Odysseus has many character traits that are accentuated by his adventures and travels. The main ones are his curiosity, his intelligence or deceitfulness, and his amazing self control. His cunning and self control help him to survive throughout his journeys but his curiosity sometimes hurts him.
Throughout the story it is evident that one of Odysseus' major character traits is curiosity. One example of his curiosity was when he visited the land of the Cyclops. He said that he wanted to go see what the Cyclopes were like because he did not know if they were "wild savages, and lawless, or hospitable and god-fearing men."� (IX, 181). Another example of his curiosity was when he passed by the land of the Sirens. He told his men to tie him up so he would not be enchanted by the Sirens' songs. He said that if they were going to die, he would like to know what killed them (XII, 170).
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ODYSSEUS karnavires 66Also, throughout the book Odysseus visits people out of curiosity about them or the gifts they might give him. These are all examples of how Odysseus' curiosity is portrayed in the Odyssey.
Besides curiosity, the Odyssey shows that Odysseus is a very intelligent man. His brilliance is evident in when he told Polyphemus that his name was "No Body"� which lead to his escape from the Cyclopes' island (IX, 183). His decision to leave his own boat outside the bay at the Laestrogonian island showed his smarts because he knew that there could be a possible attack from the Laestrogonians (X,100). Another example of his intelligence was shown when Odysseus was disguised as a beggar and he would fabricate stories about his past so his true identity would not be discovered. He does this in when talking to three different people about himself: Athena, Eumaeus, and Penelope. All of these illustrations shown in the Odyssey show that Odysseus is extremely smart and cunning.
Along with intelligence, Odysseus exhibits self control throughout his journeys. One instance of this was when he decides to continue home so he can be with Penelope despite his urge to stay Calypso who offers immortality and pleasure, and Circe who tempt him with sex. When Odysseus is insulted and kicked by Melanthius, a rude goatherd, Odysseus goes against his desire to beat the life out of Melanthius with his stick which shows his ability to control himself (XVII, 264). Another example of Odysseus' self control is shown when he decides not to lash out against Melantho and the suitors when they insult and annoy him when he is disguised, so he will not ruin his plans (XVIII, 377). These are all examples of Odysseus' amazing self control.
All the way through the Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as someone who gets into tricky and dangerous situations with his curiosity but gets himself out of these situations using his wits and cunning. He also exhibits an amazing ability to suppresses or control his anger and desires.
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Odysseus and the Sirens. Detail from an Attic red-...