Odysseus as an Epic Hero

A true leader is ordinary person who rises up to do extraordinary things. A true leader is one who inspires others to achieve greatness. A true leader stays with his men through thick and thin. These characteristics of a true leader are rare, found only in superb people, such as Odysseus. Odysseus stepped up in times of need and led his men through tough encounters. Homer uses imagery in The Odyssey to exemplify the theme of leadership.

The first example of imagery that conveys the theme of leadership is in the "Lotus Eaters" episode. Odysseus and his crew arrived on the island where three of his men devoured the sweet Lotus and become entranced. As Odysseus took charge to ensure his men get home he said, "I drove them, all three wailing to the ships, tied them down under the rowing benches, and called the rest..." (Homer 649). The sweet Lotus caused the men to forever want to stay on the island and not return home. However, although Odysseus potentially could have left the mere three men behind, instead he took responsibility for them. Homer uses the word wailing to illustrate that the three men were putting up a struggle against Odysseus. As they wildly flailed their limbs, Odysseus could have easily given up on them. But, as the leader, Odysseus knew he was accountable for all of his men and was determined to get them safely home. Also, Odysseus tightly ties the three men under the rowing benches to further guarantee all of his men get home.

The second example of the theme that was expressed by imagery is located in the "Sirens" section. When Odysseus and his crew come near the island of the Sirens, he immediately thought of a way for them to escape the luring hymns. As Odysseus took charge he said, "I carved a massive cake of beeswax into bits and rolled them in my hands until they softened... I carried wax along the line, and laid it thick on their ears." (Homer 670). Odysseus had to quickly think of a way to block the tempting songs of the Sirens from entering the ears of his crew. To keep his crew safe, Odysseus cut up beeswax and then placed it thick in their ears. The use of the word thick implies Odysseus put extra beeswax to confirm the Sirens' voices didn't seep through. Odysseus used his intelligence and quick-thinking to, again, keep his men safe and get them home.

The last example of imagery that illustrates leadership is in the "Scylla and Charybdis" incidence. Odysseus and his crew scarcely passed the island of the Sirens when peril began to arise again. When the sea water began to get severely rough and the crew's oars got knocked out of their hands, they men began to feel defenseless and panicked. To calm his crew, Odysseus said, "'Friends, have we never been in danger before this? More fearsome, is it now, than when the Cyclops penned us in his cave? What power he had!'" (Homer 672). Odysseus' men were feeling