Webster’s dictionary defines the term, “Temptation” as, “a desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.” Homer’s the Odyssey highlights the idea of temptation, and how it negatively impacts one’s future. Odysseus, the main protagonist in this epic poem, is known for his mental and physical strength. Odysseus had to leave his newborn son, Telemachus, and beautiful wife Penelope to sail to Troy and fight in the war. The Greeks won the battle against the Trojans, and upon sailing home Odysseus claimed he was greater than any god, which caused his journey to take much longer than expected. While visiting Lotus Eaters, blinding Cyclops, and having affairs with Goddesses, Odysseus was faced with many tempting situations. Homer’s
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A Cyclops, Polyphemus, devoured two of Odysseus’ men, which is against the law of Xenia. Odysseus and the other men were trapped, the only way of escape covered by a stone. Odysseus planned to blind Polyphemus by stabbing him in the eye, but first needed to distract the cyclops. Odysseus presented Polyphemus wine, as a fake offering of peace in order to divert his attention. Faced with strangers whom he did not practice good Xenia towards, Polyphemus allowed himself to give into the tempting taste of wine which Odysseus and his men presented to him. Odysseus narrates, “Three bowls I brought him, and he poured them down.” (Homer 9. 269) This quote shows that Polyphemus was not thinking about the mental and physical state he would be in, post wine, while drinking the alcoholic beverage. Polyphemus was drunk and in his most vulnerable condition, the perfect opportunity for Odysseus to blind the beast. In the Odyssey it states, “The Cyclops bellowed and the rock roared round him,/and we fell back in fear. Clawing his face/ he tugged the bloody spike out of his eye” (Homer 9. 304-306) This quote proves the idea that if one gives into temptation, it is detrimental to their fate. This quote also shows the negative impact which giving into temptation achieves. Because Polyphemus gave into the temptation to drink wine, he was put in a vulnerable state, allowing Odysseus to stab …show more content…
When he returned from his brutal adventure, he wanted to tell his wife and son, whom he hadn’t seen for 20 years, that he was safely home. As Odysseus greeted Ithica, Athena reported that suitors made a mess his home. The goddess disguised him as an old man for his own safety. Odysseus has to resist the temptation of seeing his family after 20 years, in order to kill the suitors who had embarrassed him and his family. While Odysseus talked to the suitors as the old man, he cunningly asked them how they would feel if Odysseus returned, saying, “Would you be men enough/ to stand by Odysseus if he came back?/ Suppose he dropped out of a clear sky, as I did?/ Suppose some god should bring him?/ Would you bear arms for him, or for the suitors?” (Homer 21. 48-52) In this quote, Odysseus is asking the suitors what they would do if Odysseus returned, and if they would stand by him. Odysseus needed a sense of trust, and a valid reason to kill the men. Odysseus resists temptation to reveal his true identity to the men who have made a mess of his home and chased after his wife. This quote proves that when Odysseus resists temptation, the outcome of his actions are acceptable and tend to work out in his favor. Because Odysseus kept his identity a secret, he formulated a plan in order to kill all the suitors who have made a fool of him and his land. In the Odyssey, it explains the result of the
A Cyclops, Polyphemus, devoured two of Odysseus’ men, which is against the law of Xenia. Odysseus and the other men were trapped, the only way of escape covered by a stone. Odysseus planned to blind Polyphemus by stabbing him in the eye, but first needed to distract the cyclops. Odysseus presented Polyphemus wine, as a fake offering of peace in order to divert his attention. Faced with strangers whom he did not practice good Xenia towards, Polyphemus allowed himself to give into the tempting taste of wine which Odysseus and his men presented to him. Odysseus narrates, “Three bowls I brought him, and he poured them down.” (Homer 9. 269) This quote shows that Polyphemus was not thinking about the mental and physical state he would be in, post wine, while drinking the alcoholic beverage. Polyphemus was drunk and in his most vulnerable condition, the perfect opportunity for Odysseus to blind the beast. In the Odyssey it states, “The Cyclops bellowed and the rock roared round him,/and we fell back in fear. Clawing his face/ he tugged the bloody spike out of his eye” (Homer 9. 304-306) This quote proves the idea that if one gives into temptation, it is detrimental to their fate. This quote also shows the negative impact which giving into temptation achieves. Because Polyphemus gave into the temptation to drink wine, he was put in a vulnerable state, allowing Odysseus to stab …show more content…
When he returned from his brutal adventure, he wanted to tell his wife and son, whom he hadn’t seen for 20 years, that he was safely home. As Odysseus greeted Ithica, Athena reported that suitors made a mess his home. The goddess disguised him as an old man for his own safety. Odysseus has to resist the temptation of seeing his family after 20 years, in order to kill the suitors who had embarrassed him and his family. While Odysseus talked to the suitors as the old man, he cunningly asked them how they would feel if Odysseus returned, saying, “Would you be men enough/ to stand by Odysseus if he came back?/ Suppose he dropped out of a clear sky, as I did?/ Suppose some god should bring him?/ Would you bear arms for him, or for the suitors?” (Homer 21. 48-52) In this quote, Odysseus is asking the suitors what they would do if Odysseus returned, and if they would stand by him. Odysseus needed a sense of trust, and a valid reason to kill the men. Odysseus resists temptation to reveal his true identity to the men who have made a mess of his home and chased after his wife. This quote proves that when Odysseus resists temptation, the outcome of his actions are acceptable and tend to work out in his favor. Because Odysseus kept his identity a secret, he formulated a plan in order to kill all the suitors who have made a fool of him and his land. In the Odyssey, it explains the result of the