Essay on Odysseus
Odysseus
Homer s The Odyssey, a magnificent story of lust, deceit, greed, and heroism, still
fascinates scholars and casual readers alike today in the same way it fascinated its
audience at the time it was written. The Odyssey, a journey of determination,
patience, and virtue, tells the tail of Odysseus, the main character, on his voyage
home to Ithaka after the end of the Trojan War. Odysseus goes through many
unforeseen trials and tribulations, which exemplify his character. During these
different happenings, Odysseus makes decisions that do not correspond to his
character. Odysseus character , as seen in the Iliad, is much like that of a Homeric
hero. A hero in Homer s world entails many attributes other than physical ... Show
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Odysseus curiosity and desire for adventure, driving him inland, somewhat hinder his
attempt to return home. Odysseus men want to loot the goods and return to the ship.
But, despite the pleading of his men, Odysseus wants to meet the cave dwellers and
see what they have to offer. This came to be a dire mistake. PolyphГ Єmos enters the
cave, and after brief words, he, in one swift motion, grabs, dismembers, then
proceeds to feed on two of Odysseus men. After a brief stay in the cave and a few
more dead men, Odysseus congers a plan which defeats PolyphГ Єmos and returns
Odysseus and his men safely back to the ship. This episode cost Odysseus the lives
of men lives lost for pure curiosity and his yearn for action. Directly after escaping
PolyphГ Єmos, Odysseus cries out in anger at the Kyklops, who proceeds to toss
boulders at Odysseus ships. After each cry, PolyphГ Єmos gets closer and closer with
his tosses. Then, unintelligently, Odysseus, for sake of false confidence, reveals his
name to PolyphГ Єmos. PolyphГ Єmos then prays to his father, Poseidon, against
Odysseus voyage home to Ithaka. Instead of the men s, now Odysseus actions
endanger their lives. Odysseus and his men sail to another land Aiolia Island, the
home of Aiolos HippotadГ Єs, the wind king. Aiolos plays host to Odysseus and his
crew for a month. Staying for this length of time suggests Odysseus desire to return
home is