"What qualities does Odysseus display in books 9-12

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“What qualities does Odysseus display in books 9-12?”

        Books 9-12 deal with Odysseus’ wanderings. Many commentators of The Odyssey see Odysseus’ wanderings as a series of trials or tests through which he would attain a certain level of wisdom and prepares to be a good leader.

        In book 9, Odysseus shows good judgement in his encounter with the lotus-eaters. The lotus-eaters have no intention in killing Odysseus and his men. The danger is the lotus and the forgetfulness it causes. Odysseus’ judgement prevails and he manages to get his men back to sea too many are seduced by the lotus that wipes out ambition and memory. Then they landed on the land of the Cyclops, who have no laws and regard for the gods. It is during this episode that Odysseus’ judgement comes into question. Having feasted on goat meat, Odysseus and his men could move on. However, Odysseus is curious about who lives on the mainland. Taking twelve of his best men, as well as a skin of extremely strong wine he received from a priest of Apollo, he sets out to explore a cave near the shore. Discovering abundant food in the cave, Odysseus’ men want to raid it and sail off, but Odysseus insists on staying and enjoy the hospitality of the host. When Polyphemus returned, Odysseus found out he has no regard for hospitality. Polyphemus devoured two of Odysseus’ men for supper and trapping the rest inside his for latter meals. When he went out to herd his goats, Odysseus devises a plan to escape. His plan is to offer Polyphemus the strong wine he brought with him and after he passed out, his men would then blind him with an olive branch. Afterwards, Odysseus and his men escape hiding under the belly of the Cyclop’s goats. As they sail away, Odysseus again employs questionable judgement by shouting taunts at Polyphemus. Using Odysseus’ voice to direct his aim, Polyphemus hurls boulders after the Greek ships. Then Odysseus boast to Polyphemus that it was he, Odysseus of Ithaca, who blinded him. In this instance, Odysseus is not simply showing pride in his good name, but foolish arrogance that allows the monster to identify. Although Odysseus shows bad judgement in numerous occasions throughout book 9, he demonstrates his intelligence and his ability to adapt to circumstances and devise plans.

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        In book 10, Odysseus arrived at the island of Aeolus, the god of winds, where they are greeted warmly for a month. Aeolus is impressed with Odysseus, so he harnesses all potentially destructive winds and binds them into an ox skin. Odysseus then sets sail with this bag of adverse winds. However, Odysseus did not tell his men about the content of bag and his men, therefore, suspect that the bag contains gold given to Odysseus by Aeolus. While he sleeps, curiosity and mistrust overcome them and they open the bag releasing all the adverse winds. This instance shows ...

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