The Consequences Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

“You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequence of your choice.” (A Universal Paradox). In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is stuck in a whirlwind of choices, and with all of those choices come consequences. Odysseus proves throughout the book that he is the worst person you could choose to pick a choice. He does not consider the consequences of his actions because he is not logical, is selfish with his actions, and is very secretive. Odysseus consistently does not consider any consequences, and overall is not a good person in that respect.

Odysseus is illogical and lacks common sense while on his journey home, and puts himself and others in dangerous situations. He struggles to think logically when he is in a pressurized

He would much rather compete in the Phaeacians’ games because they rouse his “fighting blood.” (Homer 8 216). His only concern is about making his ego bigger, and being a bigger man than everyone. Playing in the games also delays his trip home, which shows he does not care as much for Penelope and Telemachus as he should. Does this mean he does not care much for his family as people might think? Choosing to stay away longer is one of the many selfish choices Odysseus makes while he is away. Another situation where he is quite selfish is when he is with his comrades in the Cyclops's cave, Odysseus takes the “one bellwether ram” and “the prize of the flock” (Homer 9 481-482). He saves the best animal for hiding to himself, and puts himself before his comrades, which shows his selfishness profoundly.By choosing the best of the flock, he is making the choice to save himself first, and lets the consequence of death lie on the shoulders of his comrades instead. Similarly, Odysseus also is undoubtedly selfish when he plans to kill the suitors. He does not think about the danger he is putting everyone in, and only wants to be king again and get his kingdom, so he can feel that he is more superior to everyone. He does not care that he is ending many people’s lives when he says, “Friends! now it’s for us to hurl at them, I say/ into this ruck of suitors! Topping all their crimes/ they’re mad to strip the armor off our bodies.” (Homer 22 275-277). Even though they are outnumbered by suitors and surrounded by them, he still puts everyone in danger by attacking them, and his only concern is himself and his looming status of being king again. He does not even consider their side of the story, and that they may have been thinking that Odysseus was dead, and it was only right to marry Penelope. The other side may point out that Odysseus actually cares