The Courage Of Odysseus Courageous In Homer's Odyssey

T. S. Eliot, a publisher and playwright, has said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” Courage has many ways of presenting itself to people. Whether it is through physical ways or moral ways depends on the situation. Most people see courage as physical, like a small dog saving a helpless kitten from a fire or a man jumping in front of a bullet for a loved one or complete stranger. There is also the moral side of courage. This can be the act of standing up to the authorities over certain beliefs or being pressured into doing something you know is wrong and not doing it, regardless of the consequences. Perseus, Odysseus, and Wesley Autrey are courageous. Perseus was courageous. First, Perseus

First, Odysseus and his men are trapped in the cave of Polyphemos, the Cyclops and son of Poseidon. The only way to escape is by having the Cyclops move the gigantic stone out of the doorway. Odysseus decides to trick Polyphemos into doing so. He gets Polyphemos very drunk, so he is oblivious to what Odysseus is doing. When the Cyclops is asleep, Odysseus drew out the very caustic and scorching hot wood stake he carved earlier. Odysseus said, “God breathed great courage into us then” (Homer, 107). Odysseus wields the stake and pierces the single eye of Polyphemos, blinding him and giving leeway to Odysseus’ escape. Secondly, the Sirens coon a beautiful song that no man can resist and lure men to their deaths, and Odysseus desired to cheat the Sirens and observe the song without being drawn in. Odysseus decided to take wax and plug up his ears as he sailed past the island of the Sirens. He also makes sure that his men’s ears are plugged as well, so they are not lured in. Odysseus takes extra precaution and has his men tie him to the ship’s mast. Odysseus said, “From the bottom of my heart I longed to listen, and I ordered my men to set me free, nodding my head and working my brows; but they simply went on pulling with a good swing” (Homer, 141-2). Finally, Odysseus and his men were sailing along the ocean, when they came upon the divided hell that was Scylla and Charybdis. They all stood paralyzed in fear as Charybdis moved the water nearby

Perseus’ drive to kill Medusa and to rescue a helpless girl makes him courageous. Odysseus’ willingness to always do the thing that everyone else fears and preservers through them makes him courageous. Wesley Autrey’s impulse to save the man and risk himself makes him courageous. Everyone has a bit of courage in their soul, and these people in particular have used it to the best of their abilities, and this makes them