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Odysseus Personal Qualities (f Essay

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The Odyssey, by Homer, is about Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. Odysseus fights in the Trojan War and wins. He travels towards Ithaca but does not reach it because he is not in favor of Poseidon, god of the sea, who prevents his return. For many years, Odysseus wanders the seas and has many adventures. Meanwhile, suitors attempt to marry Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, but she remains faithful to her husband. The gods pity Odysseus and assist in his safe return to Ithaca. Odysseus’ personal qualities of bravery, self-discipline, and intelligence also help him to survive. Though Odysseus has the help of the gods, his personal qualities contribute to his survival in the seas and the return to his family in Ithaca.…show more content…
The horse was taken inside the enemy walls into Troy. Everyone inside the horse wanted to say something but Odysseus was patient and did not say anything, nor did he let anyone else say a word. Anticles would have said a word, according to Menalaus, but “...Odysseus held his two hands tight over the man’s mouth, and saved the whole nation...'; (Pg. 50) Odysseus made the plan of the wooden horse successful with his self-discipline. Another example of Odysseus’s discipline is shown when he meets Nausicaa. Odysseus is caught in a storm at sea and undergoes much suffering until Athena and a sea nymph help him to an island. He awakes to the sight of the beautiful princess Nausicaa. After almost dying and grateful to see anyone, he wants to run to Nausicaa. He debates whether to run to her and throw his arms around her or stand where he is and politely ask for clothes. Because of his self-discipline, Odysseus restrains himself and politely speaks with Nausicaa so she will not run away. The last and one of the greatest examples of Odysseus’ self-discipline occurs when he returns home disguised as a beggar. In order to carry out his plan to take revenge on his wife’s suitors and to come home to his wife, he dresses as a beggar to assess the situation and devise a plan. He is able to speak with his wife and friends and still keep his identity secret. Because of his self-discipline,
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