Preview

Is Odysseus A Good Leader

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
417 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Is Odysseus A Good Leader
Is Odysseus a good leader?

What is good leader? Good leader is a person who can lead a group or a team towards achievement of goal successfully. In a group, a leader is very important for group’s success. How can Odysseus be considered as a good leader? I don’t think he is a good leader and there are several reasons why I don’t think he is a good leader. First, Good leaders never ignore other teammates’ opinion and don’t make their team to be endangered. Odysseus ignored his crew’s opinion and that made them run into danger. In Book 9, line 253-259, his crew suggests to go back to their swift. However, Odysseus didn’t go back and he stayed there for polyphemous’ gift even though there is no certainty that polyphemous will give a gift. As

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Since the the dawn of time it has been a universal fact that to be a hero you need to be a team player. When Odysseus gets his shipmates killed it is a perfect example of Odysseus not being a team player. Odysseus is the only person survive from his expedition why because he did not properly protect his shipmates.Let me read this quote “Driven by hunger they ignore Odysseus’ warning and eat Helios’ cattle”. Odysseus’ could not properly feed his men and he could not control them. When you look at the cyclops cave situation you realize that Odysseus is not very clever or smart. One of Odysseus’ men say “ Take the cheeses, get them stowed, come back, thrown open all the pens, and make a run for it”? While doing that was clearly a better choice…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Odysseus is an excellent military leader in many respects, mostly since he is constantly proving how loyal he his to his men, and is selfless in nearly every situation he faces. In addition, Odysseus genuinely cares about his men…

    • 1011 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Odysseus is a strong leader. Odysseus is a strong leader shown by many characteristics. To prove he is a strong leader I will be using determined, intelligent and loyal characteristics.…

    • 374 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout the Odyssey, the lead character, Odysseus, is presented as the ideal Greek leader. He demonstrates this through the treatment of his men and how he deals with problems that are presented to him. Because the Odyssey was first a spoken myth, it took on the shape of the society in which it was told. Including that society's moral and ethical values, as well as its desires in the traits of a leader. A leader must first be defined, then set apart from other potential leaders, then the leader must be tested through his actions, only then can a definite leader be defined.…

    • 974 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus: Hero or Villain

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Lizeth Marin Honors Introduction to Literature Period 3 18 April 2008 Odysseus: Hero or Villain? Heading home, to Ithaca, Odysseus is faced upon many obstacles that he and his men try to overcome, but in the end substantiate that Odysseus is a villain. “The old soldier in despair: He has spent ten years (seven of them as Calypso’s not entirely unwillingly captive) trying to get home” (652, summary). Evidence proves that Odysseus is a villain, because he tries to convince that he was kept unwillingly by Calypso. However, it is true that Odysseus was kept as Calypso’s captive for a time. Yet he can still be judged as a villain, because he does not just stay as a prisoner, no, he assists Calypso by being with her for the pleasures that she offers to him. Of course that Odysseus never says no to that, which reveals his true and voracious side.”As Circe of Aeaea, the enchantress, desired me, and detained me in her hall. But in my heart I never gave my consent” (656,141-143). This quote once again proves Odysseus to be a villain. This could be argued and said that Odysseus was only taking precautions so that he would not get killed or so that Circe would not release her rage at him in some sort of way. However, with Circe he could have left whenever he wanted unlike when he was with Calypso. Odysseus continues his journey, though he is retained by many obstacles, but only proves that his felony is even stronger than what could have ever been imagined. Odysseus once again through his action proves himself worthy of being known as a villain. Bitten by curiosity, Odysseus proposes to go see the Cyclops’s cave and insists on waiting for him (660, summary). His action leads him and his men to danger. Odysseus after his encounter with Polyphemus, a Cyclops and Poseidon’s monstrous son, is captured along with his men. Odysseus outsmarts the Cyclops and saves some of his men, but it still leaves him as the person responsible for the felony that his men commit to Cyclops…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus was surely a 'master of stratagems.' Cunning, strong, skillful, courageous and patient. The King of Ithaca, leader of his people. He was both these things before he departed for Troy. Although he was a great king, admirable, and resourceful, at times Odysseus was also reckless and often acted impulsively. The roles of being a hero and a leader were always implied. In a search for glory and glamour Odysseus sought out danger, mocked death and ways prepared to accept an honorable death. He also risked the lives of his men. This was most evident in the Cyclopes saga, where Odysseus persisted in entering and remaining in the cave despite the pleas of his men to take what they could before the giant returned.…

    • 679 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odyssey Leadership Essay

    • 1064 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Firstly. Odysseus is a good leader because of his ability to make sacrifices. A leader has to be able to give up some things in order to receive more aid or advantages on their journey. While Odysseus plans to leave Aiaia with his crew, Kirke tells him that he will either have to go by Skylla and lose six of his men, or go by Kharbydis and be at a huge risk to lose his whole crew. Kirke says, “… hug the cliff of Skylla, take your ship/through on a racing stroke. Better to morn/six men then lose them all, and the ship, too.” (XII.128-30). Odysseus understands that he has to get by these monsters so that they can get back to Ithaka and he knows that he has to sacrifice six me than the whole crew. Another thing that Odysseus has to sacrifice for his men and his journey is his loyalty. On the island of Aiaia, once all of his men had turned into pigs, Odysseus received advice from Hermes, the messenger god. He had told Odysseus, “she will cower and yield her bed-/a pleasure you must not decline,/so may her lost and fear bestead you and your friends…” (X.333-6). Odysseus has to sleep with Kirke to save himself and his men from her powers. He has to sacrifice his loyalty for Penelope to help him complete his journey home. Sacrificing loyalty and some of your dearly beloved crew members are ways that Odysseus exhibits sacrifices for the benefit of his crew while he is leading them back home.…

