Singh 1

Rudransh Singh

Ms. Lance

English 1

3/4/22

The Odyssey Essay

In Wilson's intro, she explains how men in Greek times would possess qualities of toxic

masculinity, such as Odysseus, “I sacked the town and killed the men. We took their wives and

shared their riches among us” (Wilson 22). This statement given by Emily Wilson connects to

my CI because in this quote, Odysseus murders hundreds of people for no reason besides pride,

and shows qualities which horrible leaders have. This exactly shows how Odysseus fails to live

up to his expectations of a great leader because of his toxic masculinity. Similarly, Odysseus

shows traits of toxic masculinity and shows how he failed to become a great leader. Throughout

the book, Odysseus’s actions prove how he personifies traits of toxic masculinity. When

encountering the Cyclops, he lets many of his men get eaten, doesn’t try to help them, and when

escaping, he scolds his own men for weeping for their dead friends. Then, when he confronts the

suitors, he murders them all, even when some beg mercy or explain that they didn’t do anything

wrong. In The Odyssey, translator Emily Wilson and artist Gareth Hinds convey that Odysseus failed to

live up to his expectations of a good leader, because of his toxic masculinity as seen through the

example of Odysseus letting the Cyclops eat his men and lack of empathy for the suitors.

Furthermore, Odysseus sacrificing his men to the Cyclops shows how Odysseus failed to
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live up to his expectations of a great leader because of his toxic masculinity. Firstly, after

Cyclops eats two of Odysseus’s men, Odysseus says, “Here, Cyclops! You have eaten human

meat; now drink some wine, sample the merchandise our ship contains” (Wilson 9.346-347). The

phrase, “ You have eaten human meat”, suggesting how Odysseus pays no attention to the fact

that some of his men have died, and shows no remorse towards them. The phrase said by

Odysseus shows how Odysseus does not care about his men being killed, showing how he failed

to live up to his expectations as a good leader. due to his toxic masculinity. The phrase said by

Odysseus shows how Odysseus does not care about his men being killed, showing how he failed

to live up to his expectations as a good leader. due to his toxic masculinity. Moreover, when

Odysseus and his crew finally reach their ship, and his men are filled with remorse for their dead

friends, Odysseus commands them, “ I ordered them to stop crying, scowling hard at

each”(Wilson 9.468-469). The word “scowling” suggesting how Odysseus not only showed no

remorse to his dead men, and but also enforced it on the men who were weeping about their dead

friends. The word implied by Odysseus shows how Odysseus didn’t want his men or him to

display any emotions of sadness, showing how Odysseus failed to live up to his expectations of a

good leader due to his toxic masculinity. Furthermore, as Odysseus and his men are trapped in

the Cyclops’ cave, Hinds shows how Odysseus just stands by and watches the enormous Cyclops

devour two of his men, and Odysseus thinks to himself, “Once again I had to stand by and watch

as he killed two more of my men to make his dinner” (Hinds 99.4). The word “had to” implies

how Odysseus did not once again care how two more of his men are being eaten. The word

implied by Odysseus shows how Odysseus fails to show any emotion to his men or shows that he

actually cares about them, showing how Odysseus failed to live up to his expectations of a good

leader due to his toxic masculinity. In conclusion, Odysseus did not show any remorse or
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emotion when his own men died in front of him, which showed how Odysseus failed to live up

to his expectations of a good leader because of his toxic masculinity.

Additionally, Odysseus’s lack of empathy for the suitors when he slaughters them shows

how Odysseus failed to live up to his expectations of a great leader because of his toxic

masculinity. Firstly, when Odysseus finishes the competition and aims his arrow at the people,

“He aimed his deadly arrow at Antinous. The young man just sat there, just about to lift his

golden goblet, swirling wine around”(Wilson 21.7-8). The phrase, “ The young man just sat

there” shows how the man Odysseus wanted to kill wasn’t even aware that someone was about to

take his life, and Odysseus resorted to violence instead of trying to talk the man. The phrase

analyzed shows how Odysseus went straight to violence without thinking, which is a trait of

toxic masculinity, which shows that Odysseus failed to live up to his expectations as a good

leader because of his toxic masculinity. Secondly, when Eurymachus was begging for mercy to

Odysseus, Odysseus replies, “Even if you give me all your whole inheritance, and even more, I

will not keep my hands away from slaughter” (Wilson 21.61-64). The word “slaughter” implies

how ruthless Odysseus was with the suitors and priests, showing no mercy to them, even though

they were begging for it. The word exclaimed by Odysseus shows how he ruthlessly murdered a

man who was on his knees begging for mercy, and Odysseus killed him despite this, showing

how Odysseus failed to live up to his expectations of a great leader because of his toxic

masculinity. Lastly, as Odysseus is slaughtering the suitors, Hinds shows how callous Odysseus

is when the priest begs for his life and Odysseus holds his sword and cuts the priest’s throat

(Hinds 225.2-3). The word, “callous” shows how Odysseus shows again and again in the book

how he is violent and aggressive, he displays traits of toxic masculinity through his murderous
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acts, which shows how Odysseus failed to live up to his expectations because of his toxic

masculinity. The word Hinds wrote explains that Odysseus has no more remorse for others, as

shown through his actions against the suitors, and that’s why Odysseus failed to live up to his

expectations as a good leader due to his toxic masculinity. Therefore, as seen through these

empirical examples, Odysseus has many times committed acts of violence against the suitors,

which shows why Odysseus failed to live up to his expectations as a good leader, due to his toxic

masculinity.

Therefore, in The Odyssey, translator Emily Wilson and artist Gareth Hinds convey that

Odysseus failed to become a great leader because he possessed many traits of toxic masculinity.

In both of my subpoints, Odysseus clearly shows that he has no remorse and no care for anyone

else. When the suitors begged for mercy, he didn’t care and killed them all, and when planning to

escape from the Cyclops, he didn’t seem phased that 8 of his men had been eaten. Additionally,

Odysseus had a very different perception of masculinity and used it cause harm to others, while

my uncle had a different perception. My uncle is someone who really exemplifies my definition

of masculinity. He is a hard worker, kind to others, treats women with respect, and loyal. These

traits of masculinity are traits which I try to have since I am growing up and learning about

different things, such as different view of masculinity. Homer’s definition of masculinity is a

man who is loyal, strong, courageous, and is a warrior. I agree with some of these traits such as

strong and loyal but I don’t agree with being a warrior. This trait can viewed in different ways,

and be taken in the wrong way, which many Greek man did, like Odysseus.
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