Odysseus Gives In?

I agree with Kasey that temptation is important, but I also think it is important to note the few times in Book 10 that Odysseus himself claims that he gave in to the wishes of others. Overall, Odysseus is very independent and stubborn, and doesn’t seem to give in very easily. He fights hard in every battle, and is persistent until he gets what he wants. In Book 10, we see Odysseus outwardly admit to giving in. One example is when Circe persuades Odysseus to go back and get his men, then stay and feast with her. He says, “Her urging won my stubborn spirit over,” (Book 10, Line 448). Does this have to do with his interest in her and her offer? Would he give in so easily to anyone else? Apparently he would because the other instance is when Odysseus is approached by his crew who want to leave the island and move on with their journey. This time he says, “Their urging brought my stubborn spirit round,” (Book 10, Line 524). From these two instances, it is obvious that Odysseus’ mind is not actually that hard to change, no matter who the requester is. He just as easily gave in to his men, as to the goddess. This shows a vulnerable side to his character, exposing the fact that he will listen to others and they can change his seemingly set mind. The fact that he mentions their ‘urging’ is important to note as well because it shows that they had to work a little bit to persuade him. This, in my opinion, is his way of making it look good. He doesn’t want his audience to get the idea that he is that easy to sway, and he makes it seem like they had to work at it a little. In general, this book gives us a very different perspective on Odysseus and his personality and character.