Thursday, December 10, 2009

Outsmarted

"Not for all the world. Not
until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath
you'll never plot some new intrigue to harm me
!"
~ Odysseus
Book 10, page 241, line 380-382


This shorter passage from The Odyssey gives us key information about more of Odysseus' character. Metis, and/or cunning, is "shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception" (Google, Define:). Being able to manipulate Circe into getting what he wants and spare him from being used, we see that Odysseus is a thinker rather than using means of brawn when it comes to his current situation to achieve what he wants. This theme of brains over brawn is a reoccurring one along with the theme of cunning. Outsmarting the witch in order to protect himself is what he does, and one can say that this increases one's chance of survival.

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