Physical Strength In Homer's Odyssey

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Has anyone ever wondered why physical strength is not the only factor to being successful? Many stories give the answer to this question. One of these stories is the Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer which expresses the theme of cleverness and how it can lead to great achievements and triumph. The characters are faced with many struggles along with brute forces that try to hold them back, and prevent them from succeeding. They are faced with issues that not only require strength, but also skillful thinking. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus, and many others, use cleverness and their wit to overcome their struggles. Several of the struggles that they overcame include defeating an inhospitable Cyclops, vicious sea creatures, and desperate impostors. …show more content…
Penelope displays this characteristic by proposing a competition to the suitors, that she knows is nearly impossible for anyone other than her husband. She created this impractical task for the suitors because she knew that no man, except Odysseus, could complete it. Penelope demands that the men “Stand up, then: [because] [she] now declare[d] a contest for that prize. Here is [the] lord Odysseus’ hunting bow. Bend and string it if [they] can. Who sends an arrow through twelve iron ax-helve sockets, twelve in line” (page40, lines 1114-1118) will be given her hand in marriage. After the “beggar” shoots the arrow, it is revealed that Odysseus has returned. The faithful wife of Odysseus, expecting an imposter of trick from the gods, uses her crafty mind “to test the stronger who claims to bed her husband” (italics page 47). Penelope does so by observing if the stranger remembers “the secret signs [they] know” (page 47, line 128). This is very clever because only her and Odysseus know these two signs, she would be able to determine the legitimacy of the man based on if he know the signals or not. Penelope reaches the conclusion that the beggar was indeed her adoring husband, Odysseus, by using her inventive tests and

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