Character: Odysseus

Question 1

Who is Odysseus shown to be a hero with a level of intelligence and control ?

Answer 1

Book 19
-Odysseus advices Achilles to allow his men to eat and not fight fasted
- he tells him it ‘is impossible’ to except the Myrmidons the fight without food especially whilst grieving the loss of Patroclus however many men have died before Patroclus
- Odysseus voices the ordinary sensuous needs of the men who need food
- Odysseus voices the warriors attitude that mourning takes place for a day but their main focus should be the war fighting
- Richard Jenkyns argues this represents a certain kind of view of the world which makes him a stand out character