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Brutality In The Odyssey And Cold Mountain

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Both The Odyssey and Cold Mountain parallel each other in many things such as character, plot, and theme. An instance of this analogous relationship are the characters Junior and Polyphemus. Junior and Polyphemus embody inhospitality, demonstrate brutality through cannibalism, and leave their respective victims with lasting troubles. Junior and Polyphemus are the epitome of inhospitality within their respective books. Junior displays his unwelcoming nature by inviting Inman to come to his house after he helps Junior remove his bull from a river, only to repay Inman by selling him out to the Home Guard for “five dollars a head for every outlier [turned over].” This deceit reflects Junior’s inhospitable and evil nature as he coldly turns over Inman despite receiving Inman’s help earlier. Polyphemus on the other hand is more barbaric with his inhospitality. When asked by Odysseus for aid, Polyphemus merely replies that “Cyclops care not a …show more content…

Junior gives Inman up to the Home Guard who force Inman to walk for miles and days until “the hope of home [begins] fleeing him.” As a result, Junior nearly kills Inman, who only survives because a miracle allows him to survive being shot at. In contrast, Polyphemus curses Odysseus with a prayer to Poseidon that will make him “never see his home again,” causing Odysseus’s journey home to last nearly ten years. Polyphemus’s curse causes Odysseus ten years of grief and the loss of all his crew. Junior and Polyphemus parallel each other as they share very similar experiences in which they not only cause the protagonists grief in their encounters, but also leave the protagonists with a complication that persists beyond their encounter. This extreme likeness in situation further solidifies the mirroring of Junior and Polyphemus within The Odyssey and Cold

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Odysseus’s crew and Veasey both have parallels when comparing the stories of The Odyssey and Cold Mountain; the two accompany the stories’ respective heroes and serve as hindrances despite good intentions. Additionally, both serve as subordinates, Veasey venturing wherever Inman dared go and the crewing being under the command of Odysseus. As the story progresses, it is apparent that the crew and Veasey do more harm than good to their respective protagonists. Both the crew of Odysseus and Veasey are hypocritical in their tendencies, claiming to fight for righteousness yet blatantly insulting the very gods they follow. In the Greek culture, it was considered suicide to even insult a god and the crew was clearly praying for a safe passage home.

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There are many themes in both O Brother where Art Thou and the Odyssey which seem to be strongly similar. Many similarities between the characters and their actions surface through their actions. In my essay I will not only compare and contrast the most important elements of the mentioned works, but will also discuss the importance of heroic figures and the less favored themes, such as revenge and foolish fearlessness. It is important to note that both works are taken place during hard times. Odysseus’ journey is dated around 1200 BCE, or the ‘Dark Age’.

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Finally, he develops the character our hero of this epic, Odysseus. Homer illustrates using character, symbolism and irony to reiterate that legerdemain or trickery isn’t always used for bad. The Odyssey illustrates the necessity to use deception to get out of life threatening situations. Polyphemus, is eating Odysseus’s companions. Odysseus quickly devises a trick, to escape Polyphemus.

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In the novel, The Odyssey translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Telemachus gives a speech to Ithaca. He argues to the suitors about disrespecting his father Odysseus’ home even though they think Odysseus is dead and will never come home. Courageously, from the heart, Telemachus goes up against the suitors to state control over the key social practices of marriage hospitality. Telemachus’ speech was effective because it showed pathos, logos, and ethos. Telemachus looks and acts the part of his father, astonishing those who presumably knew him as a boy.

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On the Cyclopes' island, he was interested in meeting the owner of the cave who had such fine cheeses. However, his men only want to steal the cheese and leave hastily because there was an uneasiness about the cave. Nevertheless, he fixes upon staying and not soon after, the cyclops Polyphemus returns. He and his men are now in peril because of Odysseus' recklessness. The consequence of his decision is that shortly after Polyphemus devours most of his men but this bolsters him to conjure a plan to escape.

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During Odysseus’ decade-long journey to his home, he encounters many forms of suffering, the most prevalent being transformative in nature. Transformative suffering, which is typically caused by mortals, themselves, alters a mortal being; albeit physically, mentally, or emotionally. In the first few years of his journey, Odysseus suffers the loss of much of his crew. He loses men while plundering a small island; he loses some to the lotus esters; and a few to Polyphemus. Throughout all these sufferings, Odysseus learns that he should listen to the advice of others; thus, transforming him mentally and emotionally through these sufferings.

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Yes, Penelope struggles greatly with a very important decision throughout the course of the story. In the background of the main plot, Penelope struggles with a very important decision throughout the time Odysseus remains lost at sea. After many years without Odysseus’ return, the prospect of a new marriage inclines itself onto Penelope. The sons of the noblest families come to live with Penelope in order to court her for marriage.

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But, after angering Poseidon by blinding his one eyed cyclops son, Odysseus must go through brutal situations to get home thanks to the fuming god. The theme, the search for justice, is very prevalent in this text because of the fight between Odysseus and the suitors, the reunion of Odysseus and his wife Penelope and when Odysseus visits his father Laertes and Athena must restore peace because of the fight that breaks out there. To begin, the theme searching for justice is shown clearly when Odysseus returns home and kills the suitors. The text states, “Odysseus took aim and hit him with an arrow in the throat.

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In the section “In the One-Eyed Giant’s Cave” from Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as a hero through his character traits and behaviors. When Odysseus and his men attack the city of Ismarus, the Cicones’ strong hold, Odysseus made sure to fairly distribute the spoils among his men. Odysseus’s behavior shows that he is a great leader, a characteristic of a hero. While Odysseus and his crew are in the Cyclops’ cave, Polyphemus, the cyclops, notices them. Polyphemus asks who they are with a monstrous tone, “‘Strangers!'

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This simile increases the way the Cyclops is seen as powerful figure. The example of figurative language here makes the audience imagine the scene in their minds therefore enriching the description of the scene. These descriptions help the text as a whole feel more immediate to the reader. This has enabled The Odyssey to transcend the test of

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Odysseus does this because he is prideful and haughty and wants Polyphemus to know who Odysseus was and that Odysseus defeated him. However, by doing so, he alerts Polyphemus of their location, and the cyclops hurls a massive boulder at the men, causing, “a giant wave that washed the ship stern foremost back to shore” (III: 484-485). This shows that Odysseus’ pride and honor which causes him to boast to others about his victories and their losses, is very dangerous to him and his crew. Instead of taking the easy way out, Odysseus decides to show off to the cyclops, who nearly washed them back to shore and kills them because of Odysseus’ foolish arrogance. Figurative Language: 1.

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While Odysseus and his crew are slowly moving away from Cyclopes Island, Odysseus tells Polyphemus that he is “Odysseus, Laertes’ son,” whose home “lies on Ithaca” (Homer 459 and 460). Because of his arrogant decision to tell Polyphemus the truth of his origins, he essentially dooms him and his crew. Polyphemus, who is Poseidon's son, asks of his father to punish Odysseus for his arrogance, whom grants his prayer. In cessation, Odysseus’ haughty decision to tell Polyphemus his whereabouts leads to his utter

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Odysseus blinds and taunts the Cyclops Polyphemus, which leads to Polyphemus praying to his father, Poseidon, to curse Odysseus. The curse bestowed upon Odysseus by Poseidon is mentioned in book 9 lines 445-451 of The

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The Odyssey and Ulysses were meant to be the same character written by two different individuals. Both individuals encountered obstacles at some point in their lives. Odysseus and Ulysses were both considered a hero in today’s society along with their similar characteristics. The heroic qualities and themes presented in both pieces of the literature work emphasized the similarity between the two characters along with their differences.

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