The complications Odysseus and his men face do not appear out of nowhere. The problems in the Odyssey have causes as to why they happen. Whether the causes are curiosity, greed, or revenge: The problems that Odysseus and his men encounter are self-generated.
First, curiosity leads to self-indulgence. Odysseus’ men fall into the curiosity trap of the Lotus plant the Lotus-Eaters have to offer when beached on the coastline of the Lotus-Eaters. As Odysseus sends two picked men and a runner, “They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus-Eaters, who showed no will to do us harm, only offering the sweet Lotus to our friends”(p. 761 ll. 94-96). Once offered this foreign honeyed plant, the men’s curiosity gets the best of them, as they want to know the unknown of the Lotus plant. Which in result, leads to problems as they become too unfocused to think about getting home. After consuming this addictive plant, the three …show more content…
For example, when Odysseus and his men arrive on Helios island, Helios entrusts Odysseus with his cherished heifers and sheep. Though the men crave for the cattle, “as long as bread and good red wine remained to keep the men up, and appease their craving, they would not touch the cattle” (p.788 ll.846-848). But as the men ran out of food the men’s “hunger drove them” (p. 789 l. 850). They soon turn against Odysseus’ command and turn to the forbidden Helio’s cattle to feast upon. Odysseus’ men “cut out the noblest of these cattle for sacrifice to the gods who own the sky” (p. 789 l. 868-870) and “flayed each carcass, cutting thighbones free to wrap in double folds of fat” (p. 790 ll. 887-888). When “The silken beeves of helios were dead” (p. 791 l. 925), Helios “burst into angry speech” (p. 791 l. 906) and “in reeking fumes of sulphur… all the men were flung into the sea” (p. 793 ll. 950-951). The result for this action of greed was
First, curiosity leads to self-indulgence. Odysseus’ men fall into the curiosity trap of the Lotus plant the Lotus-Eaters have to offer when beached on the coastline of the Lotus-Eaters. As Odysseus sends two picked men and a runner, “They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus-Eaters, who showed no will to do us harm, only offering the sweet Lotus to our friends”(p. 761 ll. 94-96). Once offered this foreign honeyed plant, the men’s curiosity gets the best of them, as they want to know the unknown of the Lotus plant. Which in result, leads to problems as they become too unfocused to think about getting home. After consuming this addictive plant, the three …show more content…
For example, when Odysseus and his men arrive on Helios island, Helios entrusts Odysseus with his cherished heifers and sheep. Though the men crave for the cattle, “as long as bread and good red wine remained to keep the men up, and appease their craving, they would not touch the cattle” (p.788 ll.846-848). But as the men ran out of food the men’s “hunger drove them” (p. 789 l. 850). They soon turn against Odysseus’ command and turn to the forbidden Helio’s cattle to feast upon. Odysseus’ men “cut out the noblest of these cattle for sacrifice to the gods who own the sky” (p. 789 l. 868-870) and “flayed each carcass, cutting thighbones free to wrap in double folds of fat” (p. 790 ll. 887-888). When “The silken beeves of helios were dead” (p. 791 l. 925), Helios “burst into angry speech” (p. 791 l. 906) and “in reeking fumes of sulphur… all the men were flung into the sea” (p. 793 ll. 950-951). The result for this action of greed was