Living in the moment is being carefree and spontaneous, living for the now and disregarding consequences. Living in the moment can free one from worries of the future, but it can also cloud one’s vision, making consequences seem like a distant memory. In The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles, the main character Odysseus omits consequences from his mind as he embarks on a grueling journey home after many years fighting in the Trojan war. Odysseus and his crew face many trials, and encounter many obstacles on their voyage back to their homeland of Ithaca, where Odysseus longs to see his wife, Penelope. But throughout their 10 year journey Odysseus is forced to make difficult decisions in a split-second, and although Odysseus develops
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When Odysseus and his men become trapped in the cyclops 's cave, he devises a plan to get out of the cave by considering what might happen if he and his men are seen by Polythemus. Odysseus strategically straps himself and his crewmen to the underbelly of Polythemus’s sheep,so when they are let out to pasture, Polythemus will not be able to see the men escape ( 9.469 - 480). Even though Odysseus developed a plan to successfully save his men from the becoming the cyclop’s next entree, Odysseus was only thinking of his own safety. Odysseus feared for his own life, causing him to devise the plan to escape the cave, he just happened to save the lives of his crewmen as well. Later in their journey, when Odysseus and his crew encounter sirens, Odysseus “ informed [his] shipmates” of the dangers of the sirens and instructed them to plug their ears with wax (12. 180-200). Again,Odysseus considers the possible consequences of his actions but only with intent to protect himself from danger.If Odysseus were to not inform his crewmates of the seductive sirens, their ship would crash onto the siren’s island, ending their journey home. Another instance where Odysseus appears to be considering consequences of his actions is when he returns to Ithaca. Odysseus disguises himself “like an old and broken beggar / hunched on a stick, his body wrapped in shameful rags” (17.370-371). Odysseus knows that returning to Ithaca in secret will enable him to protect himself against those who are disloyal to him, but he only looks to the future to protect himself, proving that he only thinks of how consequences will affect him. Even though Odysseus develops strategies to evade danger successfully, he fails to consider the consequences of his actions and how they may affect others around him, he only considers
When Odysseus and his men become trapped in the cyclops 's cave, he devises a plan to get out of the cave by considering what might happen if he and his men are seen by Polythemus. Odysseus strategically straps himself and his crewmen to the underbelly of Polythemus’s sheep,so when they are let out to pasture, Polythemus will not be able to see the men escape ( 9.469 - 480). Even though Odysseus developed a plan to successfully save his men from the becoming the cyclop’s next entree, Odysseus was only thinking of his own safety. Odysseus feared for his own life, causing him to devise the plan to escape the cave, he just happened to save the lives of his crewmen as well. Later in their journey, when Odysseus and his crew encounter sirens, Odysseus “ informed [his] shipmates” of the dangers of the sirens and instructed them to plug their ears with wax (12. 180-200). Again,Odysseus considers the possible consequences of his actions but only with intent to protect himself from danger.If Odysseus were to not inform his crewmates of the seductive sirens, their ship would crash onto the siren’s island, ending their journey home. Another instance where Odysseus appears to be considering consequences of his actions is when he returns to Ithaca. Odysseus disguises himself “like an old and broken beggar / hunched on a stick, his body wrapped in shameful rags” (17.370-371). Odysseus knows that returning to Ithaca in secret will enable him to protect himself against those who are disloyal to him, but he only looks to the future to protect himself, proving that he only thinks of how consequences will affect him. Even though Odysseus develops strategies to evade danger successfully, he fails to consider the consequences of his actions and how they may affect others around him, he only considers