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Food Imagery And Temptation In The Odyssey

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The Odyssey by the Greek poet Homer is mainly about Odysseus journey home after 20 years. It is an expedition with his men, some not making it home alive. Food Imagery and Temptation in The Odyssey by Smith explains a different view of the story. Saying how temptation is mostly show throughout Odysseus’s exploration. All kinds of food is show from beginning to end. As you know, the main key to survival is food. Which is also a major symbol all over The Odyssey. In addition, the story goes on when, Homer interprets the use of food by desire and punishment. Then, Odysseus is portrayed as a fair leader throughout the use of food.

First off, Homer reflects the use of food as a desire. The Odyssey states, “Children and fools, they killed and feasted on/the cattle of Lord Helios, the sun/ and he moves all day through heaven/ took from their eyes the dawn of their return” (Ⅰ.13-15). In other words, after a long day of killing and such “war” they want or wish for a meal. Also known as a desire. Smith proclaims “This image of killing and feasting is primal but rich and it is important to remember that these are men who are returning from bloody war and …show more content…

Cyclops is mainly used as an example. He was shown to eating Odysseus men in the war. Homer expresses the use of punishment while explaining what the Cyclops did. Saying it “went on filling his belly/ with manflesh and great gulps of whey” (Ⅸ,321-322). This is a punishment because they did not plan correctly until after when the Cyclops ate them as food. According to Smith, she explains “In this case, the punishment for gluttony comes from the ultimate glutton, a giant with an enormous appetite.This cycle of punishment for the “sin” of gluttony is furthered when Odysseus makes the giant’s appetite for wine his downfall.” This involves the Cyclops. Furthermore, with these punishments Odysseus played a clever trick on him. Though, with food comes desire and

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