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Comparing Eurylochus And Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

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Even the most intelligent of people can be lead astray by temptation. Eurylochus' willpower is tested as he travels with Odysseus in Homer's epic, The Odyssey. When the crew encounters the beautiful enchantress Circe, Eurylochus is able to sense danger and resisted Circe's charm. On the other hand, when faced with starvation in the presence of Helios' cattle, he ignored Odysseus’ warnings and yielded to provocation. Overall, while Eurylochus is wise, he is mortal and susceptible to deception. Following their arrival on Circe's island, the goddess invites the crewmen into her home per the law of hospitality. Eurylochus is the only one to see past Circe's temptation and refuse her offerings. "...and she came swiftly to the shining …show more content…

This is prominent when he is faced with a difficult choice: starvation or Helios’ cattle. Eurylochus tells the others, "You've gone through everything; listen to what I say. All deaths are hateful to us, mortal wretches, but famine is the most pitiful, the worst end that a man can come to. Will you fight it? Come, we'll cut out the noblest of these cattle for sacrifice to the gods who own the sky..." (Homer 12.365-371). Eurylochus shows a juxtaposition in his character. He cleverly avoided Circe’s trap but makes an irrational decision with Helios’ kine. Action such as this proves that while Eurylochus is clever, he is not …show more content…

Once again, Eurylochus displays a juxtaposition. He did not follow the others into Circe's home because he knew there was trouble and potentially death awaiting. However, he willingly killed the cattle knowing full-well he and the other crewmen could be punished. His reason was clouded by temptation and

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As Odysseus and his crew areis warned not to eat Helios cattle for “the cattle here are not for our provisions,/ or we pay dearly for it”(XII.409-410). Odysseus and his men are stuck on the island

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In part one of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus uses his epic hero qualities to help him out on his quest to get back home to Ithaca. He’s shows superb intelligence when fighting the cyclopes in “Book 9.” That’s a quality of superhuman intelligence that Odysseus possessed all throughout his entire journey. Another epic hero quality that helped Odysseus was help from Greek gods and goddesses. In part two of Homer’s Odyssey, Athena helped out Odysseus when he got back to his home land.

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Each of us will pay full measure too.” (Book XXII, 441) The tone of Eurymachus shows his eagerness to reach a resolution with Odysseus, even if it would involve compromise on his behalf. Since Eurymachus and the other suitors fear a battle with Odysseus, Eurymachus has to use a friendly and respectful tone while addressing Odysseus. Additionally, the diction of the quote displays the extent to which Eurymachus is willing to compromise, through the phrases, “Covering all we ate and drank inside your halls,” and “Each of us will pay full measure too.”

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TS1 (Thesis): In The Odyssey, Homer depicts Odysseus’ real foe as the theme of temptation with displays of hubris and lustrous goddesses, which portrays the importance of being vigilant to not submit to temptation. ST1: Homer depicts that Odysseus is determined to get home, but Odysseus succumbs to temptation when he leads his crew into the cyclops lair, eats the cyclops’ food, and demands for a gift, resulting in a protracted journey home. 1: Homer displays Odysseus as recklessly brave when he requests, “we’re at your knees, in hopes of… a guest-gift”(9.300) from the cyclops. 2: It is apparent that Odysseus has given into the temptation to be arrogant when he declares for the cyclops to give them, “a guest-gift,” after Odysseus and his men have broken into the cyclops lair, showing even further Odysseus’ isn’t vigilant to

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The main character Odysseus in the Odyssey written by Homer is generally thought to be a great hero; however, he shows more traits of a quite flawed character on closer inspection. Around the beginning of Odysseus’ journey home after the war, Odysseus decides to take a detour to the home of a cyclops deciding to not listen to his men’s suggestions to leave while they still could; consequently, it does not end well: “Ah, how sound that was, Yet I refused. I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer no pretty sight it turned out, for my friend” (9.130-132). This thought by Odysseus shows that he realized his decision to go to the mysterious island wasn’t the most rational one and that his men’s pleas to leave were the better option, but he decides to be stubborn and place his curiosity before his men’s safety resulting in a non-heroic

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831 Words | 4 Pages

In real life we make our own decisions, and some of those decisions lead to bad outcomes, even though we don’t blame ourselves for many of our mistakes, we are to blame. In Greek Mythology, humans make many important decisions in their life, many of them lead to horrible endings. In the journey of Odysseus, he made many choices throughout his journey that eventually led to the death of all his crew members. In other stories from mythology like the stories of Theseus and Icarus, they made decisions that led them and their loved ones to life threatening situations. Even Zeus once stated “My word, how mortals take the gods to task!

