Odysseus, The Wise Man In Homer's 'Odyssey'

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In any country, kingdom, or household there is usually the one that seems to overrule all in that specified area. Leaders are strong, courageous, and skilled in combat and wits. Leaders are either looked at as an ally or an enemy. They are confident, bold, and respected. In the poem, The Odyssey, Homer gives us insight of how a tough, cunning, and wise man is brought through twenty years of suffering to reach is home that he weeps for so much. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, is a man that is looked at as a celebrity by humans because of his skillful fighting, and by the gods because of his intelligence and wits. The king went through numerous tasks and obstacles to get back to his homeland. One task in particular proves his power and the love he has for his loyal and wise wife, Penelope. Looking at lines four hundred fifty-one through four hundred seventy-one, the moment Odysseus, while disguised by the God Athena, proves to the suitors and workers that he is the rightful husband, king, and lord by stringing his own bow and shooting it through twelve axes; the task was quick and perfect for Odysseus. In chapter twenty-one of The Odyssey, Homer brings up a task thought of by the goddess Athena and brought to Penelope for the suitors to try and win her hand in marriage: the suitors had to string the king’s bow and shoot it through twelve of his prized axes. To Odysseus, his bow was a sign of friendship between an old friend, Iphitus, son of Eurytus, who gave him the bow and inn