Seven Deadly Sins In The Odyssey
Conquering the Deadly Sins
According to Webster Dictionary, odyssey means, “a series of adventurous journeys usually marked by many changes of fortune.” Generally, the hero displays certain traits which allow the changes of fortune to happen. Homer wrote an epic, The Odyssey, in which Odysseus, a demigod and a hero in the battle of Troy, endures hardships after the battle of Troy in his ten-year journey home from Troy to Ithaca. Homer wrote The Odyssey as an allegory, a representation of abstract meaning through concrete forms such as characters, figures, and events, to present the seven deadly sins. In the allegory, Odysseus metaphorically battles the seven deadly sins, showing that defeating the seven deadly sins yields positive consequences.
…show more content…
For example, Odysseus and his shipmates find themselves trapped in a cave of the Cyclops, a primordial race of giants. Odysseus then thinks about using brute strength to defeat the Cyclops. However, Odysseus realizes that he lacks strength to directly fight the Cyclops, so Odysseus gives one of the Cyclops wine instead and blinds the monster when it becomes drunk, allowing Odysseus and his crew to escape (9.241-526). As Odysseus battles the Cyclops, he battles with himself on his pride. He needs to humble himself to realize that his physical strength alone will not defeat the Cyclops. Because Odysseus does not show off, Odysseus makes clever decisions which lead to his escape. For example, Odysseus retells his story to Alcinous, “And with that threat he let my ram go free outside. / But soon as we’d got one foot past cave and courtyard, / first I loosed myself from the ram, then loosed my men,” (9.515-517). Due to Odysseus defeating his pride, he utilizes his time well instead of bragging; thus, surviving the cave of the Cyclops. Through defeating pride while defeating his challenges in the adventure, Odysseus escapes the Cyclops and keeps on traveling
Summary Of D Aulaire's Book Of Greek Myths
819 Words | 4 PagesBook Recommendations: 1. D’aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths: D'Aulaire, Ingri, and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire. Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1962. Print D’aulaires’ book introduces the concept of power and control within families and of dictatorships over lower ranked people.
Odysseus Tribulations In Homer's The Odyssey
557 Words | 3 PagesThe Odyssey is an age old classic read around the world. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the story of the wayward Odysseus. The story follows the protagonist as he makes his way back home, dealing with man-eating Cyclopes, a vengeful god, and a possessive nymph. During the story, the reader sees many sides of Odysseus as he dealt with his tribulations, such the cunning and witful side, but also the pompous and indulgent side. To begin with, Odysseus is trapped on an island with the nymph, Calypso.
Character Development In The Odyssey, Inferno, And Voltaire
1013 Words | 5 PagesIn The Odyssey, Odysseus’ journey is created by a cycle of self-created obstacles that are solved by quick witted thinking and ultimately reflect no real desire to learn from his errors or create any character development. Throughout the story, Odysseus expresses a strong desire to return home to Ithaca, however he is constantly thwarted by his own curious and boastful nature. For example, when
Determination In The Odyssey
975 Words | 4 PagesA Man of Loyalty, Patience, and Determination In the epic poem The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus’ heroic deeds are recounted through a narrative that describes his arduous journey from the Trojan War to his homeland of Ithaka. This journey makes Odysseus an epic hero. An epic hero is a brave and noble character who is admired for his achievements. Traits of an epic hero are necessary for the journey Odysseus goes on to reach his homeland.
A Character Analysis Of Odysseus Arrogance In The Odyssey
414 Words | 2 PagesThe Odyssey In Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus is bestowed with great abilities. But along with this potential, he is cursed with great arrogance. Conveying that even the labeled ‘perfect’ among us have fatal flaws that causes pain and suffering among the ones closest to them. The author, Homer, uses Odysseus’ arrogance to create a melancholic atmosphere to convey the idea that arrogance is a fatal flaw that will lead those around them to pain and suffering.
Odysseus Strengths And Weaknesses Essay
373 Words | 2 PagesPersonal strengths and weaknesses are magnified during the course of a journey. Some strengths that were magnified during the course of Odysseus’ journey were courage and self-discipline. There were many instances in which he proves to be a courageous man. In the Cyclops story, Odysseus knows that whatever lives on the island he has arrived to is “a towering brute” and a “wild man ignorant of civility” and yet he decides to venture into the cave.
Similarities Between The Odyssey And The Most Dangerous Game
734 Words | 3 PagesHe has to overcome his foes and his environment. In the cavern with the cyclops, Odysseus must fight to survive. He and his men have to use wit and strategy to escape the cave. After the first attack on his men Odysseus knew he would need to develop a plan to survive. Odysseus and his men are put in danger as they encounter their foe:“Neither reply nor pity came from him, but in one stride he clutched at my companions and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out, spattering the floor” (Homer 903).
Temptation And Pride In The Odyssey
664 Words | 3 PagesFor example, after Odysseus pokes out the eye of Polyphemus he is filled with much pride. As he is sailing away, he shouts to Polyphemus saying, “Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your son: Laertes son, whose home’s on Ithaca!” (9. 548-552). By revealing his name to Polyphemus, he will have to death with the wrath of Poseidon, Polyphemus’ father. This could have all been prevented, if Odysseus would have just kept his mouth shut.
