In Homer's Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, is stranded at sea after the Trojan War. He must overcome many obstacles to reach his home, Ithaca. Throughout the book, we see the many admirable qualities that Odysseus possesses that make him such an influential literary character: among them intelligence and loyalty. However, every hero also has his weaknesses, and Odysseus' main weakness is his pride. We can learn to live our life from the good and bad traits of a hero. Odysseus is known not only for using his strength; he also uses his intelligence throughout his journey. He is intelligent enough to know how to use his enemy's strength to his advantage. For example, when he is trapped in Cyclops Polyphemus' cave by a giant boulder, he knows that the boulder is too heavy for him and his men to move. If he kills Polyphemus, he has no way out of the cave. Instead, Odysseus blinds Cyclops and waits for him to move the rock so he can escape. Another example of his wit is that Odysseus plans and thinks about what he is going to do before he acts. When he washes up on Scheria and sees that Princess Nausicaa is his only hope of rescue, he considers how he should approach her: "Should he throw his arms around her knees and beg for mercy from the charming young girl? or should he stay where he was and politely ask her to give him some clothes and show him the way to town? When he considered the matter, it seemed best to him to remain where he was and speak politely and gently, lest he offend the girl by hugging her knees” (Homer, 76). Odysseus realizes that the best way to approach a stranger is not to pounce on him and approach him recklessly, but to complete...... middle of paper ......e son of Laertes, whose address is in Ithaca! » (110). As a result, Polyphemus asks Poseidon: “May [Odysseus] never arrive at his house! But if it falls to him to see his friends and return to his high house and his native country, he may arrive there late and in poverty, on another's boat, may lose all his companions and find himself a another tribulation. home!" (111). Odysseus also attempts to build his reputation throughout the book, such as when he passes the Sirens. He plugs the crew's ears with wax, but ties himself up so he can being the only man to hear the sirens song and survive In conclusion, Odysseus was an incredible hero, not only for his brawn, but also for his brains and his loyalty because. readers can admire him for his many qualities and learn from his faults..