Who Is Responsible For Odysseus's Downfall

The ancient Greeks have developed eight evil thoughts that describe behaviors that negatively affect the outcome of one’s life. The eight evils are common actions or thoughts that people partake in on a daily basis. In episode of “The Cyclops” in epic The Odyssey, Odysseus becomes captured by a Cyclops and must utilize his quick thinking to escape his and his men’s death. Odysseus shows two of the eight thoughts which include kenodoxia, extensive boasting, orge, holding in anger and expressing it at incorrect timing, and philargyria, greed. When Odysseus was acquainted with Polyphemus ,the cyclops, he demands that the cyclops be a good host. He tells his host that if he does not present himself as an excellent host, he will be avenged by Zeus (The Cyclops.

Odysseus’ greed and desire to be treated as king causes Polyphemus to become enraged and hold his guests hostage. Polyphemus also began to devour his guests two-by-two and put Odysseus in danger, at his own fault. In seeing his greed, the reader can determine that Odysseus does not care for his men but only himself and his well being. In the execution of his plan to blind the cyclops, Odysseus launched the burning olive branch into Polyphemus’ eye as hard as he possibly could. After he lugged the branch in his eye, Odysseus proceeded to twist the branch and completely burn and destroy the cyclops’ eye ([374-380]). Odysseus extreme handling of the situation portrayed his anger being released. He drove the spear into Polyphemus’ eye in such a violent manner that the reader can infer that when Odysseus does not get his way, he releases his anger on the person whom offended him. At the conclusion of the episode, Odysseus sails away from the land shouting his victory to Polyphemus. In rage, Polyphemus hurls a large stone at the ship, almost crushing it and killing the entire group of men. When his men cried for him to cease, he continued to boast his victory