ipl-logo

Theme Of Self Control In The Odyssey

454 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Challenges of odysseus in the odyssey

Self Control is Essential

Self control is a very important trait for a person to have. Having the ability to restrain your emotions and impulses will keep oneself away from unnecessary conflict and strengthen one’s mind. For example, in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Odysseus displays his aptness to keep his composure and do what is needed to be done even in difficult situations. His men, on the other hand, failed to constrain themselves and allowed their emotions cloud their judgement. This would cause Odysseus and his crew to deal with further complications that halt his voyage home and could have been avoided. Self-restraint is no easy task, even the great Odysseus had his weak moments. Take “The Cyclops” Odysseus’ curiosity and …show more content…

Instead, Polyphemus the cyclops eats several of Odysseus’ men. Instead of leaving the island unscathed and with food, Odysseus’ curiosity caused tragic losses that could have been averted.
Another instance of lack of self-control, is shown in “Sea Perils and Defeat” when they pass by the island of Thrinacia. Odysseus attempts to persuade his men to simply pass the island and to leave the cat, but it was to no avail. Driven by hunger, the men ignore his warnings to not feast on the cattle. The mutiny angers Helios who threatens to cease shining if he receives no payment. In the text it states, “The disobedience angers the sun god, who threatens to stop shining if payment is not made for his lost cattle” (p.g 937). To mollify Helios’ anger, Zeus sinks Odysseus’ ship. All the men die except for Odysseus. The men’s lack of discretion causes them all their lives.
Self-control today is still a very crucial characteristic to have. Without it, there would be chaos. Life would be more difficult than it already is. When a person lacks control over their emotions, they could be irrational and make bad decisions. Those bad decisions could lead to terrible consequences. The story of The Odyssey shows a very good example of the dangers of lacking composure with epic heroes such as

Show More
Related

Theme Of Self-Restraint In The Odyssey

257 Words | 2 Pages

Odysseus, in The Odyssey by Homer, and I both demonstrate self-restraint. One time Odysseus shows self-discipline is when he’s in the cyclops’ cave and stabbed his eye. The cyclops “squatted in the breach with arms thrown wide for any silly man or beast that bolted” (907). Odysseus restrains himself from running the first time he sees a way out. Instead he stays back and plans for a better way out.

Read More

The Destruction Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

1066 Words | 5 Pages

(Book 10, page 159, PDF). Odysseus had left almost always meant to die with only saving a few which may have caused a sense of controversy and confusion. Also Odysseus hadn’t thought of a way to save all of his men, which eventually impacted his journey and his entire crew. Though Odysseus did have several acts of heroic deeds, the amount of failure in a majority of those other acts overpowered them

Read More

Odysseus: A Good Leader In Homer's The Odyssey

571 Words | 3 Pages

In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus repeatedly shows that he is polytropos, for as Zeus says “There is no mortal half so wise”(3). Using his wits, Odysseus gets him and his men out of several sticky situations in the Odyssey, proving his leadership through his actions that save the lives of his crew member. On the other hand Odysseus’ streak of constantly outsmarting challenges, goes to his head, and unfortunately causes Odysseus to develop a hubris. His pride at times makes him arrogant, believing that he always knows best, which leads to the untimely demise of his crew. While Odysseus proves to be good leader by saving his crew from trouble with his wits, he is ultimately a bad leader because he refuses to listen to advice.

Read More

Odysseus Crew In The Odyssey

1764 Words | 8 Pages

During these trials, many burdens were put on Odysseus’ crew, which led to all of his crew eventually all being killed before returning to Ithaca. The 2nd instance where Odysseus made a wrong choice that affected his crew is when he didn’t even really trust his crew. So he stayed up for days straight and

Read More

Impulsiveness In The Odyssey

856 Words | 4 Pages

In the beginning of the book Odysseus is impulsive and arrogant. After Odysseus blinds and defeats the Cyclops, he cannot contain himself. Out of pure impulsiveness and the inability to be humble, Odysseus yells out to the Cyclops, “If any man on the face of the earth should ask you/ who blinded you, shamed you do so–say Odysseus,/raider of cities, he gouged out your eye,/Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca!” (Homer 9.556-562). Odysseus is so impulsive he has to scream out his name to the gods and the Cyclops.

