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Through the form of a dramatic monologue, Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem, “Ulysses,” reveals the character of Ulysses to be one of selfishness and egotism. Ulysses reveals these characteristics about himself unintentionally as he reminisces about his past glory, and contemplates a new journey to, “shine in use!” (23). His wish to experience another adventure instead of remaining at home as king demonstrates his lack of consideration for his wife Penelope and son Telemachus, and indicates his obsession with his own self-interests. Ulysses’ distaste with remaining at home is evident immediately from the first line of the poem, “It little profits that an idle king.”(1) He does not wish to be sitting idly on the throne, when he could, “follow knowledge like a sinking star.”(31). He also indicates his aversion to partaking in the government matters of his civilians, stating, “I mete and dole/ Unequal laws.”(3-4) Ulysses also shows that he does not respect his subjects, calling them, “a savage race/ That hoard, and sleep.”(4-5) He feels that hoarding and resting is beneath him, and shows this later in the poem by saying, “and vile it were/ For some three suns to store and hoard myself.”(28-39) Ulysses feel