Nicholas Sine

English Honors

Period Four

December 3, 1997

The Makeup of Odysseus

Down the street walks a man who does not believe in himself. He walks and

walks hoping that somehow he will prove to the world that he is capable of surviving

the harsh world. The man decides to go on a journey. Like the man I spoke of,

Odysseus in Homer's The Odyssey, needed to find, prove and show off something of

his own. Odysseus' life saving traits are displayed.

Dedication is Odysseus' vitality in the Odyssey. No man has ever exemplified

more dedication then Odysseus. Odysseus devotes twenty years to one expedition.

He has to eat, sleep and drink his truths that he uncovers about himself. It is quite

evident that Odysseus was brave, after all he endured to get home, this is one of the

obvious characteristics. Odysseus amazes the other characters with how brave he is.

Odysseus challenged the world to a duel in this epic poem, and he did not detain

from the contest beginning to end. This really seems like he is trying to prove to the

world something. Odysseus was a very high self-esteemed man. He had to have

been in combat with his own thoughts of death while he was floating alone on top of

the scanty scrap of driftwood. Odysseus here, proved he could keep himself alive

even in the worst conditions. There was a trait of Odysseus that people hesitate to,

or do not want to grasp. Odysseus is a loving man. Odysseus' love, if not anything,

was what aided him throughout the days of his absence. Remarkably, after all the

years Odysseus was away, his hegemony to preserve the suitor's fright of his return

stuck. In the darkness of their minds, they were all contemplating their actions

should he return home. The strong will that Odysseus exhibits from page to page is

possibly one of the utmost important ingredients in his survival. Though Odysseus

presumably had doubts along the way, his last hours with his wife were probably

what kept his enthusiasm. Intelligence prove to be very important in many books

throughout the epic. Odysseus relies on wisdom and mental strength to ensure his

safe passage. When he comes upon the sirens and plugs his ears from their singing,

Odysseus used a great deal of mental power.

"People have one thing in common: they are all different." -Robert Zend

Odysseus obtains many character traits that he thoroughly used to secede in his

journey home. These traits differ from meaning from one man to the next,

Odysseus holds inside of him their true and distinguished power. Odysseus finally

displayed to the world his life saving traits.