Should Men Be Allowed To Eat In The Odyssey

Millions of people begin each day with a cup of coffee. They likely believe that they prepare the drink by brewing grounded coffee beans in water. However, that is not completely accurate; the term coffee bean is a misnomer. The grounded substance was a seed, not a legume. Perhaps in a similar way, mislabeling has happened to gluttony. In her book Glittering Vices, Rebecca DeYoung argues there is more to gluttony than simply overindulging. She wrote, “Gluttony is about taking excessive pleasure in food” (143). In this paper, I will overview DeYoung’s view of gluttony, including her understanding of what constitutes it and highlight its noticeable aspects, such as the glutton’s stomach becoming their demigod. Then, I will give my reflection on the topic. Last, I will argue that DeYoung overlooked egoism and narcissism’s relationship to envy. She argues that the envious are envious for the reason, they do not have self-love (44); however, their narcissism drives their envy for whatever it is they lack.

Proverbs 24:6 says; “for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory and safety” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation). In the novel Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, the story of Louis Zamperini is told from his troubled childhood, his record breaking running days, and to becoming a WWII hero, and living to tell his story. Louie ends his running career when the second world war started between the Americans and the Japanese. Louie faces many hardships through his time in the military, and after the war. Through Louis Zamperini’s suffering while striving to survive while being stranded at sea, becoming a Prisoner Of War in Japan, and his post war trauma, leads him to God, and finding his faith.

When entering Helios’ islands, Odysseus warns his men that “the cattle here aren’t for our provision” (Fitzgerald 839). The one simple warning will not the men from devouring the cattle. To avoid such mistake, a great a leader would have scared his men and warned them profusely. Odysseus becomes ready to tell “one man, or two, the prophecy Circe foresaw” (Fitzgerald 721). Yes, he did tell a few of his men; however, a great leader and hero would have informed all the men. It is clear that Odysseus is not a hero through his terrible leadership.

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.

In the memoir Night, Elie Wiesel recounts his experiences and the affects that they had on him during the Holocaust. Throughout the novel the reader gets to see Elie’s transformation from a religious, sweet little boy to the shell of a man that was left after his experience. During Elie’s traumatic experiences we can observe him going through several changes both physically and mentally.

I believe this “hunger” is a representation of not only their physical hunger but also the want for more in their own lives.

In this memoir, Elie Wiesel uses imagery in order to develop the presence of animal-like behavior on people when they are being dehumanized. At this point of the story, Elie and the other prisoners are in a wagon traveling to a different concentration camp, and they are trying to survive in inhuman conditions. To begin, Wiesel describes, “We were given bread… We threw ourselves on it… Someone had the idea of quenching his thirst by eating snow.”( Wiesel 96). This fact emphasizes the alternatives they have to take just to survive because as animals do, that is the only thing they can look forward to. Later, when the wagon goes through German towns, Wiesel describes, “... a worker took a piece of bread out of his bag and threw it into a wagon. There was a stampede, dozens of starving men fought desperately over a few crumbs.” (Wiesel 100). Here, their almost hopeless desire to eat comes true, but because of the way the food is given, men have to confront each other, emphasizing that animal behavior by the use of the term “stampede.”After they get some of the

There are many lessons Odysseus and is men learn on their journey home in the Odyssey. Unfortunately, only Odysseus makes it home and the rest of men are dead because of their foolish actions. In the Thrinacia and The Cattle of the Sun episode of the Odyssey Odysseus’s men once again disobey him and cost them their lives. The men and Odysseus learn valuable lessons throughout their epic journey, but in the episode the most important lessons they learn are; temptation can lead to death, being obedient can save your life, and trust your instincts. If Odysseus’s men would have been more obedient to their leader Odysseus perhaps all of them would have made it back home alive.

He was tempted to steal food, and succumbed to staying longer than was necessary. This set off a sequence of events that led to Poseidon seeking vengeance on Odysseus. This simple action caused chaos for him and delayed his return to Ithaca by many years. It also caused havoc for others, such as the Phaeacians. Later, Odysseus's homecoming was further delayed by his crews actions, who were warned not to kill Helios’s flock. However, they were tempted and killed the cow anyway. His crew's actions hurt Odysseus’s journey.

The education of Sparta varied in strengths and in weaknesses. The Sparta’s were first located in southern Greece called the Peloponnese. In this colony, the Sparta’s only vision was bloodthirsty war and violence. At the age of seven, a young boy is removed from his family and is expected, from his 8th to his 21st year, become educated to a brutal military-like discipline. Therefore, regarding the education in Sparta, the weaknesses outweighed the strength because the Spartan’s didn’t value family morals, the basics of reading and writing were taught, and the upbringing of Spartan boys was cruel and painful.

