From the beginning of his story (just after winning the Trojan War) to the end (coming home to Ithaca and avenging the suitors for their mistreatment of his family and household), Odysseus becomes somewhat less proud. To be sure, he's still proud in the end, but his extended absence -- some of which is the result of his proud gloating to Polyphemus, the Cyclops son of Poseidon, god of the sea -- has humbled him a bit (especially because he was feeling so proud of himself after his victory at Troy). By the end, he has learned to keep his mouth shut and resist the urge to boast pridefully of his victory over others, a good lesson considering how angry the suitors' families are about the loss of their family members. He has also learned to have even greater respect for the gods, and he takes his cues from Athena in order to best assess how to reclaim his home as its rightful owner and master.
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