Temptation in the Odyssey is one of the themes in the epic poem. It was exhibited repeatedly throughout the poem. On many occasions, the concept of temptation that comes along Odysseus’ way has caused his journey to becoming full of misfortune. Let us begin to discover how temptation was demonstrated in the Odyssey and what other themes underlie this epic poem.
Odysseus Temptation in The Odyssey
Most of their misadventures of Odysseus were caused by the temptation that he and his men encountered on their journey back home. Submitting to temptation or recklessness would either distract them from their travel or anger the gods. Read on and see some instances in which Odysseus and the members of his crew yielded to temptation and faced the consequences along the way.
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Temptations on Different Locations
The temptation was considered one of the main themes as it transpired numerous times in situations in which Odysseus and his men struggled with temptation that caused delays in his return to his home in Ithaca.
There were different times and locations when different characters of the epic poem faced temptations of numerous kinds: whether it was through food, getting out of despair, or even the desire for adultery.
On the Island of the Lotus-eaters
When Zeus sent a storm, Odysseus and his crew were challenged in the ocean for nine days. This event forced them to dock on the nearest island, the island of the Lotus-eaters called Djerba. This small island was inhabited by lotophages or harmless humans who only consume the fruits of the lotus plant, thus the name of their island.
Odysseus ordered his men to explore and greet the lotus-eaters. However, several hours have passed and they have not returned yet.
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To his dismay, Odysseus himself marched to follow his men and saw them in their intoxicated state as the lotus-eaters offered lotus fruits to them. They became addicted and forgot their desire to go home, only wanting to remain with the lotus-eaters forever.
Odysseus dragged them back to their ship and chained them as they refused to leave and wanted to eat more fruits from the lotus plant. They continued to set sail after yielding to the temptation posed by the lotus fruits.
On Helios’ Island
After facing the terrors of Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus and his crew’s next destination was on the island of Thrinacia of the sun god Helios. Odysseus wanted to avoid this place, but Eurylochus talked him into resting there. They were given instructions not to do any harm to the sacred golden cattle of the sun god. As they stayed there, however, the provisions they brought had run out. This was when the temptation on Odysseus’ crew arose.
Odysseus decided to pray in the temple and left his crew with a warning not to touch the animals. However, while he was away, Eurylochus convinced the others to kill the cattle one by one, eat their meat, and offer the best one to the gods as a repayment for their sins. When Odysseus returned, he found out what his crew did and immediately gathered them into the ships and set sail into the storm.
The sun god Helios was offended and angered at the same time for their disrespectful manner. He threatened that he would drag the sun down in the underworld if Zeus would not punish their actions. So, as they were sailing, Zeus struck them with a thunderbolt, which destroyed all of their ships and killed every single member of the crew but Odysseus.
On the Island of Ogygia
The beautiful nymph Calypso imprisoned Odysseus as he washed ashore on the island where the nymph resided. She fell in love with Odysseus and became a constant temptation to the hero.
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She offered him immortality in return for marrying her and continued to hope and entice him with her offerings for seven years while he was detained on the island. If not for the goddess Athena’s intervention, Calypso would not have released Odysseus.
Why Is Temptation Crucial for the Life Journey of Odysseus?
In Homer’s Odyssey, the temptation in the Odyssey was crucial for the life journey of Odysseus as it was used to test his patience, endurance, and dignity as a leader to his crew. These served as challenges to prove how strong and intelligent he was to handle the situation as he and his companions give in to temptations.
FAQ
What Is the Ruling Theme of the Odyssey?
The ruling themes of the Odyssey are hospitality, temptation, loyalty. Numerous scholars dating back the ancient times up to the modern times have scrutinized and studied the themes in the Odyssey. They have considered the following as they were the recurring themes in the poem while showing the crucial events in the life of Odysseus.
Greek hospitality was a dominant part of the poem and was an essential part as the epic is a story of travels. Hospitality, referred to as “guest-friendship,” was a social ritual practiced by Greeks where people were expected to welcome visitors. This was the reason why, even though Odysseus and the members of his crew were tossed from various islands, inhabitants hosted them and provided them with food, water, and shelter.
Loyalty was another themes and was also considered one of the main motifs in the Odyssey. The best example of loyalty was the demonstration of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, who waited for his return for 20 years.
Conclusion
Temptation in the Odyssey was one of the reasons why Odysseus’ journey home was full of misfortune. The more he yielded to temptation, the more his journey was delayed.
- Odysseus was tempted many times in the story, which resulted in the derailing of his journey.
- The temptation was crucial to the life of Odysseus because it was used to test his abilities and potential, whether it was through surviving or through obstacles.
- Temptation is considered to be the theme that tested Odysseus the most because it was a barrier on his road back home.
Temptations played a vital role in the epic as they made the story more interesting and something from which we can acquire lessons, whether it was through being stuck on an island, or being an adulterer, he didn’t lose his focus and aimed to go back to his original island.
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