Qualities Of Odysseus As A Leader In Homer's The Odyssey

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Register to read the introduction… According to scripture, a leader should be wise and brave, but also show mercy. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) These are just a few qualities a leader should strive to possess. However, Odysseus would tend not to listen to his crew, and they were often endangered because of this. Instead of taking his men’s advice, Odysseus was selfish and reckless and put his desires ahead of the safety of his crew. “My men begged me to let them first steal some cheeses, and make off with them to the ship… It would have been indeed better if we had done so but I would not listen to them, for I wanted to see the owner himself, in the hope that he might give me a present.” (The Odyssey, page 110) However, further on in the expedition, Odysseus helps his crew by commanding them to plug their ears with wax so they would not hear the song of the sirens. By doing this, Odysseus saved his entire crew. Even though none of the crew survived to the end, Odysseus learned to become a more adept …show more content…
For the first twenty years of Telemachus’ life, his father was away at war and went missing soon after. Although it was not completely his fault, Odysseus was not a good father to Telemachus for the years he was gone. Every son should have a good father in his life, but Odysseus was not there to teach and discipline his son when he needed it most. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) However, Odysseus fought persistently to return home, and he eventually arrived and embraced his son. “Telemachus threw his arms round his noble father and burst into tears.” (The Odyssey, page 203) Towards the end of the book, Odysseus began parenting Telemachus who then looked up to his father. Odysseus’ grew as a father throughout the book from when was apart from his son, to when he finally returned and became a true father to
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