Read More

Argumentative Essay On The Odyssey

415 Words | 2 Pages

Odyssey Argumentative Essay Odysseus is an arrogant egotistical warrior who hardly ever takes the blame for his own actions. Since he does not take responsibility it shows his weaknesses that could be used against him if this were a war. Odysseus’s weaknesses are shown equally in the literature and the movie. In some ways the literature showed it better or explained it better than the movie did. But in some ways the movie outlined his weaknesses than the movie because it is more visual than when you are reading the story.

Read More

Self Control In The Odyssey

747 Words | 3 Pages

“The Hero doesn’t Get the Reward; the Hero Pays the Price” (anon). One of the heroes who paid the dear price was Odysseus, a hero who fought in The Trojan War. Odysseus was the man who came up with the plan to build the wooden horse, ending the rigorous fight with it. Odysseus was going back home after earning the victory for his country, which he was king of one of the kingdoms -Ithaca-. But Odysseus faced trials that constrained him ten years late to arrive home.

Read More

The Negative Effects Of Curiosity In Homer's The Odyssey

1064 Words | 5 Pages

Earlier in the epic, Odysseus frequently abuses his role as captain of his crew because of his curious nature. He makes several stops on their journey home in search of more opportunities to prove his skillfulness, even though he is already a king and has won a major war. One of these stops is at the Island of Polyphemus, home to the cyclops famed for eating all humans that enter his cave. Even though Odysseus is well aware of the danger ahead, his curiosity tempts him to

Read More

Temptation In The Odyssey

381 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More

Theme Of Reciprocity In The Odyssey

1190 Words | 5 Pages

Odysseus suffered the consequence of being away from his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope for 20 years. Odysseus was told by Athena and other gods, what to do during his journey. All of them told Odysseus that he couldn’t tell his men because they’d suffer a consequence. Odysseus listened to Athena and the gods because he only thought about himself and didn 't think about what his crew would say or do. When Odysseus and his crew passed by the mainland where the Cyclops lived, they were only going to stay for two days, but then out of curiosity, Odysseus wanted to see what kind of beast the Cyclops was which made them almost die.

Read More

Temptation And Pride In The Odyssey

664 Words | 3 Pages

Have you ever felt tempted to cheat on your homework or on a test? Have you been prideful of what your status or accomplishments? In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, the brave hero Odysseus encountered these obstacles of temptations and pride that people today still face. Therefore, temptation and pride were Odysseus’ greatest enemy throughout his journey back to Ithaca, as they distracted him on his voyage, prevented him from getting home, and displeased the gods.

Read More

Quotes That Show Courage In Odysseus

529 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the story, Odysseus demonstrates his courage that ultimately allows him to survive. One of these moments was during his journey back to Ithaca, where he faces a race of man eating giants called the Cyclops. Odysseus originally stops his ship there to relish a feast while on his journey back to Ithaca, but while doing so, out of curiosity explores the island. Soon, he finds a deserted house and decides to wait of the owner. The owner was unknowingly one the Cyclops, named Polyphemus.

Read More

A Character Analysis Of Odysseus Arrogance In The Odyssey

414 Words | 2 Pages

While Odysseus and his crew are slowly moving away from Cyclopes Island, Odysseus tells Polyphemus that he is “Odysseus, Laertes’ son,” whose home “lies on Ithaca” (Homer 459 and 460). Because of his arrogant decision to tell Polyphemus the truth of his origins, he essentially dooms him and his crew. Polyphemus, who is Poseidon's son, asks of his father to punish Odysseus for his arrogance, whom grants his prayer. In cessation, Odysseus’ haughty decision to tell Polyphemus his whereabouts leads to his utter

Read More

Odysseus Lessons In Homer's Odyssey

909 Words | 4 Pages

Odyessus and his men would probably have arrived to Itchia alot sooner with no

Read More

Diction And Imagery In Homer's Odyssey

472 Words | 2 Pages

We can depict this through a quote found in chapter 9, “A wind from seaward served him, drove us there. We are survivors, these good men and I.” Being the heartless creature the cyclops is, he still goes on to eat Odysseus’ men, shocking them as they believed they should have gotten better treatment and a gracious greeting from the Cyclops as if they were noble heroes. However, soon Odysseus learns that

Read More

More about Theme Of Self Control In The Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document