Cleverness and Foolishness in The Odyssey Essay Example
In The Odyssey, cleverness is one of the most favorable traits a human can have. But with cleverness comes foolishness, which humans also display at times. Cleverness and foolishness allow characters in The Odyssey to simultaneously proceed with a journey and halt it in its tracks. However, these traits are not displayed only by humans but by every other creature, from a lowly insect to the king of Olympos himself. In The Odyssey, cleverness is a trait, that along with foolishness, are attributes displayed by every being in varying amounts.
Odysseus is a prime example of the idea of cleverness and mental aptitude. Particularly during the encounter with the Cyclopians does Odysseus make use of his sharp mind, “Noman is my name” (107). “So his eye sizzled about the pole of olive-wood” (108.) “I tied them in threes, with a man under the middle on, while the two others protected him on each side” (108). Odysseus is able to weave a plan and execute it successfully during a stressful situation. One that gains him a leg up on Polyphemon and one that involves no casualties to his crew and an almost guaranteed escape. Odysseus generates a creative plan, one that gives him an advantage over Polyphemos, and one that displays his quick mind and cunningness. But while escaping, Odysseus does something incredibly foolish.
Odysseus might have displayed heaps of cleverness while escaping, but he also displays a great deal of foolishness after escaping. After escaping his home, he mocks Polyphemos, telling him that his name is Odysseus, that his father is Laertes, and that his palace is located in Ithaca. Polyphemus enraged begs his father Poseidon to see that Odysseus never returns home, “If I am truly thy son and thou art indeed my father, grant that Odysseus the conqueror of Troy - the son of Laertes - whose address is in Ithaca, may never reach his home” (111). Odysseus might be a competent man, but even he bends to his flaws. As anger is one of his flaws, he cannot help but mock a man who caused him great suffering, no matter how detrimental it will be and no matter how thoughtless it is. He acted foolish, just like Polyphemos, but even the cyclops which he blinded is clever in his own way.
Polyphemos might appear to be the epitome of foolishness, displaying no cleverness at all, but he does, even if in small amounts. When Odysseus first arrived at his cave he asked him of his ship, “But tell me, where did you moor your ship-far off or close by? I should be glad to know that” (105). And again when he sleeps without fear, knowing that Odysseus and his crew cannot lift the stone that is his door, “We could never have moved the great stone which he had planted in the doorway” (106). Polyphemos displays cleverness in these moments, not as much as Odysseus but it is still present. He himself weaves a plan, however long it may take him, and attempts to execute it, unsuccessfully, but the attempt is still there. He asks the location of his ship, realizing more goods or people might be there, and understands the fact that they cannot kill him, for if they do, they will rot in his cave, he weaves two plans, both of which demonstrate his cleverness, in smaller amounts than other characters, but present nonetheless.
In The Odyssey, cleverness is a trait, that along with foolishness, are attributes displayed by every being in varying amounts. Odysseus, a character thought to be the wisest, displays cleverness in multiple ways but at the same time demonstrates incredible amounts of foolishness. Polyphemos, a character thought to be the most foolish, a monster whose only exists as another obstacle for Odysseus has his clever moments. In The Odyssey, cleverness is a favorable trait, one that is sought after and wished for but is already present in everyone. Foolishness is a disfavorable trait, one that is viewed as useless and detrimental, but just like cleverness, it is also present in everyone. One cannot exist without the other, a balance between the two is necessary.
