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Odysseus's Strengths And Weaknesses

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For years, heros have been thought to be superhuman- only strengths but no weaknesses. However, Homer’s Odyssey proves otherwise. Homer’s Odyssey is the epic poem about Odysseus's journey back to Ithaca after winning the war against Troy. The epic poem explains that to be human means to have weaknesses. Odysseus’s biggest flaws is that he is proud and curious.
Homer uses characterization to show that humans have weaknesses. One of Odysseus’s main weakness is that he's proud. Throughout the books, he tries to prove that he is invincible, and no creature can outsmart him. Earlier in Book 9, when Odysseus and his men had just reached the Cyclops’s home, his men pleaded not to go to the Cyclops, he still wanted to “ find out what the mainland …show more content…
In Book 9, after escaping the Cyclops Odysseus shouted “ How do you like the beating that we gave you, you damned cannibal” (9.337-338), showing how boastful and …show more content…
Odysseus's curiosity got him into death defying situations countless times. For example, when Odysseus wanted to “find out what the mainland natives are- for they may be wild savages, and lawless, or hospitable and god fearing men” (9.18-20), he let his curiosity get the best of him and led him and his men to grave danger. As the leader, he has the final say in what they do. When he decided to go into the cave of the Cyclops, he had upset the ponderous monster. By upsetting the monster he had to come up with a clever trick to get him and his crew members out. Because he is inquisitive, he wanted to disturb the monster to show that he has beaten the City of Troy after 10 long years, and can defeat the Cyclops. Also, on the island of Circe, Odysseus was advised not to listen to the Siren's’ voice because it lures men to stay until they die. Odysseus still wanted to listen in order to see if he would be defeated by sirens. His curiosity is driven by his need to prove that he is invincible. Humans have weaknesses. Odysseus tried to show that he is invincible, although he defeated many monsters and after twenty long years returned back to Ithaca, along the way he proved that he is not immortal or invincible. He has imperfections just like any other person, but those weaknesses make us stronger. To be human means to have weaknesses, Odysseus showed his humanity through his flaws. His weaknesses make him relatable, everyone is curious

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