Essay On Intelligence In The Odyssey

A powerful leader shows the strength of a lion and the wisdom of an owl. One gets their men out of any predicament they may find themselves in while staying mostly intact. It’s difficult, but the main character Odysseus often makes the correct and moral decision. Intelligence is greatly valued in the world of ancient Greece and Odysseus is fortuitous enough to have it. In The Odyssey, intelligence is seen as an important trait to the Greeks because quick thinking and careful decisions shows a great likelihood of becoming a strong leader. There were many approaches taken by Odysseus in order to show his perception on intelligence and how he used it. For instance, when Odysseus and his men were trapped in the Cyclops’ cave he thinks to himself, “I drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man will for dear life, until a trick came--and it pleases me well” (767). What makes Odysseus so intelligent is how diligent of a thinker he was; he thought of solutions almost instantaneously, and they always worked out to some degree. To be fair being a leader comes with making difficult decisions; consequently, his plans don't always fully succeed. Furthermore, while the crew is sailing into scylla he strategizes for what’s ahead, “But as I sent them on toward Scylla, I told them nothing, as they could do

Some may diagree with Odysseus style of leadership because it may appear to not be sensible or well thought out. Although he and his crew may face obstacles, Odysseus usually comes up with a plan that serves the crew well in the long run. While intelligence is highly respected, occasionally there isn’t much you can do to avoid situations, and you just have to accept your