After the adventure on Ismarus Odysseus comes across an island where there are the lotus eaters. Odysseus showed he valued his life and that he was cautious at this point. ‘I sent some of my followers inland to find out what sort of human beings might be there’ this also shows a bit of cowardice as he might be sending his men in case there was danger inland. Odysseus’s men came across the lotus eaters, and ended up eating lotus fruit which was like a drug and made them forget that they needed to get home and want to stay eating lotus fruits forever.
Odysseus showed that he was loyal to his men by not leaving them behind, he also showed that he would do whatever it takes to succeed. ‘I had to use force to bring them back to the hollow ships, and they wept on the way, but once on board I tied them up and dragged them under the benches’.
Odysseus showed optimism when he first came to the land of the Cyclopes, he led his men into the cave on the Cyclopes island expecting the inhabitant to show hospitality ‘I wished to see the owner of the cave and had hopes of some friendly gifts from my host’. He also showed he was a god fearing man by following the rules of hospitality ‘I filled a big goatskin with this wine and took some food in a bad with me’. When Polyphemus returned to his cave Odysseus showed bravery by talking to Polyphemus ‘The booming voice and the very sight of the monster filled us with panic. Still, I managed to find words to answer him’. Odysseus also shows intelligence and he is described as ‘Resourceful Odysseus’ at the beginning of the book, he shows this when he uses the olive wood stake to blind Polyphemus. But afterwards he makes a fatal error by revealing his name to Polyphemus, this shows that he can be quickly angered and is quite arrogant. ‘in my rage I shouted back at him once more: “Cyclops, if anyone ever asks you how you came about your blindness tell him your eye was put out by Odysseus, sacker of cities”.’
In Book 10 Odysseus and his men come across the Laestrygonians. Odysseus showed his cautiousness by not sailing into the harbour, which is the reason he and the men on his boat survived when the cannibal Laestrygonians attacked. When Odysseus came across Aeaea he was cautious again by sending a few of his men to explore the island. He then showed bravery by going to Circe’s house to get his men back ‘Very well, Eurylochus, stay where you are, and eat and drink by the black ship’s hull. But I shall go. I have absolutely no choice”. ’ this shows he takes responsibility for his men and wants to save them even if it risks his own life which means he is quite a good leader even if he is quite rash.
All in all I think that Odysseus has many good skills which help him survive, he is sometimes quick tempered and makes stupid decisions. I think that Odysseus is very clever and resourceful in most situations with a few exceptions where he does the wrong thing, but the skills Odysseus has outweigh his weaknesses
