero? However, embedded in the story is the inevitably female-centered core of the battle. Idk what to say for this one, DONT: After Odysseus left Troy, his crew and him went to Ismarus, which was where the Cicones lived. While the were on an unknown island inhabited by Cyclops, Odysseus wanted to know if they were friends or foes. However, Odysseus did not disclose any information to his crew. She is mortal after all and you, you never age or die Nevertheless I long I pine, all my days to travel home and see the dawn of my return. The poet asks the Muse for inspiration to learn about the "man of twists and turns" and his arduous journey home. A heavy sea covered him over, then and there unlucky Odysseus would have met his death against the will of Fate but the bright-eyed one inspired him yet again. Nobody worked as hard as or achieved so much as Odysseus, yet his struggles ended in suffering. In the nights, true, hed sleep with her in the arching cave he had no choice unwilling lover alongside lover all too willing. The Odyssey Quotes by Homer - Goodreads It chronicles the long journey home of Odysseus, after his time spent fighting in the Trojan War. . Odysseus: Top Ten Quotes | Novelguide Book 1 of The Odyssey is titled "Athena inspires the prince" and that is what the goddess is attempting to do. Especially among Gods and Goddesses. In this passage Athena, who has a special relationship with Odysseus, pleads with Zeus to allow the "cursed by fate" hero home. 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?. Odysseus is a Leader 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Odysseus As A Great Leader In The Odyssey | ipl.org Calypso is portrayed in the epic poem as a maniulative seductress. Only Alcinous daughter held fast. Like a fond father welcoming back his son after nine years abroad, his only son, the apple of his eye for whom he has sacrificed much, the admirable swineherd threw his arms round Telemachus'. The trait of Odysseus being dishonest is a factor of why Odysseus is a bad leader. Read More If you are such a student, you can use "Wretched man what becomes of me now, at last? It was so huge that we could only compare it to the mast of a twenty-oared merchant vessel of large burden, and able to venture out into open sea. After that, he stays equally as strong when faced with Poseidons anger and the journey ahead of him. He seized and drained the bowl, it went down so firey and smooth he called for more Now, by the gods, I drove my big hand spike deep in the embers charing it again. Justice is a big theme in The Odyssey, both among gods and mortals. This essay has been submitted by a student. Ultimately his loyalty to family and homeland is more important than anything Calypso can offer. How often their hearts must warm with joy to see you striding into the dances such a bloom of beauty. Let's start by finding a writer. And no one there could hope to rival Odysseus, not for sheer cunning at every twist of strategy he excelled us all. He is a leader when he does this because he lets his men not suffer the sirens while he has to. The Odyssey, Book 5, lines 515-523. She helps him fight his way out of the breakers driving him towards the rocky coast. Odysseus is meeting with Tiresias (a blind prophet) to learn his future. Odyssey | Summary, Characters, Meaning, & Facts - Encyclopedia Britannica Odysseus and why he is a bad leader by Sandra y - Prezi Odysseus takes Agamemnon's scepter and does this: [W]hen he came upon some common soldier shouting, he drove him back with the sceptre and rebuked him: "Sit, man, and hear the words of better men than you; you are weak and lack courage, worthless in war or counsel. In The Odyssey, how does the character of Odysseus change from the beginning of his quest until the end? First, he discloses the disturbing information to his men, so they know as much as he does about the fate that awaits them on the sea. The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 303-306. More fearsome, is it now, than when the kyklopes penned us in his cave? Heroes orders are followed and pursued, but Odysseus wasn't. Odysseus declines the goddess offer to stay with her and be immortal. Don't use plagiarized sources. The Odyssey, Book 5, lines 479-482. He neglected to tell them anything, which resulted in 6 of his men being eaten. And may the good gods give you all your heart desires: husband, and house, and lasting harmony too. Odysseus proves to be an epic hero in The Odyssey by showing bravery,intelligence and respect for the gods.Odysseus shows his intelligence by having his men tie him up to the mast as they sail past the sirens,so odysseus dont lose his will to get home.Odysseus use his bravery by going past scylla,so that he does not risk losing He is being a leader by protecting his men from the Ciccone 's army by leaving before reinforcements come. Why does a conflict take place between Agamemnon and Achilles in the Iliad? He has decreed that the exiled hero is to return home. The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 148-158. However, they Cicones attacked Odysseus men and killed 72 of them. The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 196-203. 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. In the end, Odysseus and his crew avoided the Sirens because all of his men listened to him. In this epic is four major examples that convey loyalty, which is shown by Penelope, Telemachus, the servants, and Odysseus. There were other points where Odysseus showed his bravery, like when he travelled to the underworld, and many more. Scylla was a huge monster that had twelve large legs like tentacles and 6 heads with fangs. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Odysseus is an epic hero, he is a natural leader and at some points in the book smarter than everyone else. Despair to their enemies, a joy to all their friends. You seem no fool to me. Homer explains how the, Odysseus is not a hero because he stabs Polyphemus in the eye and blinds him. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. As Odysseus claimed his name to be "Nohbdy . From beginning to end of the Odyssey, Odysseus repeatedly motivated his crew to not give up during their journey by announcing "My friends, I know how much/ you have endured. Ultimately Odysseus can be a good leader but behind the scenes, he's not. With Alcinous' help, he can reach home. The first main trait that demonstrates Odysseus is a worthy leader is his optimistic approach to the difficult tasks both he and his men faced during their adventure. In this quote, we see that Odysseus is a cunning planner. Poseidon may have condemned Odysseus to an additional ten years suffering at sea, but his fate has attracted the attention of the other gods who want to help him. When Odysseus stabbed the Cyclopes in the eye, it is considered a huge, bold risk "Straight forward they sprinted, lifting it, and rammed it deep in his crater eye" (book IX. DONT GET DISTRACTED AND LEAVE A MAN BEHIND: On Circes island one man fell off a rooftop drunk and Odysseus and his crew left him behind, Odysseus had to promise him a funeral only after he was reminded he was gone while in the underworld. This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. He thought of a cunning plan to get most of his men out of the cave they were trapped in. He also tries to bring home his comrades, but fails. How true to life, all too true . I wished to see the cave man, what he had to offer- no pretty sight, it turned out, for my friends (155-157). Furthermore, how can we consider Odysseus a hero if his commands are not followed by his men. "Noman is my name, and Noman they call me, and my father and my mother and all my fellows'. You least of all I know we're born and reared without the gods' good will." -Athena. Penelope is the wife of Odysseus; she does not remarry while he is away. I fear wild beasts will drag me off as quarry.". The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 163-174. Gilgamesh and Odysseus are motivated by attaining glory and honor. Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds, many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea, fighting to save his life and bring his comrades home. Analysis of Odysseus as a Good Leader - GradesFixer Traits of being a good leader are being determined, being intelligent, and using good judgement. We should care about this topic because it is pertinent in our world today. The story of The Odyssey with Odysseus being a great leader has been told for many years and will be told many years to come.