Odysseus Leaders

Despite the loss of Odysseus’s crew in the epic, The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus maintains his title of being a good leader by remaining loyal to and fulfilling his crew’s wish for home as well as maneuvering his crew through challenging obstacles.

Odysseus’s was a very intelligent man and did not let his emotions rule. When facing the cyclops, Polyphemus, he shares, “…with my fighting heart, I thought at first to steal up to him, draw the sharp sword at my hip and stab his chest where the midriff packs the liver- I groped for the fatal spot but a fresh thought held me back.” But when he thought his plan through and weighed the outcome, he realized, “…at a stroke we'd finish off ourselves as well—how could we with our bare hands heave back that slab he set to block his tavern's gaping maw?” His revised plan to blind the cyclops would enable him and his men a better opportunity to escape the cave.

The Odyssey provides many instances of leadership shown in the main character, Odysseus. The epic written by Homer follows the twenty year quest of Odysseus as he tries to find his way home, running into many mythological Greek characters along the way. Odysseus is illustrated as a bad leader as he leads his men on something of a wild goose chase through ancient Greece. Odysseus repeatedly puts his men in the grip of death while on their way home. After escaping the Cyclops, in whom’s cave many men were eaten alive, he shouts back from his ship, “‘How do you like the beating that we gave you, you damned cannibal? Eater of guests under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!’” (The Cyclops. 478-480). His statement angers the Cyclops, causing

When Odysseus was learning of his future in the underworld, he was told of an upcoming obstacle, he would have to choose to either go against Sylla or Charybdis. If he went against Sylla, he would for certain lose six crew members, but if he went against Charybdis he has the risk of losing his entire crew. Odysseus chose the safer option, Sylla, in the process he lost the six crew members he was told of. All in all, knowing of the choices Odysseus made for his crew, showing he was always thinking of the well-being of his crew, this supports that Odysseus was a strong

The Odyssey is a collection of stories surrounding the journey of Odysseus, written to glorify him as a leader in many circumstances. However, this deification of Odysseus as a character is undeserved, as he continuously proved in the Great Wanderings that he was a narcissistic and ill-prepared leader. He never had the intent of getting those men home, and if he had, Odysseus wouldn’t have perpetually acted carelessly. Odysseus proved to be an ineffective leader because of his selfishness and inability to resist temptation. Before outlining Odysseus’ fatal mistakes made throughout his journey, it is important to define what an exemplary leader is.

Throughout the epic The Odyssey, Homer narrates the trying journey of Odysseus and his men as they try to go back to Ithaca after the Trojan War has ended. Through the narrative the reader sees many examples of Odysseus’s true nature as leader, and, like any mortal man, he has his strengths and weaknesses. Although Odysseus occasionally shows signs of poor leadership, such as arrogance and the tendency to miscommunication, he also exhibits redeeming qualities like confidence and dedication.

In The Odyssey, Odysseus is supposed to be a leader, as that is what epic heroes are supposed to be. However, Odysseus’ examples of leadership show that he is severely lacking in this category. His first example in

The story of Scylla and Charybdis, is it clear that Odysseus cares for his own safety more than his own men. Odysseus chose to loose six men to Scylla and not tell his men what was about to happen, rather than put himself in danger by facing Charybdis. This example of Odysseus' selfish acts is an example of him being a destructive leader because by not telling his crew what was about to happen, it resulted in the crew's lack of preparation and ultimately six of his best men's lives. Odysseus losing six

One of the reasons why Odysseus is a good leader is because he saves his men on multiple occasions. A good example was when he saved his men from the Cyclops. In the Odyssey it states “Here’s liquor to wash down your scraps of men… He seized and drained the bowl, and it went down so fiery and smooth he called for more” (hom. 904). He used his wisdom to get the cyclops drunk so it would be easier to escape. He could have said something that could have made the Cyclops enraged wich could have made his men die. Instead, he used his wisdom to get out of his men and his situation.

The Odyssey by Homer takes us into the life of an exceptional leader. Many of Odysseus’ choices and actions show his genuine leadership skills. Odysseus retains moral responsibilities throughout his hardships while undoubtedly being a great leader. He and his crew endure many challenges, obstacles, and dangers around every corner. Odysseus never fails to make the right decision, which is essential of being a great leader.

Across the ages, heroes have been a prevalent theme. Even if the way heroes are defined changes, they still exist as role models for society. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus exists as the tale’s hero, yet he is a relatable character as he has many flaws that hinder his success. Despite Odysseus’ fatal flaws, he remains a strong heroic figure regardless of the circumstances due to his leadership, cunning, and resilience. Leadership is one of Odysseus’ most admirable traits, particularly when he guides his crew to escape the cave of the cyclops Polyphemus.

There are many differences between being a hero and a leader, however, there are also similarities between them. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus appears to portray the characteristics of a hero as he focuses more on himself and his survival trying to operate alone.

Jake Pham Ms. Mcleish LA 1 Pre-IB Period 5 March 2024 What Makes an Effective Leader? In the peril of history, amidst the chaos of war and the face of adversity, one question remains prevalent: What defines a good leader? Is it made up of their ability to maintain unwavering bravery during times of trouble, or perhaps their ability to unite others to conquer challenges? This is the story of the epic odyssey of Odysseus, the legendary hero of the Trojan War and lofty King of Ithaca. Taking place after the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men experience several tests and meet peaceful allies and lethal enemies in their desperate pursuit to return home.

Odysseus in the Odyssey was a leader, he showed traits of both strong and weak traits of a leader. In the Odyssey Odysseus was a leader to his men. He told them what to do and how to do it. For example when we went passed the sirens on his way home, he he put beeswax in their ears so they were not able to hear him. He told them to tie him up so he didn't go near them.

In the epic poem The Odyssey written by Homer, Odysseus is a good leader because his men put their faith and loyalty in him and Odysseus can use his wits to get his men out of deadly crises.