Odysseus Flaws

The Odyssey is an Epic Poem that stars the main character odysseus, who is a brave and courageous hero who does many things throughout the epic poem. Odysseus does many things to prove what kind of a person he is. Odysseus is most known for his 20 year voyage from Ithica to Troy and back. He had many things he had to overcome and accomplish throughout the long tiring journey. He is most known for the Trojan Horse he created to trick and defeat the Trojans. Odysseus suffered many deaths of his men and tragedies that made his journey longer than it should have been. He eventually does surpass all of the problems he faces and he does safely make it back to Ithica.

Odysseus was the hero of this poem, he was king of Ithica, son of Laertes and Anticleia and he was married to Penelope. Odysseus was known as a king and a brave hero to many people and he showed he was.

For example when odysseus and his men escape the Cyclops Odysseus identifies who he was to the Cyclops and he tells Polyphemus he was the one who blinded him “Cyclops if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities took your eye” (Homer 574). Here Odysseus reveals who he is to the Cyclops which in the end does not end well for Odysseus because the Cyclops put a curse on Odysseus. Another mistake Odysseus makes is offering the Cyclops’ black ram they stole to Zeus, this does not please Zeus so instead Zeus begins the destruction of the rest of Odysseus’ men and his ship. “ But Zeus disdained my offering destruction for my ships he had in store and death for those who sailed them, my companions” (Homer 575). Odysseus makes the mistake here by angering Zeus even more than he was at Odysseus because that Cyclops was the son of Zeus so when he blinded Polyphemus and told him who he was it angered