The Transformation Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey
688 Words | 3 PagesThe Odyssey by Homer revolves around the character, Odysseus, and his ten-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. As the epic’s idol, he displays the combination of a clever, handsome, and courageous man popular among the mortals as well as the gods. Essentially, he embodies the ideals of the ancient Greek culture, being adorned with many favored characteristics of the era. However, an intriguing aspect of Odysseus lies in his personality. As the protagonist, he does not manifest the entirety of a stereotypical hero because Odysseus has a fatal flaw—his arrogance.
Temptation In The Odyssey Analysis
704 Words | 3 PagesST2: Furthermore, Odysseus submits to temptation again, and Homer displays the temptations as another display of hubris on Odysseus’ voyage home. 1: Homer portrays Odysseus’ displays of hubris as one of the biggest temptations, seen as Odysseus tempts the cyclops, even when his crewmates plead for him to stop, saying, “‘So headstrong— why? Why rile the beast again?’”(9.550), but Odysseus’ provocation of the cyclops is not hindered by their pleas. 2: After escaping the cyclops, Odysseus expresses overconfidence, leading to the taunting of the cyclops, while his crew cries, “‘Why rile the beast again?’” for fear that Odysseus would be further tempted to lengthen their journey home.
Odysseus Character Development Essay
591 Words | 3 PagesHomer delivers very universal themes, such as loyalty is respected, but the epic also provides meaningful themes that are not as recognizable. The Odyssey is very focused on leadership and courage, as it centers on a hero's journey. There are many parts in the epic where Homer explains the actions of an admirable leader. In the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplifies the true meaning of being a leader through courage in the face of danger, which is shown by Circe, the Sirens, and the suitors. One might wonder why it takes Odysseus ten years to return to his homeland after he has achieved victory for Ithaca in the Trojan War.
How Odysseus Is An Epic Hero In Homer's The Odyssey
541 Words | 3 PagesOdysseus is an epic hero because of his bravery and confidence during every obstacle throughout his journey In Part 1 whie Odysseus is about to come across cyclops cave, he says “I brought along and victuals in a bag, for in my bones I knew some towering brute would be upon so soon- all outward power, a wild man, ignorant of civility. “ Odysseus is showing his bravery of not being petrified of what he might come across, like the cyclops. Odysseus has no intention of harming them, but he is not sure what their intention is. This example is important because not only does it show confidence in himself, he also shows confidence in his men. In Part 2 Odysseus also shows his confidence in his men in part 2 where Eurylochus says, “Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure more than a man can?
Odysseus Character Analysis Essay
574 Words | 3 PagesOdysseus was a man of great stature and strength; however, Odysseus was not only physically strong, but mentally strong as well (Olson). We can see Odysseus’ mental strength, or cunning, and bravery when he is in the den of Polyphemus and devises the plan to save him and his crew by calling himself nobody and stabbing out the cyclops’ eye. He also recognizes that he
An Analysis Of The Epic Hero Of Homer's Odyssey
1058 Words | 5 PagesHe could have left and kept going straight for home but he instead went back to save them, this leading into another quality of Odysseus. Bravery. Throughout his venture he has stayed courageous, getting past the Cyclopes, Circe, and sirens. Now, he does have a multitude of great qualities but, despite all of the good that he has done, Odysseus still has flaws.
Role Of Divine Intervention In The Odyssey
1197 Words | 5 PagesSurya Govindaswaami Vidya Madavan English A HL 3 May 2016 The Influence of Divine Intervention on the Portrayal of Fate and Free Will in The Odyssey by Homer The Odyssey is not only considered one of the most prolific mythological epics of all time, but one of the greatest texts written by man. It recounts the arduous journey of the war hero Odysseus, in which he faced a multitude of adversities and obstacles that he had to overcome, as well as numerous challenges upon his arrival.
More about Seven Deadly Sins In The Odyssey
Summary Of D Aulaire's Book Of Greek Myths
819 Words | 4 PagesOdysseus Tribulations In Homer's The Odyssey
557 Words | 3 PagesCharacter Development In The Odyssey, Inferno, And Voltaire
1013 Words | 5 PagesDetermination In The Odyssey
975 Words | 4 PagesA Character Analysis Of Odysseus Arrogance In The Odyssey
414 Words | 2 PagesOdysseus Strengths And Weaknesses Essay
373 Words | 2 PagesSimilarities Between The Odyssey And The Most Dangerous Game
734 Words | 3 PagesTemptation And Pride In The Odyssey
664 Words | 3 PagesThe Transformation Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey
688 Words | 3 PagesTemptation In The Odyssey Analysis
704 Words | 3 PagesOdysseus Character Development Essay
591 Words | 3 PagesHow Odysseus Is An Epic Hero In Homer's The Odyssey
541 Words | 3 PagesOdysseus Character Analysis Essay
574 Words | 3 PagesAn Analysis Of The Epic Hero Of Homer's Odyssey
1058 Words | 5 PagesRole Of Divine Intervention In The Odyssey
1197 Words | 5 Pages