Odyssey Essay, Research Paper

There are many challenges throughout the Odyssey the most important being his haughtiness that Odysseus must get the better of in order to make place. In book 9, get downing with line 113 Odysseus and his work forces begin a journey in the land of the Kyklops. This set of challenges for Odysseus shows the reader the conflict between haughtiness and wisdom within Odysseus. The picks that Odysseus makes during this part of his journey place will assist him to recognize his haughtiness and the ruins of giving to it, which he must get the better of to recover his land and belongings from the suers.

When Odysseus foremost decides to research the nearby island he makes a wise determination to take merely his ain ship and company. The ground he does this is to [ book 9 ; lines 187-189 ] & # 8220 ; happen out what the mainland natives are- for they may be wild barbarians, and lawless, on hospitable and God fearing work forces & # 8221 ; . This proves to be a wise determination because the indigens are Kyklops. Kyklops have no Torahs, no councils, and no involvement in cordial reception or civility of any sort. A reader could reasonably believe that Odysseus determination to merely convey his ain ship and company prolongs the lives of the work forces he left behind.

Get downing with line 201 in book 9 Odysseus Begins to depict the type of work forces that resides in the cave he is now in. He describes the absentee occupant of the caves by what he sees in the cave. He describes the occupant as being in the cave entirely, distant, cognizing nil but savageness. He goes farther to name him a immense beast. Once once more Odysseus shows his wisdom in go forthing all but 12s of his work forces at the ship to travel in front. In line 229 through 231 he states & # 8220 ; for in my castanetss I knew some looming beast would be upon us soon- all outward power, a wild adult male, ignorant of civility & # 8221 ; . His work forces want to loot and go forth before the occupant returned. This desire is in direct contrast to what they did in Ismarus when he advised them to go forth Ismarus instantly with their wealths. Furthermore, Odysseus show his haughtiness when he ignores the advice of his work forces to take the loot and leave but alternatively opts to remain and wait for the cave man to return place to prove the proprietors cordial reception. Odysseus makes a dearly-won error in his determination, all of the grounds he sees in the cave points to a barbarian and rude being, but Odysseus, in his haughtiness, elects to wait for the cave man & # 8217 ; s return anyhow. A reader could utilize these cases to back up a theory that it is better to & # 8220 ; quit while you & # 8217 ; re in front & # 8221 ; .

Get downing in line 273 when the Kyklops sees Odysseus and his work forces. The one eyed giant is oddities at foremost as to who they are. He begins in line 274 by inquiring & # 8220 ; aliens who are you? And where from? & # 8221 ; Odysseus responds to the inquiries of the one eyed giant by depicting in great item where they are from and who they are but becomes chesty in the terminal of his description by teaching the Kyklops on what is acceptable behavior harmonizing to Zeus. Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant, rhenium

sponds by dissing Odysseus by naming him a “ninny” . This is a mark of haughtiness and discourtesy because of the brave and epic things Odysseus did in the Trojan War. By dissing Odysseus and ignoring without idea of the statement made by Odysseus refering the “care of the Gods courtesy” . Polyphemus portrays two features of his personality ; beastly strength and a deficiency of regard for the Gods.

In lines 307 through 311 Odysseus Tells Polyphemus that Poseidon had destroyed his ship but that he and his work forces had been spared. These lines provide a few of import inside informations. The first item is the regard that is shown for the powers of Poseidon by Odysseus. It besides gives warning to the one-eyed giant that these work forces were spared by Poseidon and hence should be spared by the Kyklops. Another important factor is it foreshadows the destiny of Odysseus ships and crew, while singling out Odysseus himself.

In lines 465 to 475 Odysseus describes how he tied sheep together three abreast and catapult a adult male under each in order to get away in the forenoon when Polyphemus lets his flock out in the forenoon to crop. Particular attending was made of the fact that Odysseus took the pick of the flock, the woolliest random-access memory, for him to get away under. He does non take the best of the flock out of haughtiness but alternatively to demo his place of leading and aristocracy. That forenoon when the elephantine allow his flock out to crop Odysseus and his random-access memory were the last to get away the imprisonment of Polyphemus. This symbolizes that Odysseus had a greater concern for the public assistance of his work forces than he did for himself, a trait of a great leader and a hero.

After get awaying from Polyphemus & # 8217 ; undermine Odysseus allows his haughtiness to catch his wisdom and shouts twits at the one-eyed giant. The Kyklops responds by interrupting off a brow and throwing it at the going ship of Odysseus about beaching the mark. Even thou Odysseus work forces beg him non to go on to tease the monster ; Odysseus can non get the better of his haughtiness and shouts his true name and individuality to Polyphemus. Odysseus gives his individuality to Polyphemus non out of haughtiness as with his name but simply as a manner of the manner things were done in that period of clip. This deficiency of wisdom and show of haughtiness brings upon him the wrath of Poseidon on behalf of his boy, Polyphemus.

Odysseus learns throughout this part of his journey that it is wiser to be low than it is to be chesty towards others. In every case where Odysseus, his work forces, or Polyphemus become chesty it cost the wrongdoer a monetary value. Odysseus haughtiness cost him all of his work forces and ships, he carriers this lesson with him and learns from it. When Odysseus shows his humbleness he fares better than when he lets his haughtiness win the twenty-four hours. The lesson of haughtiness enables him to get the better of the disrespectful and chesty suers so that he can recover control of his land and belongings. The moral of the Odyssey being that adult males ain haughtiness is his worst enemy