Food And Temptation In Homer's The Odyssey

In The Odyssey by Homer food and temptation go hand in hand when affecting the plot of the story. Temptation is a desire to to do something not particularly smart. Temptation is important in The Odyssey because it is temptation that leads to his men’s downfall. According to Nicole Smith, the most powerful temptation comes in the form of meat, wine, and bread. Smith states The Lotus Eaters represent temptation. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is immune to temptation in part one because he never takes any meat, bread, or wine while his men make the fallacy of giving into temptation, and indulging in all of the meat, bread, and wine, consequently Odysseus has to always rescue his men.

Firstly the most powerful temptation comes in the form of meat, wine, and bread. Smith states, “It should also

According to Smith, “These are people who do nothing all day but sit and indulge on this strange plant.” This a strong example because imagine being lost out on sea, longing to get back home, having experienced some horrific things. To eat something that would make you forget all your pain and misery sounds like the greatest thing. However if they were to succumb to this temptation they would never return home. As Homer states, “‘All hands aboard; / come… or you lose your hope of home.’” (103-105) The temptation of giving up is strong, but in the end if they were to eat the plant, they would never see their families again. Smith states, “Although Odysseus does not fall victim to the temptation of the Lotus Eaters and is successfully able to haul them off and lock them away, it is significant that the food itself is not enough to lure him from his intended course.” This can be supported with when Homer says, “I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, / tied them down under their rowing benches,” (101-103) Once again Odysseus has to rescue his men, and not give into the temptation of forgetting his pain and