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Essay On Alcohol In The Odyssey

731 Words3 Pages

In both ancient Greece and modern American society, people who drink alcohol are punished. No matter the degree of the punishment, there are consequences to drinking alcoholic beverages. The consequence to drinking could be as minor as giving away valuable gifts to strangers or as grave as taking another person's or one's own life. Alcohol impairs the function of the brain which, in turn, makes someone vulnerable to any harm. Although many things have changed from ancient Greece up to today's modern society, the consequences that follow alcohol are quite similar. In The Odyssey, kings attempt to show hospitality, and in modern society, people drink to celebrate although in both cases it goes awry. As Telemachus arrives to the King Nestor's castle, he is quickly greeted by Pisistratus, Nestor's son. Homer describes, “He gave them a share of innards and poured some wine in a golden cup” (Homer 3: …show more content…

When Odysseus and his men are trapped in the man-eating Cyclops' cave, he comes up with a plan to trick the Cyclops. Odysseus explains, “The fool, and then, when the wine was swirling round his brain” (9:406). Once the Cyclops was drunk, this made the giant Cyclops vulnerable to the small men. To escape the Cyclops' wrath, they blind him. Dike, or justice an revenge, is exhibited as Odysseus' men get revenge on the drunk Cyclops for killing some of the men. Again, Saunders informs, “People who are intoxicated don’t think they’re impaired. Their false confidence leads them to think they can drink and drive safely – when they can’t” (Saunders). In modern society, "liquid courage" is a term to describe the courage that people have when they are drunk. This courage can lead to a multitude of consequences. These consequences can be from when people think they can drink and drive which lead to automobile accidents or even

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As Odysseus is trapped in a cave by Polyphemus, he tricked the cyclops by saying “Cyclops, try some wine. Here’s liquor to wash down your scraps of men” (Homer 1054). Odysseus tells him that to get the Polyphemus drunk so he will pass out stopping Polyphemus from killing more of his crew. When he is asleep, Odysseus and his crew make a huge spear to stab Polyphemus in the eye. This allows Odysseus and his crew to escape.

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Along the journey home, Odysseus and his men are presented with many situations that act as tests of their personal character and self-control. Whether it is the temptation of revelry, the ability to escape their worries, or gluttony, the men must choose between their own selfish desires or resistance for the communal good. The crew’s success or failure in giving in to their temptations depends upon their possession of certain characteristics. Throughout Homer’s Odyssey, the failure of Odysseus’s men to recognize their lack of self-control due to foolishness results in them bringing misfortune upon themselves and ultimately their community while their king and commander, Odysseus, successfully displays how to avoid this lack of self-control

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Other characters throughout the story, such as the Cyclops (Polyphemus), do not show hospitality, but rather harm the strangers whom they encounter. Throughout Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, several characters offer hospitality to strangers because they respect the power of the gods. Conversely, other characters do not respect the power of the gods, and show negative hospitality toward the strangers they encounter or show hospitality based on their fear of the gods. Throughout the duration of the epic poem, there are several examples of positive and negative hospitality in all aspects of Odysseus’ travels.

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According to Smith, she explains “In this case, the punishment for gluttony comes from the ultimate glutton, a giant with an enormous appetite. This cycle of punishment for the “sin” of gluttony is furthered when Odysseus makes the giant’s appetite for wine his downfall.” This involves the Cyclops. Furthermore, with these punishments Odysseus played a clever trick on him. Though, with food comes desire and

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Throughout history, feasting has been a way to bring people together, to celebrate, and to entertain. In Homer’s play, The Odyssey, food serves multiple purposes. The opulent banquet that Telemachus attends in Sparta with Menelaus displays the hospitality and wealth of the Spartan royalty, and provides key information about the whereabouts of Odysseus. While this instance of feasting displays how eating can bring people together to celebrate, overindulging in the Odyssey is also portrayed negatively. As the play progresses, readers learn that excessive and unnecessary eating is one of the reasons that Odysseus does not quickly return home to Penelope, and additionally, it is the reason that many of the crewmen do not return at all.

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