The Weakness Of Odysseus

Weakness is a trait all of humanity find themselves bound to in many senses, whether it be mentally or physically. Such weakness is found in the character, Odysseus, in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fitzgerald, where strength can be found within his weakness. The tale begins on the island of Ithaca, where the Grey-Eyed-Goddess, Athena, tells Telemakhos to set out on a quest to learn about his father, Odysseus, having been away for 20 years. While Telemakhos is set off on his journey, Odysseus is trapped on the island of Kalypso, lusting for his home. Odysseus then departs on a long journey in an attempt to get back to Ithaca. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus faces many challenges that change and bring out his true identity of a cunning and prideful hero from a weak and lonely man. Odysseus’ change in identity can be established through his weakness and struggles in attempting to break away from the lonely island of Kalypso, to his cunning strength during the battle of Troy and passing the alluring and deadly Seirenes, and lastly to his pridefulness as he reveals himself to the great kyklops, Polyphemus, and defeats the suitors back home in Ithaca. Homer uses Odysseus’ stories and actions to portray his lily-liver personality when first introduced to the reader.

First, Odysseus’ weak and lonely nature portrayed on the island of Kalypso, reveals that he does not live up to the legends that represent his true strength and heroic actions. In the beginning