Final answer:
Odysseus transforms throughout Homer's epics, developing virtues like bravery and intelligence, while also revealing flaws such as pride. His journey embodies the Greek concept of arete and serves to teach about heroism and human nature. While such narratives are rooted in ancient society, they continue to provide timeless insights about personal growth and morality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Odysseus' Changing Qualities:
The journey of Odysseus in Homer's epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey, is not only an adventure but a transformative experience. As he encounters challenges and overcomes them, his character evolves, showcasing a dynamic range of qualities. These qualities can be sorted into two categories: virtues that contribute to his heroism and the flaws that humanize him and, at times, lead to difficulties.
Virtues like bravery, intelligence, and adaptability are continually strengthened as Odysseus faces adversaries and obstacles. For instance, his strategic thinking when dealing with the Cyclops or his determination during his extended voyage home reflect his excellence, or arete, as an epic hero. However, his journey also reveals his flaws. His pride and occasional recklessness, such as when he reveals his name to the Cyclops, allowing Poseidon to identify the source of his anger, exemplify traits that become tragic when taken to an extreme.
The complexity of Odysseus' character, which balances heroic virtues with human flaws, offers lessons on personal growth and the duality of human nature. These lessons echoed ancient Greeks' values but continue to resonate even today, showing that while societal norms and expectations may shift, certain fundamental aspects of human character and the development thereof remain constant.