Before Odysseus and his men passed the sirens he told all his men to stuff their ears with wax so only he can hear the sirens “ Therefore pass these Sirens by, and stop your men's ears with wax that none of them may hear”(55). This shows why Odysseus is a bad leader because he knew they were going to pass the sirens and only wanted himself to experience
Keeping his crewmates safe is something that Odysseus did and he kept them alive from the Sirens. Odysseus unplugged his crewmates’ ears and they set him free: “Peeling off / the wax that I had laid thick on their ears; / then set me free” (12. 132-134). Odysseus had to plug his men’s ears so they would not die from the Sirens. They then had to untie him from the floorboards, he was there so he could listen to the sirens and not die. To further show this trait Odysseus used his strong leadership and made sure that his crewmates got home safely and were not left on any islands.
This also shows that he is inconsiderate because if someone is a good leader, they usually listen to other inputs and act according to that, but Odysseus was headstrong and wanted to continue the taunting. The next time that Odysseus shows that he is inconsiderate is their stay at Circe’s land. The crew members have families at home which they want to see once again, but Odysseus is reluctant to
One characteristic of Odysseus’ that makes him unheroic is his excessive lying. There are many events where he lies for either is well-being or to gain extra information from others. One example is when Odysseus and his crew had been captured by Kyklops and in order to escape Odysseus came up with a plan that involved injuring and lying to him. To trick him, Odysseus says, “‘Kyklops, try some wine. Here’s liquor to wash down your scraps of men.
The theme of disobedience is very prominent in this episode. The poor choices Odysseus makes as well as his foolish men. In other episodes in the Odyessy like Scylla and Charybdis, The Lotus Eaters, and most episodes’ disobedience was also a problem. In the Sirens and Cyclops episode Odysseus’ men where more obedient when they were in threating situation. If this episode was never told in the book of the Odyssey, the readers would be missing out on how important it is to be obedient and trusting your own instincts.
In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, some might argue that Odysseus’s dishonesty and deceit cause loss of trust and negative consequences. However, Odysseus’s dishonesty and deceit do not always have bad intentions, it can be seen when Odysseus and his men escaped out of Polyphemus’s cave to get out of trouble and when Odysseus received help from his men to get closer to their objective. While lying is looked down upon, people
Many people lie or disguise themselves to stay away from the truth. However, in the Odyssey, lies and disguises are used for safety and the test of loyal. The theme of trickery plays a extensive role throughout the Odyssey, especially within Books 13 and 14, and is displayed through the concepts of lying and disguising. Throughout Homer’s Odyssey, the instances of Odysseus lying to Athena disguised as a young man and disguising himself when talking to his swineherd illustrate this theme of trickery. After being at sea for 20 years, Odysseus, the main character, doesn’t trust anyone or rush back to his house, when he gets back to his homeland, Ithaca.
However Odysseus seems to lie so effortlessly and without any hesitation. Which makes the reader question has Odysseus been telling the truth the whole time or has he just been lying his face off? Are we, able to trust him as a reliable
No matter the situation, honesty is always the best option. In book seven of “The Odyssey”, Odysseus does a very good job of being honest with everyone he meets along his journey. He’s doing this because he knows that if he tells the truth, it could get him a step closer to being home with his family. This shows that honesty goes a long way. “As much as it pains me to recall it, all I have told you is true.”
Given the leader he is, when Odysseus and his men encountered the sirens, his men were quick to follow his instructions with diligence. Homer writes, “Sirens weakening a haunting song over the sea we are to shun”(690-691). The sirens sing a songs to lure sailors to their death. Homer writes, “I alone should listen to their song”(693-694). Odysseus knowing what the sirens purpose and having prior knowledge of the things the sirens would say to him.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus uses lies as a protective disguise against strangers. Not only does Odysseus utilize lies to keep his identity a secret but also, through the use of specific language, he conveys unspoken points. These points invoke different feelings and opinions in the people to whom he lies. Odysseus can quickly tailor his lies depending on the person and the situation he is in. Odysseus’s skill of creating intricate falsehoods and his use of lies as a way of controlling the thoughts of person he’s lying to, reveals his exceptional tact and guile.
Lies are, whether detrimental or advantageous, are a staple of most civilizations throughout history. Deceit and Lying allow the furtherment of goals and the ability to cast ourselves as someone who may not be. Lying in Homeric Society was as prevalent as it is today, and many characters take full advantage of the ability of deceit. In The Odyssey, Odysseus and others take advantage of homeric social norms of lying and deceit in order to get what they want; furthering their quest and goal through their trickery.
In the passage of The Odyssey, Odysseus quotes Circe while at Alcinous’s Court, telling what she said to do and what he ultimately did, in this excerpt: “But if you wish to listen / let the men tie you in the lugger, hand / and foot, back to the mast, lashed to the mast, / so you may hear those Harpies thrilling voices;” (Homer 12.672-675). Odysseus was tempted by the idea of listening to the siren’s song, and caved into it. He knew that the sirens were dangerous creatures responsible for the deaths of countless men like himself, but subjected himself to their cries anyways. In the poem “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood, there is this quote: “I will tell the secret to you, / only you, only to you. / Come closer.
Instead of tricking others, characters often deceive those around them in regards to their identity so they can gain information. Take Odysseus for example. As he goes on his journey home, he meets many people who can aid him in returning to Ithaca. He never quite tells the truth about who he is, whether he makes up an elaborate story or just leaves out pieces of his story. Odysseus knows exactly what to say, or not to say, to get what he needs.
I was able to understand five Major claims Teresa made throughout her article. The first one is that the popular, the disturbing, and the hauntings of history infiltrate American literature. For example, America does not have enough history to actually represent the gothic concept. The Gothic genre has the ability to seep into other genres and can appear in categories like romanticism. Gothic moments can thus occur in all areas of American literature, from fables to narratives.
