“For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride”(PRV 59.12). Pride stems from deceitfulness, and those who spread lies become trapped by their own vice; evil befalls those who devise deceit and treachery. Jacob and Odysseus, men from mythologies of radically different religions, both possess the inclination to seize personal distinction through guile and proudly rely on their own virtue and skills. As a result, both of them are beset with hardships. Yet over time they both realize their shortcomings, recognize their dependence on the divinity and with its guidance redeem themselves of the troubles derived from their lies and deceit. However, Jacob and Odysseus reach that redemption in different ways.
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Throughout his journey, Odysseus relies on himself and his tricks for his own glory and fame. He announces himself in flattering ways, full of pride and self worth saying: “I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, known before all men / for the study of crafty things, and my fame goes up to the heavens” (9.19-20). The pride in his voice when he announces himself to Alkinoos, king of the Phaiakians, saturates every word he speaks. He rashly brags of his fame and reputation of being devious. When Odysseus tricked Polyphemus with lofty words into drinking the divine wine so that he can put out the eye of the cyclops and escape, he visibly delights in his own deviousness, saying “the heart within me laughed over how my … perfect planning had fooled him”(9.413-14). However, this delight in his“resource and treachery” (9.422) is what leads to his prolonged journey home. After escaping from Polyphemus, Odysseus, immediately jeers tauntingly at him, …show more content…
When La’ban speaks of not giving the younger before the elder, it is a reference back to when Jacob takes the birthright of his elder brother. A change from this point forward is visible. God changes his name for Jacob, which means “he supplants”(Gen 25 footnote x), to Israel, meaning “God Strives” (GEN 32 footnote u). This change highlights the change between Jacob as one out for himself into Jacob as Israel, the father of a nation guided by God. He then reconciles with his brother Esau, but, recognizing the gravity of his earlier deception, does not trust his brother completely and goes a separate way. Learning from his mistakes, Jacob becomes more temperate and virtuous, achieving his role as the father of a great nation. Although Odysseus, like Jacob, redeems himself and appeases his aggressor, he never realizes that it is his cunning deception that lead to his hardships. Although he does learn from mistakes as he continues on his way, he continues to be deceitful and never recognizes it as disordered. The response of Odysseus to his wife’s ingenuity is radically different from the response which he has and expects others to have towards his own cunning. While Odysseus relates how “the heart within me laughed”(9.414) because of his own mendacity, when odysseus himself is confronted with tricks is
Throughout his journey, Odysseus relies on himself and his tricks for his own glory and fame. He announces himself in flattering ways, full of pride and self worth saying: “I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, known before all men / for the study of crafty things, and my fame goes up to the heavens” (9.19-20). The pride in his voice when he announces himself to Alkinoos, king of the Phaiakians, saturates every word he speaks. He rashly brags of his fame and reputation of being devious. When Odysseus tricked Polyphemus with lofty words into drinking the divine wine so that he can put out the eye of the cyclops and escape, he visibly delights in his own deviousness, saying “the heart within me laughed over how my … perfect planning had fooled him”(9.413-14). However, this delight in his“resource and treachery” (9.422) is what leads to his prolonged journey home. After escaping from Polyphemus, Odysseus, immediately jeers tauntingly at him, …show more content…
When La’ban speaks of not giving the younger before the elder, it is a reference back to when Jacob takes the birthright of his elder brother. A change from this point forward is visible. God changes his name for Jacob, which means “he supplants”(Gen 25 footnote x), to Israel, meaning “God Strives” (GEN 32 footnote u). This change highlights the change between Jacob as one out for himself into Jacob as Israel, the father of a nation guided by God. He then reconciles with his brother Esau, but, recognizing the gravity of his earlier deception, does not trust his brother completely and goes a separate way. Learning from his mistakes, Jacob becomes more temperate and virtuous, achieving his role as the father of a great nation. Although Odysseus, like Jacob, redeems himself and appeases his aggressor, he never realizes that it is his cunning deception that lead to his hardships. Although he does learn from mistakes as he continues on his way, he continues to be deceitful and never recognizes it as disordered. The response of Odysseus to his wife’s ingenuity is radically different from the response which he has and expects others to have towards his own cunning. While Odysseus relates how “the heart within me laughed”(9.414) because of his own mendacity, when odysseus himself is confronted with tricks is