Daniel Ortiz

Professor Jeff Peer

English 2800

10/03/2017

Essay 1

Although most readers of the Odyssey by Homer argues that Odysseus has a hero’s heart only because of his courage, intelligence and leadership, closer examinations found that there are many events in the book reveling unheroic behaviors by Odysseus, events like the fight with the Cyclops in which the influence of anger, arrogance and egocentrism played an important role at the time of making decisions.

The heart of a hero is not always led by pure emotions or behaviors. During the scene of the Cyclops, it reveals the mood of Odysseus and his reactions toward certain situation.  Odysseus makes clear when he said,

“They tried, but didn’t persuade my hero’s heart –

I was really angry -and I called back to him… (436)”

Emotions play an important role at the time of making decisions. Even thought, it was clear that Odysseus’s men were not supporting his idea of calling the Cyclops back because they were afraid of what could have happened. Odysseus did not listen to them because as he said, “I was really angry” and his anger did not let him react reasonably. According to the article, “The Best Headspace of making decisions” written by Olga Khazan, she presents a research of Jennifer Learner in which it focuses on how emotions can influence decisions-making- and not always for the better. It says; “Angry people are more likely to put the blame on individuals, rather than “society,” or fate. Anger makes people more likely to take risks and to minimize how dangerous those risks will be. On other words, Odysseus’s anger had a huge influence at the time of calling Polyphemus, the cyclops. It did not matter how dangerous it was or what consequences could have carried. Therefore, we can say that there was a psychological response to anger causing a heighted sense of power, but lack of reason clarity and judgment.

Being confident is not the same of being arrogant. A confident person is dependable and admirable. On the other hand, Overconfidence is a weakness and most would agree that arrogance is undesirable. It is very clear that Odysseus revels more of his arrogance at the time of yelling at the cyclops when he says;

“Cyclops, if anyone, any mortal,

Asks you how you got your eye put out,

Tell him that Odysseus the marauder did it,

Son of Laertes, whose home is on Ithaca.

His action caused the death of some of his crewmen when Poseidon heard of his announcement of identity and took revenge on Odysseus. Without a grand announcement of self-importance, he would have been able to leave earlier, safer, and without sacrificing his crewmen, but his name and where he was from were more important than the consequences. According to the article, the difference between confidence and arrogance by Leisa A. Beiley, explains that both the confident and arrogant person is aware of personal areas of strength and ability. However, a confident person has little difficulty seeing others gifts and strengths while the arrogant cannot. Additionally a confident person does not insist on the adoration of others for their skills or abilities. People who are self-confident show it with their actions, not by their words. Self -confidence is knowledge of ability while arrogance insists on sharing successes with others. There is a quiet calm in the truly confident that the arrogant do not possess. If you find yourself constantly trying to impress friends, family or others with your skills and abilities, you have crossed the line into arrogance. In other words, always proclaiming that you are the best and no one is better than you is not the way a good leader acts.

A hero, puts others in front of him, Odysseus put his ego over his men on the ship, almost causing the death of his men to occur. For this reason, we can say that his cockiness and selfishness is proven throughout this event to be dangerous to others around him. He says;

‘So, cyclops, it turns out it wasn’t a coward

Whose man you murdered and ate in your cave,

You savage! But you got yours in the end,

Didn’t you? You had the gall to eat the guests

In your own house, and Zeus made you pay for it. (436)

His ego put him and his men in situations that were not needed, in this case, it forbids him and his men to return home to his native land. Acting unconscious and saying those words, he made Polyphemus flare-up with anger. The Cyclops was so angry that as a consequence, he took a humongous slab of mountain, and hurled at Odysseus’ ship; sending him and his crew backwards toward their death, but every man on the ship, except Odysseus who was giving orders, rowed as hard as they could against the shattering waves, back towards safety.  Was necessary to get the Cyclops angry? Was he looking for Recognition? Gratitude? Or Acceptance? Who knows, but his attitude and decision showed definitely an unheroic behavior.

Works cited

Khazan, Olga. “The Best Headspace for Making Decisions.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 19 Sept. 2016, www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/09/the-best-headspace-for-making-decisions/500423/. Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.

Bailey, Ph.D. Leisa A. “Perspectives on Psychological Wellness.” The Difference Between Confidence and Arrogance, marietta-psychologist.blogspot.com/2012/03/difference-between-confidence-and.html. Accessed 3 Oct. 2017.