The Characteristics of Traits in Homer's Odyssey

The ancient Greeks sure had a thing for certain traits, you know? They held qualities like cunning, bravery, and loyalty in high esteem. These values often popped up in their literature too. Take Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, for instance. Odysseus, the main guy, was loaded with all these traits that the Greeks admired. In this essay, we’re gonna dive into how Odysseus' characteristics matched up with those valued by the Greeks. By checking out specific moments in the text, we'll get a better idea of what made Odysseus tick and how these traits played into his wild journey.

Cunning: The Art of Deception

You gotta hand it to the Greeks; they loved a good trickster. Cunning was all about using your smarts to outwit opponents. And Odysseus was a master at this game. Remember when he faced off against the Cyclops Polyphemus? Odysseus came up with this clever plan to blind the giant and hightail it outta there. He told Polyphemus his name was "Nobody," so when he attacked, Polyphemus' cries for help sounded like gibberish to others. Genius move, right? Thanks to this quick thinking, Odysseus and his crew managed to escape without a scratch. It's no wonder the Greek folks would've thought he was pretty sharp.

And then there's that time when Odysseus finally got back home to Ithaca. He dressed up as a beggar to sneak around his own palace! Talk about commitment. This disguise helped him gather intel on those pesky suitors trying to take over his house—and wife! Through this sly tactic, he showcased not just intelligence but resourcefulness too. These are exactly the kinds of qualities ancient Greeks admired.

Bravery: Confronting the Unknown

If there’s one thing you can say about Odysseus, it's that he had guts! Bravery meant facing challenges head-on with courage and determination—a quality Greeks respected big time. Throughout his journey, danger seemed to be lurking everywhere for our hero.

Take that episode with the Sirens’ enchanting song—Odysseus wanted to hear it but knew its deadly pull could doom them all. So what did he do? Plugged his crew’s ears with beeswax and tied himself tight to the mast so he wouldn't jump overboard! That right there shows some serious willpower and focus on keeping everyone safe.

Then there's Scylla and Charybdis—two massive threats waiting at sea! Steering closer toward six-headed Scylla instead of risking everyone against Charybdis' whirlpool showed tremendous bravery (and tough decision-making). It meant losing some men but saving most from certain death—a real act of self-sacrifice indeed.

Loyalty: The Bonds of Friendship and Family

Loyalty really hit home for ancient Greeks—they cherished friendships and family ties deeply! In The Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrated unwavering loyalty towards loved ones throughout his travels.

Despite being gone 20 long years (!), guess who stayed faithful through thick 'n thin? Yep—Odysseus did! Resisting temptations from goddesses like Calypso or Circe proved dedication toward reuniting eventually with dear Penelope back in Ithaca despite countless hurdles along way homeward bound.

Even amidst perilous times among crewmates-turned-pigs by Circe's wicked magic spell - risking personal safety just so they could be transformed back into humans again underscores importance placed upon camaraderie within Greek society itself:

Conclusion

When push comes down shove – whether talking slyness wielded against formidable foes like Cyclopes & suitors alike; fortitude shown braving siren calls & monstrous sea creatures threatening life 'n limb alike OR fierce devotion displayed between spouses separated far too long thanks treacherous waves fate threw their way…The traits embodied hero named Ody surely capture essence valued greatly ancients themselves…just glimpse understanding woven timeless tapestry culture once flourished vibrant Mediterranean shores long ago indeed!

References

• Homer. (1996). The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics.
• Schein, S.L., (1984). The Mortal Hero: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad. University of California Press.
• Powell, B.B., (2004). Homer and the Origin of the Greek Alphabet. Cambridge University Press.
• Kirk, G.S., (1970). The Songs of Homer. Cambridge University Press.
• Murray, A.T., (1919). Homer: The Odyssey Vols 1&2 Loeb Classical Library.