Flaws In The Odyssey

Along Odysseus’ journey he matures and develops as a result of his mistakes and triumphs. The Odyssey, written by Homer, is an epic poem about Odysseus’ return home from fighting in Troy. Along the way 14 stops are made while him and his crew faces many difficult groups including sirens, nymphs, and cyclops. Not only is Odysseus put into tough situations but he is also challenged to be creative and devise plans to escape certain situations. Overall Odysseus acquires many characteristic that helped him reach his goal and return to his family. To return to his family safely Odysseus has to show patience and levelheadedness. Calypso's Island is one of the first places he demonstrates this characteristic. Odysseus stays on the nymphs island for seven years patiently waiting to be released from her powerful wrath. Before she lets him go, Calypso tries to get him to stay, however he knows how to not infuriate her so he says “ Don't be angry with me, please. All that you say is true, how well I know. Look

When his crew entered into the area of the Sirens his true arrogance comes out. To avoid the Siren’s sound, Odysseus comes up with a brilliant plan that saves him and his crew. Instead of continuing to escape the Sirens, he is overly proud of his epic rescue says “But even from there my courage, my presence of mind and tactics saved us all” (12; 229-231). Finally, the biggest mistake Odysseus makes is when the Cyclopes traps the crew in his lair. Odysseus devises another brilliant plan and saves his people. Arrogance comes over Odysseus and he says “Cyclops if any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so- say Odysseus, raiders of cities he gouged out your eye, laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca” (9; 558-562). The need to claim the defeat of the cyclops is an ego boost that he found more important than quickly escaping. As a result, more of his crew's lives are