The Odessey
As George Lois once said, "Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything." In this citation Lois strives to explain the use of novelty and ingenuity when attempting to triumph over adversity. In much of literature, many characters seem to utilize this power of intelligence or cunning rather than their physical strength to out wit there adversary. This recurring theme of mind over muscle is exemplified throughout The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer. Odysseus, the protagonist of the play, has the essential character qualities of a Homeric leader: strength, bravery, nobility, and confidence in his authority. However his most distinguishing trait is his sharp intellect and his quick wit. This is wholly illustrated in Odysseus's struggle with the Cyclops, Polyphemus. After being imprisoned with his crew by Polyphemus, Odysseus realizes that he cannot possibly overpower the Cyclops, and that, even if he were able to do so, he would not be able to budge the boulder from the entrance of the cave. He thus plans around his weakness in strength by exploiting Polyphemus of his own foolishness. Odysseus's wit in this episode is characterized by an extraor
The next day, Penelope gets Odysseus's bow out of the storeroom and announces that she will marry the suitor who can string it and then shoot an arrow through a line of twelve axes. After many suitors namely, Telemachus, Eurymachus, and Antinous attempt to shoot the bow and fail, Odysseus easily strings it and sends the first arrow he grabs through all twelve axes. Before the suitors realize what is happening, Odysseus shoots a second arrow, this one through the throat of Antinous. Odysseus finally reveals himself, and the suitors become terrified. They have no way out, since Philoetius has locked the front door and Eumaeus has locked the doors to the women's quarters. Next, the loyal men fight a courageous battle and kill most of the suitors and hang the rest. dinary foresight and prudence, which gives him options in difficult situations. His foresight is no more evident than in his decision to take along the delicious wine that he had received from Maro when he and his men had sacked Ismarus, soon after they had begun their journey home. "I took this wine...A sudden forboding told my fighting spirit I'd soon come up against some giant clad in power...a savage deaf to justice, blind to law."(9. 235-240). After Polyphemus devours a number of O
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Approximate Word count = 852
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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