Essay, Research Paper: The Makeup Of Odysseus

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.