Pericles was eerily similar to Odysseus, having the ability to use words to manipulate and influence men around him. Take, for example, the democratic leader of Athens, Pericles. Odysseus’s similarity to other leaders of ancient Greece expresses how he could be presented as the ideal Greek leader. The love for his family and people gave him the strength to persevere through harsh setbacks and hard expeditions. Not only is Odysseus clever, he is extremely loyal to his home and family. His intelligence and kindness is shown when he thinks through all the possible scenarios and chooses the one that benefits the most people. Odysseus considers the safety of everyone, even the servants who remained faithful to him. “Now the great house resounded aloud to the thud of their footsteps, as the men celebrated there, and the fair-girdled women and thus would a person speak outside the house who heard them, ‘Surely now someone has married our much sought after queen’.” In that way, Odysseus would be able to make a clean get-away to his father’s home, and no one passing by would suspect anything was wrong. He tells the servants and Telemachus to pretend like a wedding is happening. Polyphemus’s fellow kinsmen vacate the premises laughing and jeering, ending in a brilliant victory for Odysseus.Ī further demonstration of Odysseus’s cunningness is demonstrated after killing all the suitors. When the other Cyclops answer Polyphemus’s call for help, his answer is nonsensical. Nobody is my name, Nobody do they call me - my mother and my father, and all my comrades as well.” If anyone asked about who had wounded Polyphemus, the simple and confusing answer would be “nobody.” This plan works fabulously. Odysseus renames himself, stating, “Cyclops, thou askest me of my glorious name, and I will tell it thee and do thou give me a stranger’s gift, even as thou didst promise. Knowing that the Cyclops will run for help after being wounded, Odysseus formulates a plan that effectively prevents himself from being discovered. Odysseus further displays his intellect following this cunning episode. The Cyclops, pleased with these gestures, takes the wine, ultimately leading to his demise. Odysseus plays with the emotions of the Cyclops by speaking beguilingly and luring him with the wine. Although it was his very own curiosity that landed him in that situation, Odysseus’s masterful articulation of speech lends itself to his eventual escape. One instance in which Odysseus demonstrates his intelligence is when trapped within the Polyphemus’s lair.
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