How Does Polyphemus Suffer From The Cyclops?

The Ancient Greeks had a moral code known as the 8 evil thoughts. The indulgence of these thoughts were believed to degrade one’s humanity. “The Cyclops” is the 4th episode of The Odyssey in which the narrator Odysseus and his men steal from the cyclops known as Polyphemus. Polyphemus then begins to eat some of them out of rage, and Odysseus conceives a plan in which Polyphemus is left blind and enraged. Odysseus demonstrates 2 of the 8 evil thoughts known as Hyperephania and Kenodoxia, also known as greed and boasting. Odysseus’ falls victim to greed by stealing Polyphemus’ food. Odysseus narrates, “We lit a fire, burnt an offering, and took some cheese to eat.” (The Cyclops. 219) Odysseus and his men took the food that the cyclops used to eat, instead of considering if Polyphemus would suffer from them stealing it. …show more content…
Odysseus tells his men, “Load this herd, move fast.” (470) Odysseus could have left at least a few of the herd for Polyphemus to survive on but he decided to submit to greed and take all of them. Odysseus’ boastfulness is detrimental to his crew. As they sail away, Odysseus calls to the Cyclops and baits, “‘O Cyclops! Would you feast on my companions? Puny, am I, in a Caveman’s hands? How do you like the beating that we gave you, you damned cannibal? Eater of guests under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!” (476) Polyphemus, enraged by this taunt, threw a hilltop at them which created a massive wave pushing Odysseus’ ship back to shore, which made his men work extremely hard to stop that from