Examples Of Wisdom In The Odyssey

Throughout “The Odyssey” Odysseus is given many epithets. However, the most common, and perhaps the most accurate, relate to his intellect. Odysseus, particularly through the events that occur within books V – XII, is justly referred to as ‘the wise Odysseus’.

Within the epic novel of ‘The Odyssey’, Odysseus shows his personality trait of wisdom in his interactions with the Phaeacian’s on the island of Scheria. When Odysseus first reaches the land of Scheria he follows the instructions given to him by Nausicaa and pleads for xenia first with Queen Arete: “‘Arete, daughter of godlike Rhexenor, as one who has suffered much I come a suppliant to your husband, to you, and to your guests. May the gods grant happiness for life and may each bequeath

Odysseus does this especially through his scepticism of predetermined scenarios, as well as his own plans used in precarious and problematic situations. The first example of this is within the fifth book of ‘The Odyssey’ when Calypso informs Odysseus that he shall build a raft and travel home to Ithaca. However, the ever-wary Odysseus is distrustful of this plan: “‘so I shall not entrust myself to a raft unless I can count on your goodwill, and you give me you solemn oath that you will not plot some other mischief against me’”. Calypso then responds by saying “‘what a rouge you are to say such a thing! It shows the crafty way your mind works’”. This situation exemplifies the trait of wisdom in Odysseus’s personality as it illuminates the distrustful aspect; Odysseus is wise enough to understand human-nature and therefore assumes that the individual, in this case Calypso, is generally always attempting to better their own personal situation. Odysseus further proves his wisdom when he questions Circe’s advice: “‘yes, goddess,’ I replied, ‘but tell me this. I must be quite clear about it. Could I not somehow steer clear of the deadly Charybdis, yet ward off Scylla when she attacks my crew?’”. Circe then calls Odysseus a “‘obstinate fool’” for questioning her. This further proves Odysseus’s wisdom through his distrust of human

However, the tale of the Trojan Horse is possibly the most well known and exemplifies his guile in an incredible manner. In Book VIII Odysseus calls upon the bard to sing of the “Wooden Horse”; “‘But now change your theme and sing to us the stratagem of the Wooden Horse, which Epeius built with Athene’s help, and which the good Odysseus contrived to get taken one day into the citadel of Troy as an ambush, manned by the warriors who then sacked the town’”. This tale further exemplifies Odysseus’s wisdom as his ingenious plan ended the Trojan War after ten years of battle. Odysseus’s wisdom is further proved with the Cyclopes incident. Captured in Polyphemus’s cave, Odysseus and his crew are faced with almost definite death if they do not escape. However, Odysseus being the man whom is full of intellect, wit, and guile, creates a plan in order for them to escape unharmed. This plan involved blinding the Cyclops and escaping underneath his rams; “‘Their master, though tortured and in terrible agony, passed his hands along the backs of all the animals as they stopped in front of him; but the idiot never noticed that my men were tied under the chest of his own woolly rams’”. Similar to the tale of the Trojan Horse, this anecdote exemplifies Odysseus’s great wisdom and forethought in situations that seem stagnant and