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Homer's Odyssey Essay

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Homer's Odyssey

On a ten-year voyage across cold and choppy seas with nothing but the bitter wind at one’s back, physical strength is a necessity. The chances of successfully trekking home with weak limbs are not great. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is the epitome of power. His brawny physique undoubtedly grants him the strength to swim, climb, run and even kill his way back to his wife. But Odysseus cannot return home on physical force alone, as many of the obstacles he faces are mental. Perhaps the greatest of these obstacles is temptation. The "battle-weary" man’s odyssey is brimming with temptations of the mind, body and soul that he must not only grow out of, but conquer, in order to return home and stake his glory.

The first …show more content…

After much cunning and bravery, he escapes from "the land of the high and mighty Cyclops (Homer 214)." When he thinks he is out of danger, he shouts his real name to Polyphemus so he and everyone he tells will know that the "raider of cities gouged out your eye (Homer 227)." Odysseus does not realize that the Cyclops’ father, Poseidon, will hear of this, and in turn, cause him more misery. What might have been the perfect getaway becomes a catalyst for further pain in mere seconds. The restraint Odysseus displays previously now seems nonexistent. It is almost as though the gods are scolding a child for doing his chores incorrectly. The child knows what he is doing is wrong but he does it anyway. As punishment, his workload increases and he must do it all over again. Similarly, Odysseus must face more hardships before he can reach home. He must master self-control by encountering tougher obstacles, no matter how long it takes.

Odysseus faces yet another temptation on the Aeaean island, where Circe, the "nymph with lovely braids and awesome power (Homer 234)," makes her home. After Odysseus rescues his men from her clutches, he decides to stay with her for a while. Most people might frantically dash away from someone who just turned their comrades into swine, but Odysseus and his men dwell. Perhaps this is because they are in dire need of rest. However, there is little doubt that Circe, a clever temptress, has something to do

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