He prudently reasons every step. First, he presents strong wine to Kyklops and blinds the monster as he falls drunken and is off guard. Since he has cleverly fooled the monster by claiming the name "Nohbdy," other Kyklops, confused by Polyphemos" scream, "nohbody has ruined me" (157), leaves him alone; then Odysseus hides himself and his men under Polyphemos" fat sheep and slip out safely as the sheep are herded out of the cave. .
However, Odysseus is unable to keep up his deception. When he is back on his ship, he starts mocking the Kyklops before the ship is far away from the shore, and that arouses Polyphemos to throw giants rocks which almost sink Odysseus" ship. What's more, Odysseus goes on and tells the Kyklops his name and origin. What he has done is quite contrary to his normal conduct and extremely careless and rash indeed. Odysseus should be know that Polyphemos is the son of Poseidon from the conversation of other Kyklops on the island. In announcing his name, is Odysseus not afraid of the Earth Shaker's wrath? Or perhaps at this particular moment, his insolence has blinded his sense?.
Odysseus" mild manner makes him a gentle leader. He does not give hush commands but rather interacts with his crew in a cordial and affectionate matter. When his ship passes by the monstrous Skylla, the sailors are terrified by Skylla's sound. To invigorate them, Odysseus does not sternly demands his crew to be brave, but gently provokes them:.
Friends, have never been in danger before this? More fearsome, is it now, than when the Kyklops penned us in his cave? What power he had! Did I not keep my nerves, and use my wits to find a way out for us? (216).
Odysseus often gives in to his crew demands. For an instance, to avoid meddling with the sacred cattle of the Sun, he directs his men to bypass Helio's island, but when his crew complains of their fatigue and demand to rest on the island, he yields to them.
Everyone has different thoughts on what it requires to be a good leader. Leaders should retain good traits.. Although, they will also have bad traits. Of course everyone makes mistakes , but a good leader learns from their mistakes and overcomes them. In the same way, Odysseus in Homer's The Odyssey, is a good leader. ...