Odysseus Qualities Of A Good Leader In The Odyssey, By Homer

The Odyssey, written by Homer, is an epic poem about Odysseus’ twenty-year journey back home to Ithaca. The Odyssey begins in media res, which means in the middle of. In this epic poem Odysseus faces many obstacles like the Cyclops, Polyphemus, Circe, Sirens, the Lotus Eaters, and most importantly Poseidon. After being held captive on Calypso's Island for 7 years, Odysseus finally returns home, reunites with his son Telemachus, and defeats suitors who were trying to court his wife. Although Odysseus achieved his goal of returning home, he not only lost the trust of his crewmates but also their lives. Odysseus does not show the proper qualities of a good leader because he lets his curiosity get the best of him in many moments throughout the

One example is when Odysseus leads his twelve best men into the cave of the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Odysseus’ men wanted to steal the Cyclops’ cheese and livestock and get out of the cave as soon as possible, but Odysseus wanted to wait so he could see the Cyclops himself. He let his curiosity get the best of him and because of this he lost the lives of six of his best men. In the Odyssey it says, “Odysseus’ men suggest that they steal the giant cheeses and livestock and flee as quickly as possible back to the waiting ship. Odysseus, however, wants to wait so he can see the giant for himself” (Odyssey 482). This is a prime example of how Odysseus lets his curiosity get the best of

Lastly, when Odysseus and his men arrived on the island of Circe. Odysseus’ men are scared of what they might find on this island, but again curiosity gets the best of Odysseus and he sends a scouting party to explore the island. As a result of his curiosity his men get turned into pigs and they have to stay on the island for a year, which only prolongs their journey home. Another reason Odysseus does not show the properties of being a good leader is because there are some moments where he can’t control his men, which then puts himself and his crew in greater danger than they are already in. Helios’s Cattle is a good example of Odysseus not being able to control his men. Odysseus warns his men not to touch any of the god’s sacred sheep, but his men were hungry and thought that starving to death was the worst way to die, so while Odysseus was asleep, his men killed and ate all of the sheep. Which resulted in Zeus killing all of Odysseus’ men except him. In the epic poem it says, “for six days the men feast on Helios’ cattle. When they set sail again, Zeus delivers his punishment in the form of a thunderbolt that destroys their ship. All the men are drowned, but Odysseus” (Odyssey