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Temptation In The Odyssey

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In The Odyssey, temptation is a theme repeatedly explored by Homer. The issue of temptation is constantly providing the protagonist, Odysseus, with conflicts. From the very beginning of the epic tale, with Paris’s lust for Helen, temptation causes mayhem in the lives of the characters. It repeatedly prevents Odysseus from achieving his main goal of returning home to Ithaca. A major plot storyline, and one of the most explored temptations in The Odyssey, is Penelope and the suitors. There is temptation on both sides; Penelope certainly has waited a long time for Odysseus, and has to combat affairs with the suitors, and the suitors are lusting after Penelope. If permitted, they would have succumbed to the urge to wed her. Telemachus and Pallas …show more content…

He was tempted to steal food, and succumbed to staying longer than was necessary. This set off a sequence of events that led to Poseidon seeking vengeance on Odysseus. This simple action caused chaos for him and delayed his return to Ithaca by many years. It also caused havoc for others, such as the Phaeacians. Later, Odysseus's homecoming was further delayed by his crews actions, who were warned not to kill Helios’s flock. However, they were tempted and killed the cow anyway. His crew's actions hurt Odysseus’s journey. Finally, a temptation described in The Odyssey was the proposed killing of Telemachus. When Antonius proposed ambushing him at sea, Amphinomus resisted the temptation and convinced others to do the same. Amphinomus was rewarded for this later in the book, when beggar Odysseus warned him of the impending slaughter. Through Homer's depictions of temptation and their consequences, we can conclude Greeks constantly struggled with temptations. Homer thought how one deals with temptation determines character and the consequences that follow. If one did not give in, rewards followed, but if they did, punishment ensued. The Greeks were similar to us in their desires, but exceedingly lusted after beautiful women and reigning power. The Gods proposed heinous things to those that submitted. Homer was enthralled with the idea of temptation and used it in The Odyssey’s plot exceedingly

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His fate and journey are ultimately changed by the actions of others who are selfish, greedy, and foolish. The suitor’s greed gave him the extra desire to finally return to Ithaca, and his journey changed as he became desperate to return to Penelope. The selfishness crew caused his journey to be delayed, as he was forced to travel for ten extra days. The foolish crew, and their need to die with full stomachs caused Odysseus to be alone and stuck on an island with Kalypso resulting in more time away from

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TS1 (Thesis): In The Odyssey, Homer depicts Odysseus’ real foe as the theme of temptation with displays of hubris and lustrous goddesses, which portrays the importance of being vigilant to not submit to temptation. ST1: Homer depicts that Odysseus is determined to get home, but Odysseus succumbs to temptation when he leads his crew into the cyclops lair, eats the cyclops’ food, and demands for a gift, resulting in a protracted journey home. 1: Homer displays Odysseus as recklessly brave when he requests, “we’re at your knees, in hopes of… a guest-gift”(9.300) from the cyclops. 2: It is apparent that Odysseus has given into the temptation to be arrogant when he declares for the cyclops to give them, “a guest-gift,” after Odysseus and his men have broken into the cyclops lair, showing even further Odysseus’ isn’t vigilant to

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The main character Odysseus in the Odyssey written by Homer is generally thought to be a great hero; however, he shows more traits of a quite flawed character on closer inspection. Around the beginning of Odysseus’ journey home after the war, Odysseus decides to take a detour to the home of a cyclops deciding to not listen to his men’s suggestions to leave while they still could; consequently, it does not end well: “Ah, how sound that was, Yet I refused. I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer no pretty sight it turned out, for my friend” (9.130-132). This thought by Odysseus shows that he realized his decision to go to the mysterious island wasn’t the most rational one and that his men’s pleas to leave were the better option, but he decides to be stubborn and place his curiosity before his men’s safety resulting in a non-heroic

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