In the epic poem "The Odyssey", the courageous and diligent Odysseus displayed many admirable traits, even though at times his actions brought pain and suffering to others. These lapses of character may have inflicted considerable distress and anguish to particular individuals, but they were unintentional and failed to tarnish the image of the protagonist Odysseus during his many journeys.

Odysseus portrayed the image of a time-honoured warrior. His stature and charisma depicted him as a god-like figure among men and a worthy king amongst his people. Odysseus' physical supremacy demanded respect and his intelligence and good nature was admired by all. His commanding role in Troy emphasised his strength as a fighter and as a person. Odysseus demonstrated his intellect devising strategic plans of attack, illustrated by his penetration of Troy with the infamous 'Trojan horse'. Nestor, Menelaus, Achilles, and Agamemnon, all heroes in their own right, spoke highly of their comrade.

"For all of the Achaeans who strove at Troy it was Odysseus who strove the hardest and achiev

It is unquestionable that Odysseus' actions were most devastating towards his family. During his absence certain decisions affected the longevity of his journey and accordingly the time in which his family suffered. Anticleia, Odysseus' mother, was reunited with her son as a lost soul in Hades, the mythological Greek underworld. Here she displayed a strong parental bond that was demonstrated by both parents. Anticleia had died from a broken heart after giving up hope of Odysseus' return. His father, Laertes, couldn't maintain a prominent role in society. His standard of life dwindled as he struggled to come to terms with his wife's death and the apparent loss of his son. Odysseus' disappearance had left his family in disarray; they felt incomplete without him. Telemachus, Odysseus' son, also felt unfulfilled due to the absence of a father figure. He was deprived of the strong bond and support that encompassed a typical father, son relationship.

" I am Odysseus, Laertes' son. The whole world talks of my stratagems, and my fame has reached the heavens."

This was a statement that reflected the renowned Odysseus. One of the main reasons he persisted with reaching his homeland was to once again see his wife. During his journey home his loyalty to their marriage resisted many temptations. Odysseus was undoubtedly an admired individual amongst the people of ancient Greece. To them, he was an exquisite militarist who had conquered many foreign powers with his complex strategies. However, as we saw, his aristocracy and the opinions of others revealed that his character was far more intricate and therefore admirable.

Heroes and combatants were praised in ancient Greece; the honour associated with battles and wars distinguished individuals. Odysseus' actions were known throughout the land, no more so than in his own country, Ithaca. Noblemen and people of his land reflected impressions of his rule, showing that Odysseus was a competent and admirable king. Even though their leader had been absent for more than a decade, many citizens were still loyal and hopeful of his return. The relationship between Eumaeus the swine herd, Philoetius the goat herd and Odysseus demonstrated the strong personal bond that he had with all of his people.

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Approximate Word count = 1522
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)