Mistakes Made In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”-James Joyce, Ulysses. Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey is a story of Odysseus traveling home following the Trojan War. On his prolonged journey to Ithaca, Odysseus acquired the knowledge of many beneficial life lessons through the countless mistakes he made. Foremost he learns that wealth, immortality, and over all a luxuriant life is not the source of a person's happiness. Through the many temptations Odysseus faces, he becomes incompetent on how to overcome temptation. Odysseus meets numerous new people throughout his journey, however he gains understanding of the hard way that not every person encountered can be trusted. On Odysseus’ long journey home, he learns several important life lessons through

However, he learns that all the riches in the world, or even immortality, could never fulfill the happiness he so longingly craves. He is first offered a luxuriant immortal life by Calypso, a beautiful nymph. Although, over the course of his treacherous journey home Odysseus realizes that the life offered to him by Calypso could never fulfill his longing to be reunited with his family. Further along his travels home, he is again presented with the opportunity of a comfortable and lavish life by King Alcinous. “You could wed my daughter and be my son-in-law and stay right here with us. I’d give you a house and great wealth- if you choose to stay, that is.”(Book 7). 158-160) Regardless, he declines the offer once again, because he knows that it could never fully make him happy. Odysseus continues to learn from his mistakes throughout his journey, another being how to resist temptation. Odysseus and his crew, who are starving and tired, have many opportunities to fall into temptation. Through these many struggles, Odysseus learns how to resist in moments of temptation. Firstly, Odysseus fails at resisting temptation when he steals from the Cyclops, named

your ship destroyed, your men destroyed as well!” (Book 12). 148-151) From island to island, Odysseus has numerous encounters with all kinds of different creatures and people. Despite this, no matter how friendly people may seem, he learns not everyone is trustworthy. He is first tricked by the Lotus Eaters, who cunningly act as kind and welcoming people, offering him their lotus flowers to eat. He is again deceived by the Laestrygonians, giant cannibals, who also acted kind to Odysseus and his crew. “And before the walls they met a girl, drawing water, Antiphates’ strapping daughter - king of the Laestrygonians.”(Book 10. 116-117) In spite of the warm welcome they receive, it is short lived when one of the crew members is devoured by their king. Odysseus gains wisdom through these horrific experiences that not everyone's entrance is good-willed. It may appear that Odysseus gained nothing but sufferings through his journey home, nevertheless through his sufferings many important life lessons were learned. He first learns where his true source of happiness is found, that being his