What qualities of character does Odysseus show in facing the dangers of Books Nine to Twelve of the Odyssey?

Odysseus narrates books Nine to Twelve to the Phaeacians. Odysseus’ character is greatly revealed here and the evidence taken from his actions supports attributes that the audience has been previously told exist.

From the very start of the poem we are old that Odysseus is ‘resourceful’ and in these four books, we are clearly shown how. Odysseus demonstrates his resourcefulness when he uses what is lying around in Polyphemus’ cave – an olive tree branch- to save his comrades and himself. This story also shows Odysseus’ resourceful attribute when he uses the rams for concealment. In the story of the Sirens he uses the wax from the ship to block the ears of his comrades, which shows resourcefulness.

Additionally, the story of the Sirens shows that Odysseus is unable to endure the temptations of the sirens, as he struggles and calls to be released. From surviving this ultimate test of forbearance, Odysseus learns endurance and later, when he returns to Ithaca he will need this skill. His temper during these four books can be ungovernable, as he says:

‘Now when Eurylochus said that, I considered drawing the long sword from my sturdy side and lopping his head off to roll in the dust, but my men held me back and calmed me down’1.

Nevertheless he has shown his patience and persistence before. For example he persists and continues to endure all that happens even when he ‘had no further use for life, no wish to see the sunshine anymore’2. Earlier, in the Cyclops’s cave we see Odysseus’ restraint when he had ‘murder in [his] heart’3 but held back and devised a better plan. It is possible to think that as his intense journey continues, Odysseus becomes less patient and his temper shortens, this would explain how in certain areas Odysseus shows patience, restraint and endurance, whilst in others he is easily angered or frustrated.

In telling his story to the Phaeacians, Odysseus portrays himself for the most part as a respected and good leader. The audience is first told of his good leadership when he shares out the goats evenly between the twelve ships, showing Odysseus is fair. However his ship gets an extra goat because he has respect from the other crews. On the island of the Cyclopes, Odysseus leaves his fleet in safety and takes only a small group to explore the island. Odysseus does not tell Polyphemus about the rest of the fleet either to hide them. Protecting his fleet ...

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Odysseus often shows his selflessness by looking after his men before himself;

Meanwhile I was cudgelling my brains for the best possible course, trying to hit on some way of saving my friends as well as myself. 4

and this is an essential characteristic of a good leader.

Odysseus I aware of the attributes necessary to be a good leader when he says ‘But I shall go. I have absolutely no choice’5 because he knows that it is his duty as a leader to save his crew, however dangerous this act could be, and therefore a leader must be courageous.

Odysseus is very good at keeping up the morale of his men. He avoids telling them about Scylla and Charybdis in order not to upset the crew and forestall panic. He gives rallying speeches of motivation;

“My friends,” I said, “we may be miserable, but we are not going down to the house of Hades yet, not till our time has come. Get up, and while there’s food and drink on board, let us have something to eat instead of dying here of starvation”6

and speeches that incited courage in his men;

“My friends,” I said, “we are men who have met troubles before. And this trouble is no worse than when the Cyclops used his brutal strength to imprison us in his cave. Yet my courage, strategy and intelligence found a way out from there; and I am sure that this too will be a memory for us one day.” 7

that also show his leadership qualities. Although Odysseus says that it was because of him that they escaped Polyphemus, the crew does work as a team. We see this when the stake is driven into Polyphemus’s eye, Odysseus twists it, the men help to force it in. We see this again when Odysseus uses wax to stop the men hearing the sound of the Sirens.

I took all my men in turn and plugged their ears with it. They then bound me hand and foot, standing me up by the step of the ship’s mast and then lashing me to the mast itself…I ordered my men to set me free…But they swung forward over their ores and rowed ahead. 8

This shows us not only how they helped Odysseus and Odysseus helped them, but the mutual trust.

The crew of Odysseus’ ship act fast upon Odysseus’ orders and obey him well;

Then I climbed into my ship and told my men to follow me and loose the hawsers. They came on board at once, took their places at the oars and all together struck the white surf 9

However this contrasts to the mutinies aboard Odysseus’ ship. Eurylochus twice disobeys Odysseus and both times the rest of the crew give Eurylochus their support and are all punished by the Gods. The opening of the bag of winds is caused by the men not trusting Odysseus and because Odysseus did not tell them what was in the bag, a mistake on the part of Odysseus showing that his leadership may be flawed. The killing of Hyperian’s cattle was caused by the hunger of the crew and desperation but also because the men did not trust Odysseus’ words. The crew is described as Odysseus’ ‘loyal companions’.

Odysseus also shows bad leadership qualities, for example he can be quite self pitying as Circe commented: ‘[Odysseus] You are worn out and dispirited, always brooding on the hardships of your travels’10 and he too said ‘Sitting there on the bed I wept. I had no further use for life, no wish to see the sunshine anymore’11. If the leader has no morale, neither can the followers. He also considers himself a failure when he says ‘But even this time I did not lead them all safely away’12.

Odysseus often uses his wit and intelligence to conquer dangers. For instance Odysseus knew that he could not beat Polyphemus in strength, and so cunningly decided to outwit him instead;

My name is Nobody. That is what I am called by my mother and father and by all my friends. 13

Odysseus always tries to think things through properly. After seeing Polyohemus eat Odysseus’s comrades he wants to kill the Cyclops, but soon realises that they would be trapped. Calling himself ‘Nobody’ was also well planned, although Odysseus soon shows his foolishness by telling Polyphemus his real name.

Odysseus does this in order to maintain his reputation. The Phaeacians know that Odysseus wants a good reputation after Odysseus encouraged the bard to sing of him. Often we see that Odysseus puts reputation as his main priority. He was suspicious of the island of the Cyclopes, and still looks for an adventure there in order to spread his name further. He waits for the Cyclops to return home so that he may receive gifts, and he invokes Poseidon’s wrath so that he may be remembered. The Sirens know that Odysseus cares about his reputation as they tempt him by saying they will tell him it.

During his narration Odysseus emphasises the help he receives from the Gods so they know he is worthy of divine assistance, and reminds them by saying he is “favourite of Zeus” 14. Odysseus talks of the Gods often, as his protectors, and guides. Examples of divine assistance include Odysseus being fed by the nymphs of Zeus and his comrades being given courage; ’A God now inspired them with tremendous courage’15. Equally he talks of his piety and respect for the Gods. He takes the advice and does as he is told by all the Gods. Often he and his men make sacrifices to the Gods. Odysseus says that he protected Maron and his family because he was the Priest of Apollo ‘out of respect for his office’16. We see what happens to those who do not respect the Gods. Hyperian punishes Odysseus’ comrades after they killed his cattle. Odysseus reminds Polyphemus of the rules of Zeus, but Cyclops ignores Odysseus and the Xenia, and loses his sight.

Odysseus also shows compassion. He weeps for the death of his comrades and when he meets Elpinor in the Underworld. He also cries when Circe tells him that he can not go straight home. These expressions of feeling are regarded as commendable for a hero.

As a hero we see Odysseus’s warrior instincts clearly throughout these books as he boasts, typical of a warrior and Circe has to scold him:

‘Again you are spoiling for a fight and looking for trouble!’ 17

His immediate reaction to seeing Scylla was to put on his armour, which would not offer much protection.

Book Eleven is a key to the character of Odyseus because all great heroes go to and return from the land of Hades such as Heracles and Theseus and this ranks Odysseus with them. Therefore Odysseus must possess all the characteristics of a Homeric hero.