Examples Of Greed In The Odyssey

On their way home, Odysseus and his crew faced many obstacles. The way they handle these obstacles highlights their greediness. In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus’s crew is portrayed as greedy which delays their journey home.

First, the crew’s greediness delayed their journey home when traveling to Aiolos’ Kingdom by setting themselves back. The crew and Odysseus went to Aiolos to ask for help. He gave them a bag of wind, but the crew thought there was gold and silver. So, the crew opened the bag behind Odysseus’s back: “I say we ought to crack that bag, / there’s gold and silver, plenty, in that bag!’ / Temptation had its way with my companions, and they untied the bag” (X.49-52). By the crew deciding to “crack that bag” hoping that there’s

When the crewmates first stumbled upon Aiaia Island, they found Kirkê at her house, the crewmates wanted to meet her so “they all cried out together, / and she came swiftly to the shining doors / to call them in” (X.224-225), where “On thrones she seated them, and lounging chairs, / while she prepared a meal” (X.257-258). Instead of doubting Kirke and her intentions, the crewmates “called out together” to get her attention. This reveals their greed because of how they didn’t think of Kirke as a threat. They instead thought of her as someone who can provide them with a luxurious life as “On thrones she seated them” and how “she prepared a meal”. Their greedy desire for food has made them forget about their journey home. Because, when given the opportunity to stay to feast more, instead of refusing the crewmates and Odysseus agreed: “So day by day we lingered, feasting long / on roasts and wine, until a year grew fat” (X.516-517). Rather than going straight back to their journey, the crew and Odysseus decided to stay “until a year grew fat” to feast. This highlights their greed because it shows that they favor satisfaction over going home to Ithaka. If the crew resisted their greed and returned to their journey, they wouldn’t have delayed their

Throughout their journey the crew has been warned not to eat Hêlios cattle by Kirkê and Teiresias because of the destruction they will face if they do. But the crew ignored these warnings and when on the island with no food Eurýlokhos says,” Come, we’ll cut the nobles of these cattle / [. . .] / Better open your lungs to a big once for all / than waste to skin and bones on a lonely island!’” (XII.442,451-453). Eurýlokhos describes that killing the cattle to be full is better than to “waste to skin and bones”. This emphasizes the crew’s greed because of how they always put their own satisfaction before the consequences they may face. This delays their journey because after Hêlios finds out what the crew did, he tells Zeus to punish his men: “’O Father Zeus and gods in bliss forever, / punish Odysseus’ men! So overweening / now they have killed my peaceful kine” (XII.484-496). Hêlios describes his cattle as peaceful, which shows that the cattle didn’t do anything to the crew, they decided to eat them because of their own greed. As told, Zeus punishes the crewmates for eating the cattle. Odysseus recalls that “Zeus Kronion piled a thunderhead / above the ship,” (XII.515-516) and how “the mast came toppling aft / along the ship’s length,” (XII.520-521). This destroyed his ship which could’ve helped him reach Ithaka. But, because of the crew’s greediness for food Odysseus is delayed on his journey even