my name is James and I enjoy long "talks" on the beach

Imagine how this scene would have appeared if all that we could do was see the actions of these individuals. A man wakes up and holds a meeting with some friends. A host as “as think as leaves or sands of the sea” assembles on a beach a short distance from a sea of tents and campfires.  A fleet of ships form a background. A man leans on a staff and speaks to the assembly. Excitement ensues, some begin running toward their tents and begin to pack while others make for the ships. In the middle of the chaos a man grabs a staff and begins running around hitting some people while communicating gently with others. One by one the men begin to file back to the beach. A few more hits with the stick ensue and at the end of the day all of these men are prepared for battle and united in one cause.

While it might be difficult to understand for others who had witnessed the scene, those of us who read the passages understand the power of words in influencing the decisions of others.

Many great insights have already been made in previous posts so I will not attempt to repeat them all. Reading this passage has taught me much about human nature. One point that this passage demonstrates well is that men (and women) can be persuaded. No matter how resolute someone might seem their opinion can be changed, or at the very least their mind opened to another view.
 A key strategy implanted by the Greeks in this passage was the importance of values. Ulysses, who was one of my favorite characters in the passage speaks to the assembled Greek troops about things that matter most to them. He begins to reach out to Greek values by establishing all three  of the fundamentals, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. He begins by connecting with those he’s speaking to by their families, “A man chafes at having to stay away from his wife even for a single month, when he is on shipboard, at the mercy of wind and sea, but it is now nine long years that we have been kept here” he shows them that he can relate to them, that he understands what they’re going through. He builds an emotional connection with their desire to return home, “I cannot, therefore, blame the Achaeans if they turn restive” and then he reaches out to them by appealing to their values of honor and determination. He introduces the logos by reminding them of prophecies and patience, “ still we shall be shamed if we go home empty after so long a stay — therefore, my friends, be patient yet a little longer that we may learn whether the prophesyings of Calchas were false or true.”

Another great lesson Ulysses teaches us is that no matter how good you are at speaking, sometimes you just gotta hit somebody with a stick.