Essay Sample on Leadership in the Odyssey

Introduction

Odysseus faces many difficult obstacles in The Odyssey by Homer. Odysseus develops leadership skills with each obstacle. Odysseus's leadership abilities protect him and his crew, and allow Odysseus back to Ithaca. Therefore, Odysseus is an ideal leader, because he possesses a tremendous amount of compassion, intelligence and bravery.

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Odysseus is a strong leader because he shows a lot of concern for his men. He is always there for his men, encouraging them to continue moving forward even when they feel hopeless. Odysseus, for example, speaks to Circ and realizes that the journey ahead is not easy. They will be on the island of Sirens, who lure boats towards their singing and ultimately cause them to crash.

He keeps the bad news secret from his men despite the fact that it is not good news. Odysseus, upon reaching the island of Sirens with his crew, [slices] a large wheel of beeswax into pieces, [kneads] it in his two hands, and then [stops] his comrades one at a time (Homer 276). Odysseus does this to protect his men from the sirens' lures. Another example of Odysseus showing compassion, he ensures that his men are safe and secure throughout their wanderings.

The crew avoids many tragic outcomes thanks to Odysseus’s brilliant intelligence. His innovative ideas and ability to work under high-stakes circumstances are what get Odysseus, his crew, far ahead of the pack. To avoid angering Poseidon, Odysseus says "Nobody - [that] is] my name" when he's stuck in the Polyphemus cave. Nobody - So my father and mother call me, as well as all my friends (Homer 223)

Odysseus makes use of his wit to realize that Poseidon will not be mad at him for making his son suffer. Therefore, Odysseus is able to get his crew safely out of the cave and carry on their journey without any repercussions. Odysseus realizes that his crew is trapped in the Cyclops’s cave and must tie them to the sheep bellies to escape unscathed. Odysseus is an outstanding leader because of his bravery. Odysseus's bravery and determination in spite of his long, treacherous journey lifts the spirits of the entire crew.

Odysseus is a master conqueror of all men he meets with ease and protects his men. Odysseus is a good example of this fearlessness. Odysseus visits each crew member to explain why they should also be fearless at Siren island's entrance. Friends, we are not strangers to danger. This danger is no greater than when the Cyclops [penns] you up in his vaulted cave using crushing force. My courage, my presence and my tactics saved us all. We will always remember that (Homer 277-278). Fear-filled crew members listen to their leader's words and can relax knowing that they are under his command. Another example of his bravery comes when Odysseus is stuck in Cyclops Cave with the crew and are being glared upon. Odysseus stands up and talks with the Cyclops when no one approaches him.

Conclusion

Because of Odysseus’s leadership skills, Odysseus wins the battle for his crew. Odysseus's warmth and compassion soothes his comrades when they are in fear. His intelligence helps to prevent tragic outcomes from happening. And his fearlessness lifts men's spirits, allowing them to believe that everything is possible. Odysseus proved that leadership can be exposed even in the most difficult of situations.