Adversity In The Odyssey
Within Books IX-XII of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey,” the main character, King Odysseus of Ithaca, describes his life following the Trojan War. After leaving Troy victorious, Odysseus cannot return to Greece quickly because Poseidon, God of the Sea, promises to make Odysseus suffer, preventing a speedy trip home. Following a decade of adventure and woe, Odysseus narrates his experience to King Alcinous of the Phaecians, as a guest in Alcinous’ palace. As Odysseus explains the previous ten years in extensive detail, he reveals a variety of encounters with peculiar lands and strange people, including a handful of Gods. Most notably, Odysseus and his men sail to a seemingly uninhabited and wild island, only to become prisoners of a Cyclops named Polyphemus. In order to escape, Odysseus must blind Polyphemus. Unfortunately for Odysseus, Polyphemus is the son of Poseidon, and this violence against the family of Poseidon further compromises Odysseus’ ability to return.
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For example, when trapped inside a cave with a murderous Cyclops, Odysseus demonstrates his keen intellect by devising a plan to escape. Rather than panic after witnessing Polyphemus eat several of his men, Odysseus invites the one-eyed giant to indulge in some delicious wine. Once the Cyclops drinks enough alcohol to lose his wits, Odysseus displays his cunning nature by telling Polyphemus that “Noman is my name, and Noman they call me, my father and my mother” (Homer 99). Thanks to this shrewd deception, Odysseus can blind the Cyclops without fear of reinforcements arriving, as the other Cyclopes do not respond when they hear Polyphemus yelling that he needs help because Noman has hurt him. This moment in the poem serves as an especially poignant example of how Homer highlights the benefit of Odysseus’
For example, when trapped inside a cave with a murderous Cyclops, Odysseus demonstrates his keen intellect by devising a plan to escape. Rather than panic after witnessing Polyphemus eat several of his men, Odysseus invites the one-eyed giant to indulge in some delicious wine. Once the Cyclops drinks enough alcohol to lose his wits, Odysseus displays his cunning nature by telling Polyphemus that “Noman is my name, and Noman they call me, my father and my mother” (Homer 99). Thanks to this shrewd deception, Odysseus can blind the Cyclops without fear of reinforcements arriving, as the other Cyclopes do not respond when they hear Polyphemus yelling that he needs help because Noman has hurt him. This moment in the poem serves as an especially poignant example of how Homer highlights the benefit of Odysseus’