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Odysseus Journey

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During Odysseus’ epic journey in The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus encounters many differences in societies and lifestyles of different groups of people. Most of the societies welcomes everyone who visits incase it happens to be a god in disguise, but other societies seem to follow the saying, “every man for himself”. The Odyssey shows the difference between the societies of the Phaiacians, with the lifestyle of the Cyclops. Societies who live a civilized life seem to follow the theme of hospitality. The Phaiacians live a very structured, sophisticated, harmonious lifestyle. For example, Alcinoos says, “Or if he is one of the immortals come down from heaven, then we may take it that it is something new in the gods’ dealings with us. For in time past they have always been in the way of showing themselves to us face to face when we perform our solemn sacrifices, dining …show more content…

They wall themselves in their own taverns, with no interest in their neighbor’s affairs, and eat a lot of food and gorge on human flesh. For example, Odysseus says, “We came next to the Cyclopians, a violent and lawless tribe. They trust in providence and neither plant nor plow, but everything grows without sowing or plowing…These Cyclopians have no parliament for debates and no laws…each one lays down the law for wife and children, and no one cares for his neighbors.” (Rouse, 1937, p. 102). When the Cyclops, Polyphemus, finds Odysseus and his men in his home, he begins eating them not caring who they are, or why they were there. Odyseus gets him drunk while trapped in his cave and then stabs him in the eye. What Odysseus doesn’t know is Polyphemus is Poseidon’s son. When he is fleeing the island he reveals his name. Polyphemus then prays father calling for vengeance on Odysseus. The Cyclops lack intelligence to venture out further, they are trapped on their own land relying on the gods to keep them

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