Odysseus: A Fighter with a Conscience

“Loss of so many lives.”

It’s a tearful bereavement about the war and its repercussions. 

“Not just lives, of so much time.”

It’s personal for Odysseus. He spent seven years in a dream-like state with Calypso and probably feels like that time was wasted.

It’s personal for him because he’s a leader. What happens to his crew? What happens to civilization? He owns that responsibility to make good decisions.

“Your crew, that was your crew’s decision.”

“No it’s not. I lead them.”

Sometimes it’s impossible to account for every life lost when you’re in battle. That’s true. 

“Yet you should” he hears the words of his confidant. And he follows these words as straight as his arrow can shoot.