The ancient Greeks believed that to honour one’s guest was to honour the god’s. This concept of hospitality and comradery is frequently explored in Homer’s the Odyssey through the lens of Odysseus’ reciting of his voyage home to Ithaca and his wife, Penelope following his victory in the Trojan War. Book IX presents the crux of Odysseus’ tale in his encounter with Polyphemus where Shewring’s translation presents the tale of Odysseus candidly and without verbosity allowing the formation of objective opinion upon Odysseus’ own hubris. The effects of Odysseus’ paradoxical actions as a result of his unbridled pride unfold in interaction with his world leading to what can only be described as an amassing of irony and contradiction against the Greek
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The theme of hospitality is challenged within Homer’s Odyssey as Odysseus’ self-seeking glorification leads him to the Cyclops’ island against his comrades will. His romanticised image of self is observed as he notes that the bard’s utterance is like a god’s (Book IX, page 99) and his insistence as a guest-friend (Book IX, page 99) that foreshadows his betrayal of xenia and presents the motive of his recount. Odysseus’ immediate betrayal of such values is presented within Shewring’s translation as he affirms that the Cyclops’ race are arrogant lawless beings who leave their livelihood to the deathless gods and never use their own hands to sow or plough; (Book IX, Page 101). However, this is ironically paralleled against Odysseus’ own actions as he plunders the Cyclops’ livestock claiming the god (Zeus) gave us game in plenty (Book IX, Page 102) therefore revering the god’s for giving him sustenance. Parallels between the Cyclops and Odysseus deepen through the latter’s questioning motif Are they barbarous, arrogant and lawless? Are they hospitable and godfearing? (Book IX, Page 103). This questioning likens the Cyclops’ interrogation of Odysseus and his men; Are you bound on some trading errand, or are you random adventurers, roving the seas as pirates do, hazarding life and limb and bringing havoc on men of another stock? …show more content…
Odysseus’ hubris and his pursuit of legendary status leads to the obstacles on his voyage home to Ithaca and his wife, Penelope. His immense egotism is witnessed through Shewring’s translation as his comrades come to escape the Cyclops’ grasps narrowly, despite this Odysseus’ pride reigns as he notes: I made ready to hail the Cyclops again, though my friends around me, this side and that, used all persuasion to restrain me: ‘Head-strong man, why need you provoke this savage further? (Book IX, Page 111). His total neglect of his comrades wishes to avoid death presents his hubris as his ultimate hamartia and thus challenges the epic structure. The climax of Odysseus characterisation is represented through Shewring’s blunt translation: but my heart was proud…I called out again with rage still ranking: ‘Cyclops, if anyone among mortal men should ask who put out your eye in this ugly fashion, say that the one who blinded you was Odysseus the city-sacker, son of Laertes and dweller in Ithaca (Book IX, Page
The theme of hospitality is challenged within Homer’s Odyssey as Odysseus’ self-seeking glorification leads him to the Cyclops’ island against his comrades will. His romanticised image of self is observed as he notes that the bard’s utterance is like a god’s (Book IX, page 99) and his insistence as a guest-friend (Book IX, page 99) that foreshadows his betrayal of xenia and presents the motive of his recount. Odysseus’ immediate betrayal of such values is presented within Shewring’s translation as he affirms that the Cyclops’ race are arrogant lawless beings who leave their livelihood to the deathless gods and never use their own hands to sow or plough; (Book IX, Page 101). However, this is ironically paralleled against Odysseus’ own actions as he plunders the Cyclops’ livestock claiming the god (Zeus) gave us game in plenty (Book IX, Page 102) therefore revering the god’s for giving him sustenance. Parallels between the Cyclops and Odysseus deepen through the latter’s questioning motif Are they barbarous, arrogant and lawless? Are they hospitable and godfearing? (Book IX, Page 103). This questioning likens the Cyclops’ interrogation of Odysseus and his men; Are you bound on some trading errand, or are you random adventurers, roving the seas as pirates do, hazarding life and limb and bringing havoc on men of another stock? …show more content…
Odysseus’ hubris and his pursuit of legendary status leads to the obstacles on his voyage home to Ithaca and his wife, Penelope. His immense egotism is witnessed through Shewring’s translation as his comrades come to escape the Cyclops’ grasps narrowly, despite this Odysseus’ pride reigns as he notes: I made ready to hail the Cyclops again, though my friends around me, this side and that, used all persuasion to restrain me: ‘Head-strong man, why need you provoke this savage further? (Book IX, Page 111). His total neglect of his comrades wishes to avoid death presents his hubris as his ultimate hamartia and thus challenges the epic structure. The climax of Odysseus characterisation is represented through Shewring’s blunt translation: but my heart was proud…I called out again with rage still ranking: ‘Cyclops, if anyone among mortal men should ask who put out your eye in this ugly fashion, say that the one who blinded you was Odysseus the city-sacker, son of Laertes and dweller in Ithaca (Book IX, Page