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Circe’s aggressive display of hospitality is the opposite of the general standard of how women are expected to perform. For instance, when Odysseus’ men arrive at her island, she deceives them into eating a meal with “her own vile pinch, to make them lose desire or thought of [their] dear father land” (Homer 10.30-31). While other women are expected to welcome men with open arms, Circe disregards the common notion and goes against them. Her ability to control and manipulate the situation for her own benefit shows how she holds a strong authority over anyone who might wish to challenge her. Including her firm control, her knowledge and intellect causes her to have a great effect on Odysseus’ future.

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In The Odyssey, the Cyclops is a monster because of his key differences from mere human beings, specifically his lack of wit and of morals. Depicting these qualities as monstrous support that cleverness and a general regard for human life were heavily valued in Greek culture. Odysseus easily trick the Cyclops bragging, “I poured him another fiery bowl - three bowls I brimmed and three he drank to the last drop, the fool”(9.404-406). To describe the bowls of wine as fiery foreshadows the demise of the Cyclops. Odysseus was able to use his brain, not strength, to make the Cyclops drink himself into a stupor.

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She references something they would only know to make sure it is actually her husband. This proves that she is smart. In the Odyssey, the main characters portray the ideal male and female roles in their society. Men are supposed to be strong and respectable like Odysseus, and women are expected to be loyal and strong like Penelope.

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757 Words | 4 Pages

This is shown to continue the theme in the whole book and it is universal because you should be kind and hospitable to everyone. The second theme in this passage includes foreshadowing. From this book, we get the sense that Eumaeus works really hard and ends up with little and the suitors do not work at all, but get everything done for them, and everything they need. Usually, when you think of working hard there is always a reward that comes into

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Eurylochus convinced the crew to go behind Odysseus’ back and do what they were told not while Odysseus was sleeping by saying “Comrades, he said, you 've gone through everything; listen to what I say. All deaths are hateful to us, mortal wretches, but famine is the most pitiful, the worst end that a man can come to. Will you fight it?...better open your lungs to a big sea once for all then waste to skin and bones on a lonely island”(pg 841 L221-257). When Odysseus found out, he blamed Zeus because he 's the one who put Odysseus to sleep. Helios asked Zeus

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922 Words | 4 Pages

By singing beautifully, Circe attracted, and tempted, all the men to herself except for, “Eurylochus, who feared a snare” (IV: 563-564). This demonstrates how Eurylochus resisted temptation, which in turn, saved all of his men who were tricked by Circe’s enchanting sorcery and turned into pigs. Eurylochus stayed strong and ran to tell Odysseus, who stayed with and talked to Circe, eventually saving his men. If Eurylochus had fallen into the temptation like the rest of the men, they would all have been doomed and turned into

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610 Words | 3 Pages

My own fame is for wisdom among the gods --deceptions too.” (The Odyssey 13.379-384.) She acts as his advisor and protector, aiding him constantly through his journey to return to Ithaca. She even addresses the other gods about Odysseus’s situation, and “if it... pleases the

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1058 Words | 5 Pages

Firstly, when he had finally gotten past the Cyclopes and they were far off from the shore he shouted out to the Cyclopes “’Would you feast on my companions? Puny, am I, in a Caveman’s hands? How do you like the beating we gave you…’”, letting his anger get the better of him. This is a fatal flaw that could have killed him and the rest of his crew. Another flaw is that he let himself fall into the luxury of Circe’s home when he could have left once he had the rest of his men back.

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863 Words | 4 Pages

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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