    • 1064 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus as a Leader

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Another thing that makes Odysseus a good leader is how he knew when and how to trust his crew. For example, he wants to hear the Sirens because no one has ever lived through it. Odysseus tells his crew to plug their ears with beeswax and tie him down to the mast of the boat, and to not let him go no matter what he does or says. (Book 12, Lines 214-216) “They tied me up, then, plumb amidships, back to the mast, lashed to the…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus: A Hero

    • 756 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Odysseus leads his men with bravery and responsibility. Odysseus demonstrates these traits by saving his men from the island of Cyclopes. “’Three abreast I tied them silently together, twining cords of willow from the ogre’s bed; then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely, shielded left and right. So three sheep could convey each man.’”(1120) Odysseus hid his men underneath the sheep to save them from Polyphemus and others on the island. Odysseus also gets out of the land of Lotus Eaters and gets his men out of there too. “’They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus Eaters, who showed no will to do us harm, only offering the sweet Lotus to our friends – but those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus, never cared to report, nor to return: they longed to stay forever, browsing on the native bloom, forgetful of their homeland.’”(1112) Odysseus’ crew wanted to stay on the island after eating the Lotus, because it made them forget of where they came from, he made them board the ship to bring them home. Brave Odysseus leads his men without showing his fear to keep them confident and continuing their journey, this makes him an admirable leader.…

    • 756 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    On the Cicones Island, even though he didn’t make much attempt to make his men leave and his lack of respect from his men was poor causing him to lose 36 men he still shared all the spoils out equally. Odysseus’s leadership was a lot better on Lotus-eater Island because he didn’t lose any of his men. Also his tactics were a lot better because he only sends three men to investigate the Island but when they ate the lotus flowers which put them into a forgetful trance, Odysseus actually went and physically forced them to leave. However when they came to the final island Odysseus and his 12 best men, which could be a bit risky taking them, found a cave full of sheep and milk and many more supplies, when they had enough to eat and drink, Odysseus’s men actually wanted to leave but Odysseus wanted to stay to see who the owner of this cave was, expecting they would show xenia. Unfortunately Polythemus the Cyclops didn’t, in fact he actually ate two of Odysseus’s men. However Odysseus quickly came up with a well thought plan to get out of there but when he did, he almost lost his ship because he shouted to the Cyclops,“ I’m Odysseus “ and as Polythemus heard this he through a massive boulder in there direction and it almost hit Odysseus’s ship…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Being A Good Leader Essay

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What is being a good leader? A good leader involves a lot of hard work and lots of leadership skills. It is very good to be a leader, because that means that you have followers that look up to you and think of maybe becoming a leader when they are older.…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Initially, using his boundless bravery and extraordinary leadership instincts, Odysseus is able to spare several of his crew men’s lives from the monstrous Cyclops'. Although the Cyclops is a “mighty man” with great strength, Odysseus “[speaks] up in reply” to him because of his gallantry (Homer 152, 278-80). Odysseus knows that standing up for his men is the only way to protect them, he must be brave and demonstrates this by sacrificing himself to prevent the giant man-eating Cyclops from consuming his men. He “[drew] the sharp sword from [his] hip” and “[stabbed] him where the midriff holds the liver”, blinding the immense beast (154, 324-27). Odysseus’s bold decision to stab the Cyclops requires superior leadership, facing a giant individually…

    • 152 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus was fair that he made decisions to show the support to all his men regardless how strong they were. Being fair is one of the most important leadership qualities because if a leader is not fair, his followers will underestimate themselves thinking that they are no good to the group and this can cause bigger problems. To avoid that Odysseus tossed a coin to pick the men to go up to Cyclops and blind him with a spear. As Homer states, “now came the time to toss for it: who ventured along with me? Whose hand could bear to thrust and grind…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus: A Bad Leader

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The first reason why Odysseus is a bad leader is because he was very selfish, angry, and stubborn. To be a good leader someone should be selfless not selfish and angry. In book nine Odysseus refuses to leave the Cyclops cave even though his men think it’s a bad idea to stay. He only stays because he wants gifts from the Cyclops. His longing for wealth caused six of his men to die. In book ten he doesn’t tell his men what Aeolus had sent with him as a gift. So his men were curious and opened the bag, only to find that they were given wind which then sent them sailing away in the wrong direction. Odysseus’ bad communication skills delayed him even longer from getting to his destination.…

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Odysseus Is A Dishonest

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Lastly, Odysseus doesn’t know how to put himself last. Odysseus doesn’t put himself last when he was taunting the cyclopes. This means he put his men in danger, he knew he would make the cyclopes mad. According to the text it states “why bait the beast again? Let him alone. That tidal wave he made on the first throw all about beached us.” Even though he saved his men by creating an escape plan he still put them in danger. Which shows he was worried about himself and not his crew.…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays