Introduction
Odysseus was among the most famous kings in Greece. He was a legendary king of Ithaca and arguably the hero in the poem called Homer. Odysseus was the son of Laertes and Anticlea, and husband to Penelope who they were blessed with a son called Telemachus. Odysseus is regarded as the hero of the Trojan War which took ten years before Odysseus finally won. The Trojan War is a major event particularly to the Greeks and Greek mythology at large. It helped shape the Greek religion and literature. The ten-year journey is captured by Homer in the book, Odyssey, where the Odysseus ships were blown too far away lands by the strong winds. Many events happened in those lands resulting in the death of all the soldiers and the return of Odysseus as an old beggar in his homeland. This essay will look into the strengths and weaknesses associated with the life of Odysseus.
Strengths
Odysseus’ strengths and weaknesses were mainly witnessed during the Trojan War. His determination was one of his greatest strengths during the Trojan War. This was mainly due to the prophecy in which it was said that he would return home if he went to Troy. He ensured most of the prophecies towards the success of the war were fulfilled through his active involvement. In book 10, Odysseus and Diomedes killed Rhesus so that his horses could not reach the Scamander River. Homer in his book describes how a determined Odysseus came up with the idea of the Trojan horse which ensured the Greek army conquered Troy. He was diplomatic and his skills came to the fore when disagreements arose in the war camps. He persuaded heroes such as Agamemnon to return to the Greek camp. He also instilled morale and order in the war camp especially when the camp was faced with many injuries.
Flexibility is another virtue he possessed. He learned to listen to other people’s advice and particularly took the advice of the blind prophet, Tiresias. Odysseus was patient as witnessed during the time he returned to Ithaca. He spent many days disguised as a beggar so that he could acquaint himself with the latest development in Ithaca, particularly regarding Penelope. His cunningness helped shape his life as a hero and king. A case in point was when he used a Trojan captive to frame Palamedes thus causing him to lose his life through stoning (Hyginus). This ensured Odysseus remained the winner when he held a strained relationship with his rivals.
Weaknesses
One of his weaknesses was his pride. Homer in odyssey tells of how he brags when they are safe thus prompting Polyphemus to throw a rock that almost sank their ship. Odysseus had a weakness when it came to dealing with women. He spent almost one year enjoying himself with Circle until he was reminded of the journey home by his men (Homer, 1866). This caused more delay to their return to Ithaca. His unforgiving nature was his undoing especially when he fails to forgive Palamedes for exposing him. This leads him to conspire with a Trojan prisoner to kill Palamedes.
Conclusion
Odysseus has been regarded among the few people who helped shape Greek mythology and also the hero of Odyssey. The strengths and weaknesses during the Trojan War helped him grow and develop in character. Odysseus’ character is indeed one that will continue inspiring a future generation.