Does Odysseus lie because he needs to or because he likes to?

If we follow the chronology of Odysseus' adventures as he
tells them beginning in Odyssey 9, we and Odysseus learn that
telling the truth is not necessarily the best course of action. This is especially true
with respect to Odysseus' identity. In Odyssey 9, when Odysseus
reveals his true identity to the Cyclops, this leads to Odysseus suffering greatly at
the hands of Poseidon. After that point, I would say that Odysseus was very careful to
conceal his identity and such concealment involved him telling false stories. I would
say he creates these falsehoods primarily because he needs to, not necessarily because
he likes to.

Although some modern readers are upset with
Odysseus because of his frequent fabrications, few of us have to face the frequent
threat of death that Odysseus did. Odysseus had been away from home for 20 years and a
lot could have changed in that time. Odysseus had to be careful about what he said and
to whom he said it.

Finally, we should also note that the
gods themselves seem to endorse Odysseus' deceptions. Consider Athene's words to
Odysseus after he tells he a false story in Odyssey
13:

readability="8">

We are well-matched in these arts, you being the
most eloquent and practical of men, and I known among the gods for my wisdom and
subtlety. (A.S. Kline
translation)



We
should also note that in Odyssey 13 Athene herself commands
Odysseus not to reveal his identity until the right
moment:

Tell
no one, man or woman, that it is you, back from your
wanderings...

Thus, the gods
themselves seem to both approve of Odysseus' deceptive nature and to insist that he take
evasive verbal measures.