The Power of Intelligence





Power is best used with a balance, but in The Odyssey power is unequal. The same amount of power can mean less, depending on where a person stands in society. While this special privilege is great to have, if it’s not used responsibly you may be doing harm unto yourself. The Odyssey is an epic that ties in together the many aspects of life and its relation to power. A wide variety of political power is shown throughout the book, and a simple observation of how power is held and shared shows that all kinds of events effect politics in every area of life. For example, women affect the political power spectrum a lot more than one might think – although many women realize the effect they have on the events in this story.

Women like Penelope exemplify loyalty and trustworthiness. Both intelligent and mentally strong, she is able to weather the twenty years without her husband. But when Odysseus returns, she is there for him. Unfortunately, there are also women who cheat, murder, and abandon their husbands in the name of love affairs with so-called “significant others”. What sets the story in motion, in fact, is the Trojan War – a product of the abduction of Helen from Sparta by the Trojans. Many kings did not want to actually go to war for her “kidnapping”, (she did very little to protest!) but a treaty previously signed sealed their fate. This agreement stated that if any king or nation takes a woman from another, the nations who signed the treaty will fight against the king who stole the woman and rescue her.

In fact, many events in this epic are the sole product of a woman’s (mortal or immortal) actions. Circe, Helen, and Calypso – all are major influences on the story, and not coincidentally, all are women. Homer, the author, realized that while the role women play in life may not always be loud and obnoxious, they are always influential and in some cases even detrimental. Circe, after turning Odysseus’ men into pigs, ended up being an extremely helpful friend (and lover) for Odysseus and his cause. Helen, in her affair with Eurymachus, assisted in the creation of the whole storyline – the Trojan War, and after being kidnapped by the Trojans, causes a “world war” of sorts. These events get the ball rolling for Odysseus’ journey. The journey home would bring many trials and tribulations for this long-tested, god-fearing man.

Political power can be explained in many ways, the best being a chart of the different kinds of power; a “power hierarchy” of sorts. As you can see, women play an integral part in this story – but where do they stand in terms of the power they hold? Queens have less power than kings and in some cases even less than princes; just like Queen Penelope and Telemachus, for example -- with Telemachus out-ranking his mother in the amount of power each of them hold. Goddesses, except for Athena (as Zeus’ daughter) have less power than their male counterparts. Unfortunately, in every place throughout society women rank lower than men. Besides the few women like England’s Queen Elizabeth I – who may easily be compared to Athena, women fail to rise above the men during many periods of time. On the other hand, women have their own goddesses to look out for them in Greek mythology. Still, they are unfairly subjected to a man’s decision or permission above their own free will. In some cases this proves costly for a man. One instance of men paying the consequences for disregarding a woman’s power is when the men arrive on Circe’s island they don’t think to question her and see if she is trustworthy. By being turned into pigs, they clearly paid for their underestimation of her power. Luckily with Odysseys’ wisdom and a little help from Hermes, he was able to rescue them and take advantage of Circe by using all her food and drink, and staying on her island for a whole year. Other women like Nausicaa are warm-hearted and affectionate from the start, always willing to lend a helping hand. Now unfortunately, there are always a few bad apples in the bunch, and a very fine example of these “bad apples” are Scylla and Charybdis. “[I must not] mention Scylla – how to fight that nightmare? [I fear] the men would panic, desert their oars and huddle down [for fear of the beast,]” (12, 241-244) said Odysseus while retelling his story to King Alcinous and his company. Odysseus’ quote shows the respect he had for the pair – a respect shown in the form of fear of their deadly power. Two females not to be messed with, these ladies will stop you in your tracks. The Odyssey shows that there are many different kinds of women, each one has a unique personality, yet they all have similarities and things in common. A system of power, like the one shown on the island of the cyclops, is essential in politics and a system of government anywhere. Now it’s clear this land was similar to a dictatorship – there was a combination of absolute power and a state of nature. No laws governed this land, but the monsters were all powerful and ruled with no mercy. Odysseus comes to this land without much respect for these monsters that ignore the gods. After using diplomacy and strength, (the latter which prevails) he is able to defeat the beast. Odysseus uses the strength of his brain and problem-solving skills to confuse and conquer the cyclops. Unknowing of Polyphemus’ relation to Poseidon, Odysseus insults the monster and calls after him, “So, Cyclops, no weak coward it was whose crew you bent to devour there in your vaulted cave – you with your brute force! Your filthy crimes came down on your own head, you shameless cannibal, daring to eat your guests in your own house – so [I pray] Zeus and the other gods [will] pay you back!” (9, 531 – 536). As Poseidon is Polyphemus’ father, Odysseus (a sea-faring man) will face the consequences of this ill-advised action by seeing the enormity of the sea-god’s power, a power that comes very close to destroying his life. Other clear indications of the power system are facts such as immortals will always have more power than humans – gods over men, gods never die. As for the mortals; kings, then nobles, are at the top of society as the aristocracy. Underneath them are common people, presiding over only servants and beggars. Life is a vicious cycle for those unlucky mortals, but for those born into the wealth and prestige of nobility, as well as those happy gods, worrying about their survival is never an issue.

Over the long, seemingly endless course of his journey, Odysseus saw and learned many things, from many people of all different cultures and origins. While he made friends, he also made a few enemies. But even with the strength and success of power, that power means little without intelligence and wisdom. And intelligence Odysseus had, making him a man of great strength, both mentally and physically. Odysseus is a man all peoples would be honored to have as their leader. This epic shows that no matter what unfortunate things happen to you, they can be overcome. All obstacles and difficulties can be defeated with the right amount of wit and brute strength. But not just one trait, both are necessary. A hero he is, Odysseus was able to restore himself to power with the help of people both more and less powerful than him. Athena, his servants, and his son – all were a big help. And when you’re fighting an angry, motivated mob– you’ll need all the help you can get. With the suitors and disloyal servants gone, Odysseus was able to return to glory with a victory.



By Luke Slott

November 19th, 2008







































Works Cited

Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles

New York. Penguin, 1996