Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

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Odysseus will be successful in reintegrating and returning to Ithaca because, he is adaptable and persistent. Though Odysseus holds numerous traits confirming his successful return, adaptability and persistence are the two characteristics playing the largest role as to why and how he will be successful however, these two main characteristics are supported by other characteristics such as proactivity and resourcefulness.
Odysseus is adaptable, holding the ability to hastily acclimate himself to his surroundings and use points of his surroundings to benefit he and his men. Odysseus was held captive by Calypso for 7 years “An effective leader will adapt to new surroundings and situations, doing his/her best to adjust.” (Holden Leadership Center), …show more content…
In addition to persistence Odysseus presents to us proactivity “The exceptional leader is always three steps ahead. Working to master his/her own environment with the goal of avoiding problems before they arise” (Holden Leadership Center), Odysseus however; uses his proactivity to persist. He shows this characteristic when he tricks The Cyclops Polyphemus into thinking Odysseus’s name is actually ‘Nohbdy’, the cyclops falls for this trick and when he is attacked “‘Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s tricked me, Nohbdy’s ruined me!’” (IX.317); the reactivity to Odysseus’ proactivity in which he used to persist through an obstacle. On their way to battle Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus is hindered by the fear of his men. To keep their spirits from practically jumping into tartarus, Odysseus reminds them of the time they defeated Polyphemus together “Did I not keep my nerve, and use my wits to find a way out for us?’” (XII.147-148), he continued through the difficulties put onto him by the Cyclops, just pushed through difficulties thrown at him by the sirens, is now faced with the difficulty of his men’s fear, and is now off to fight difficulties brought by Scylla and Charybdis. At the end of the 20 years it takes for Odysseus to return to Ithaca he is reunited with Penelope “Listen to your partner’s experience. Learn how he/she has been living while you were gone. Let go of
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