Odysseus starts to learn the importance of being modest through moments of despair. One can perceive a change in character midway through the journey, during his trip to Helio 's Island. Prior to the trip, the crew was deliberately told not harm Helios’s, cattle, for they will suffer the consequences. However, hunger grew in all their bodies leading them to eat the sun god’s cattle. In despair, Odysseus cries to Zeus explaining how he needs a god to save him from starvation. He reaches out to Zeus, “For hope that one might show me some way of salvation” (Homer 625) and in replication, the god, “closed [Odysseus’] eyes under slow drops of sleep” (Homer 625). Although the quotes display amnesty, they have a deeper meaning than finding salvation. In response to the hero’s call, the god puts Odysseus to slumber, while the crew indulges in the cattle. Moreover, Helios messages the thunder god to kill those who ate his cattle. It was this decree that made Zeus throw a bolt at Odysseus’ men, killing them all. Odysseus’ prayer shields him from Zeus ' bolt. The cry to Zeus conveys that the hero needs help from the gods and is unable to do everything himself, thus showing Zeus he is learning. This shows progression because in the beginning of the journey Odysseus disregards the gods and gloats about the obstacles he excels, whereas on Helios Island, the hero calls for help knowing he can not surpass famine/every challenge. This change in philosophy is classified under crisis, where the

Odysseus decides to pray to the gods to end their hunger, but to no avail. A character named Eurylochus then suggests that the men eat the cattle, explaining that they should not listen to Odysseus because, in his opinion famine is the worst form of death. “‘Comrades,’ he said, ‘You’ve gone through everything: listen to what I have to say. All deaths are hateful to us, mortal wretches, but famine is the most pitiful, the worst end that man can come to’” (863-867). After this, the men agree with their fellow shipmate. They eat the cattle while Odysseus is sleeping. Lord Helios finds out and tells Zeus. The men don't realize the consequences of their actions, and Zeus shocks their ship with his thunderbolt, nearly destroying the entire ship. Another example of “the pitfalls of temptation” is when birdlike-creatures try to lure Odysseus’ men away from their boat. Odysseus warns his men that the creatures are coming, but they do not know when they will come. When the creatures approach Odysseus and his men, they start to lure them

He has been dropped off back on Ithaca by the Phaeacians. On his journey back to Ithaca Odysseus has changed greatly. As the prophecy has said he has returned home on a strangers ship, without his crew, and as a broken man. Odysseus has gone to his loyal swine herder, Eumaeus. This passage that is spoken by Eumaeus represents two themes. The first is the theme of hospitality. Throughout The Odyssey, a common theme of hospitality has been shown. Eumaeus has welcomed the traveler into his home and has given him shelter and food despite the fact that he has little to offer compared to some of the other people that have hosted Odysseus. In this passage Eumaeus tells some of the other swine herders to get the largest hog and cut him up for their guest. This shows hospitality because Eumaeus wants the best for his guest no matter who the person is. This is shown to continue the theme in the whole book and it is universal because you should be kind and hospitable to everyone. The second theme in this passage includes foreshadowing. From this book, we get the sense that Eumaeus works really hard and ends up with little and the suitors do not work at all, but get everything done for them, and everything they need. Usually, when you think of working hard there is always a reward that comes into

Throughout history, feasting has been a way to bring people together, to celebrate, and to entertain. In Homer’s play, The Odyssey, food serves multiple purposes. The opulent banquet that Telemachus attends in Sparta with Menelaus displays the hospitality and wealth of the Spartan royalty, and provides key information about the whereabouts of Odysseus. While this instance of feasting displays how eating can bring people together to celebrate, overindulging in the Odyssey is also portrayed negatively. As the play progresses, readers learn that excessive and unnecessary eating is one of the reasons that Odysseus does not quickly return home to Penelope, and additionally, it is the reason that many of the crewmen do not return at all. The recurring motif of feasting portrays the harmful consequences of falling prey to temptation, which include the delayal of Odysseus return home and the death of his

The act of eating in odyssey represents various character traits. Apart from eating for survival, food has a symbolicc meaning in the world of odyssey since men are constantly eating and throughout the epic there are numerous civilized feasts, which are depicted as signs of hospitality. They enhance establishment of a bond between the guest and the host as well as providing pleasant welcoming procedures including sacrifices in honour of the gods (Dougherty 13). In spite of being used as a unifying celebration, the feasts in Odyssey bring more unusual forms of eating and become an arena for conflict and moral decay.