The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus's return home and the struggles he faces. Odysseus is a king deeply respected for his triumphs in battle and his heroism in the Trojan War. He has been missing for 10 years and his wife Penelope longs for his return. With the help of the goddess Athena, a mission is launched to retrieve him, and The Odyssey follows his return. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In line 7, readers learn a little more about the character of Odysseus. He is described as a man who "fought to save his life and bring his comrades home." Here readers can see the deep care he has for his soldiers and his failed attempt to bring them home. Also on page 77, readers hear about the power he gained from sacking Troy, which is a colossal feat. Later, in verse 78, Zeus describes him as “He surpasses all men in wisdom, he also excels in offerings”. Here, readers discover the wisdom that Athena mentioned to Odysseus, reaffirmed by Zeus. These are some of the strengths that readers see mentioned about Odysseus. Some small, less obvious weaknesses of Odysseus are mentioned. On the one hand, in "Book 5", the problem he finds himself in with Calypso. He is at a crossroads between wanting to stay with Calypso, but also being sad about it and telling her that his wife is not comparable to her. This seems to be a weakness in him, but he ends up saying that he wants to "see the dawn of his return." Another (understandable) weakness is his distrust of people. For example, he is suspicious of Calypso when she says she will let him leave her in peace. He accuses her of “plotting something else” and makes her swear that she is not planning anything bad. Another example is when Leucothea gives him her immortal scarf. He distrusts her and it almost costs him his life, as it could before the final wave was sent to destroy him and the raft he was on. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom article now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayIn conclusion, Odysseus seems to be an overall interesting character with both good and bad traits. Whether or not he is a good leader seems to be an unanswered question for readers. Although he has had a 10 year absence, he is under Calypso's spell to stay there and mourn for his family and his kingdom. One could criticize that if he wanted to become a better leader, he would have fought harder to come back instead of staying with Calypso. In terms of military leadership, he seems to be gifted and able to inspire men. This balance of good and bad traits will greatly affect his journey home..