Time brings experience, and experiences bring change. As Odysseus progresses through his 20 year journey of around the Mediterranean, the experiences with the people, monsters, and gods fundamentally change who he is. Odysseus begins with an inflated ego, and filled to the brim with pride. Oblivious to the journey the Fates have in store, he sails homeward bound after a failed raid. However he and his reduced crew are swept out to see and forced to land on the island of the inhospitable Cyclopes, children of Poseidon. They enter a well stocked cave with the owner abroad. But Odysseus, being the sociable and probably foolish person that his is, stayed in the cave to meet the huge man. After barely making it out alive, with six men short, Odysseus’ self confidence and pride break through again as he gloats over the Cyclops’ loss. …show more content…
With a clear mind Odysseus would not have spoken such personal words, but once in the moment, he lost control, driven by anger and malicious happiness. Such naïve emotions marked this period of Odysseus’ journey, when he still had his youth, and hope. With the full effect of the curse now upon them, Odysseus and his men face danger after danger, having all but one of their ships decimated, as they meet Circe the sorceress, who helps the lost men. They speak to a prophet, and scrape past twin terrors Scylla and Charybdis. The great Sun God Helios’ island approaches, Odysseus remember the cryptic warning of the prophet: “Don’t eat the cows” (Much cryptic). However that the Fates have something else in