Odysseus is a heroic man, a godlike human being, gifted with great courage and strength. He receives commemoration for his bold adventures and favor by the gods. Conversely, Odysseus the man is showered with faults similar to any individual. Throughout The Odyssey readers gain knowledge of Odysseus the man and become aware of the rash decisions and actions he unsympathetically takes.
             Zeus speaks very highly of Odysseus, "He is almost one of us. Wise beyond mortal men, ready beyond all to sacrifice to the lords of the broad heavens (12)." Athena also takes a certain liking to Odysseus because of his intelligence. After all, she raises Odysseus' situation to the gods while Poseidon is away, "What about that clever Odysseus? I am anxious about him, poor fellow, kept from his friends all this while, in trouble and sorrow, in that island covered with trees, and nothing but the waves all round it, in the very middle of the sea (12)." Although Athena leads readers to believe Odysseus to be above human mistakes, throughout The Odyssey they come to see certain human weaknesses he possesses.
             Although Odysseus' displeasure at captivation by Calypso's hand is made plain, Odysseus is not purely in discontent. Calypso makes it known that Odysseus and she have not been unhappy at all times, "A hard-hearted lot you are, you gods, and as jealous as jealous can be! Why are you shocked if a goddess sleeps with a man and makes no secret of it, when she happens to find one she could love as a husband (64)?" This insight into Odysseus' captivation on Calypso's island sheds a light on Odysseus the man. Odysseus the man is furthered revealed as "the tears were never dry in his eyes and life with its sweetness was slowly trickling away (65)."
             Readers again gain information on Odysseus the man as he visits Polyphemos, the cyclops. Odysseus' sense of adventure and a ...