Everyone has different thoughts on what it requires to be a good leader. 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. He is a smart and skilled leader. Sometimes he can let this go to his head and become self-absorbed .
Odysseus is commonly known for his intelligence. He claims that he can outwit anyone. For instance, when Odysseus and his men are at the land of Cyclopes. He thinks of a way to destroy the Cyclops Polyphemus he encounters. He decides to ram a spear into Polyphemus's eye. When Polyphemus asks for Odysseus's name, he tells him that his name is Nohbdy. Odysseus and four of his men grab the spear they have been preparing, and sprint and ram the spear deep into his crater eye. Polyphemus pulls the bloody spear from his wounded eye. He screamed for the other Cyclops to help him. They ask him who was hurting him . He replis, "Nohbdy! Nohbdy tricked me, Nohbdy ruined me!" when they hear his response, they pay no attention to him and he dies.
During some points of the story, Odysseus shows signs of being self-absorbed. When he is with Circes, she warns him about the Sirens that we will pass. These Sirens will try to draw him and his men by singing , into thrashing rocks that will cause his boat to crash. She tells them to tie themselves up so they can not steer. She also tells them to put bee's wax in their ears. As they are passing by the Sirens, Odysseus boastfully asks them if he has ever been tricked or defeated yet. If Odysseus is that sure that he is such a powerful man , then he shouldn't have to prove it to his men by bragging to them.
Additionally, Odysseus is a very skilled leader. At the battle with the suitors, no one recognizes him as who he really is. His wife decides to hold a contest to see who is the real Odysseus.
Is Odysseus a Thoughtful, Mild and Kindly Ruler as Mentor describes Him? In book II of Homer's Odyssey, Mentor describes Odysseus as a "thoughtful, mild, kindly" king ruling his city like a "gentle father." Mentor's description does not convey the full aspects of Odysseus" personality. It is tr...
