Appetites and Their Consequences in The Odyssey In Homer’s The Odyssey, Circe advises Odysseus that in order to survive, he must control his appetite to have a good reputation. On some occasions Odysseus listens to the advice, but at other times his intense appetite blocks him from achieving strong leadership. Odysseus wants to be well liked and perceived as a hero, but as Circe tries to warn him, sometimes survival must come before the desire to be a hero. By examining Circe’s advice to Odysseus, Odysseus’s preparation to fight Scylla, and his agreement to let his crew stop on the Sirens’ island, one can see the intense power of an appetite to have a good reputation even if warned to let it go.
In warning Odysseus of all of the obstacles he will encounter on his way home and how he should deal with them, Circe cautions Odysseus that if he wants to survive, he should not fight Scylla. Circe warns, “Scylla’s no mortal, she’s an immortal devastation, / terrible, savage, wild, no fighting her, no defense— / just flee the creature, that’s the only way. / Waste any time, arming for battle
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Odysseus describes to the Phaeacians, “I donned my heroic armor, seized long spears / in both my hands and marched out on the half-deck, / forward, hoping from there to catch the first glimpse / of Scylla, ghoul of the cliffs, swooping to kill my men” (Homer 278). Even after Circe warns Odysseus not to fight Scylla, he puts on his armor to defend himself as he approaches her. He uses the word “heroic” to describe his armor because he wants the Phaeacians to view him as a hero. Odysseus wants to depict himself as a strong man who looks out for his men by staying one step ahead of Scylla. Although Odysseus decides to follow Circe’s advice to not attempt to defend himself against Scylla, he still prepares to fight and recounts his brave efforts in order to gain an honorable