Selfish and Selfless Cunning (Odyssey by Homer Analysis)

In life and literature, novel situations emerge that oftentimes present daunting challenges. Some navigate their way far more tactfully than others. In Homer’s ancient Greek epic, Odyssey, the protagonist Odysseus demonstrates himself to be exceptional in this regard. With keen alacrity, he triumphs not only in the Trojan War but also in the turbulent voyage back to his kingdom of Ithaca. Throughout the journey, Odysseus is put at odds with a variety of nuisances, monsters, and enemies including the giant cyclops Polyphemus. In overcoming his obstacles and adversaries, the wit of Odysseus’ character manifests brightly, allowing him to conjure creative -- and usually successful -- tactics to defeat these obstacles. Amid Odysseus’ chaotic voyage, he begins consistently prioritizing his reputation over his destiny. The outcomes of his ensuing conflicts, blunders, and successes display how on the one hand cunning proves to be constructive and propitious when used with the intent of benefiting others, but on the other hand, causes destruction-- both of one’s self and one’s external milieu-- when targeted toward rapacious personal gain. 

A militant warrior, Odysseus can be a masterful leader among his soldiers. When his attention is centered on safely reuniting his crewmates with home to their long unattended families or even his own family in Ithaca, Odysseus thinks beyond potential implications to his reputation as a legendary warrior and works more constructively toward that long-term objective. Yet, when his perception regarding his standing and record consumes him, Odysseus recklessly sets the group on backward spirals. Though he recovers, the detours experienced are far from pleasant. Early on in the trek, Odysseus asks the Phaeacian princess Nausicaa for assistance in a peculiar fashion. To capture her attention with a flattering opening, he asks, “I implore your aid -- but tell me, are you a goddess or are you a mortal woman?” (Homer 83). Since Odysseus already began the encounter with such an abnormal gesture, he figured there was no turning back on the scenario. Improvising quickly, Odysseus thinks of the most effective means to grasp a woman’s interest, compliments. Appealing to her Greek background and knowing her royal status, Odysseus compares her to the goddesses, prominent for being the most beautiful, heavenly beings. 

He speaks to the princess for several minutes, asking for guidance on his homeward bound travel after telling her his predicament, yet, he never reveals his identity as “the great Odysseus.” Beyond a slight attractiveness enhancement granted to his appearance by the goddess Athena, nothing else is working to camouflage Odysseus besides the concealment of his name. Thus in plain sight, Odysseus says whatever he needs to in the however manner he wants without the hindrance of being prejudged by his widely recognized reputation. Determined to learn the best route to Ithaca, Odysseus aims to appeal to the princess’ hospitable sensibilities. He extends his request by pleading, “have pity on me, for you are the first person I have met, and I know no one else in this country,” (Homer 83). This effort attempts to win her sympathies and guilt the princess into taking Odysseus around the town to eventually reach her majesty’s palace. Each of Odysseus’s rapidly calculated maneuvers is clearly illustrated during this interaction, which serves as one of the first scenes that reveal the inner machinations of Odysseus's psyche when he plots and plans.

Later, in the ninth book, Odysseus and his crew encounter a colossal and treacherous cyclops by the name of Polyphemus as they attempt to ‘borrow’ his resources. The crew soon learns that the cyclops is a vacuous son of Poseidon who exerts his power by eating men. After some of his companions are devoured, Odysseus begins pondering how to best Polyphemus, namely by trying to see if he can manipulate Polyphemus using delicious alcoholic drinks (Homer 120). Once inebriated, Polyphemus asks for Odysseus’ name so that he can “eat all of [Odysseus’] friends before [Odysseus] himself,” to which Odysseus replies, “My name is Noman” (Homer 121). This answer is pivotal in establishing Odysseuss success against the cyclops. Polyphemus drops his guard while drunk vomiting and Odysseus seizes the opportunity to pierce the eye of the cyclops with a wooden spear. Thereafter, Odysseus and his remaining colleagues flee and Polyphemus asks his fellows for help, yelling that “Noman” is killing him (Homer 122). This statement puzzles Polyphemus’ cyclops friends since it sounds as though he is simply saying “no man” is killing him, an odd and seemingly hallucinatory cry insinuating there is no assailant. Given the reaction of Polyphemus, the plan hatched by Odysseus was executed appropriately as a result of his creative on-the-spot thinking. His crewmates are given ample opportunity to take whatever they need and leave out to sea again. Yet, this monumental achievement is short-lived because it paves the way for Odysseus’ hubris to orient itself first and foremost, thereby botching his carefully designed advance.

Following his victory, as Odysseus is about to board his ship, he has a breakthrough that changes the entire course of the story. Odysseus gathers that even though he carried out a masterfully unparalleled achievement against a dreadful foe, there would be nobody to adore and exalt this fantastic genius who outsmarted and defeated the vicious cyclops. At that moment, Odysseus loses his composure. For in the dilemma that just passed, Odysseus felt not that he was the gallant and crafty warrior of legend, but rather some nameless, unmemorable puppet who belongs not at the peak of commemoration but in the abyss of the forgotten. With a forceful surge of pride, Odysseus shouts at the debilitated cyclops, “if anyone asks who it was that put your eye out and spoiled your beauty, say it was the valiant warrior Odysseus son of Laertes, who lives in Ithaca,” (Homer 124). He laid it all out. Anything substantive information that could later damage him, Odysseus provided. This desire to reinstate his identity as a marvelous hero causes him to forget any repercussions of his foolish action and proves to cost him a great fortune of pain and suffering as the story progresses. He clearly displays a lot of pride and understands that the cyclops will remember his name, yet he does not seem to realize how badly this will affect the remainder of his journey. Ultimately, despite the beneficial ways in which Odysseus exercises his gifted cunning, his selfish hubris also causes long-lasting damage and leads to the deaths and exhausts of many more men over the next few years. 

Throughout Odysseus’ voyage to Ithaca, he is met with challenges and predicaments in which it is necessary for him to utilize his profound cunning in order to escape or resolve the problem somehow. His quick thinking when he requested help from princess Nausicaa and his horrible mistake after defeating the infamous cyclops exhibited his two different focuses when planning: keeping his reputation as a warrior and fulfilling his and his crew’s destiny to return home. Unfortunately, keeping his reputation became more of a priority at times since it allowed Odysseus to embrace his identity, especially after being away from society for so long. Odysseus’ behaviors and strategies prove cunning can be constructive and favorable, especially in helpless times, when the intention is selfless and focused on how others will be helped. However, it also can be destructive when the intention becomes selfish or for self-fulfillment. 

Works Cited

Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Samuel Butler, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2012.