The Consequences Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

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An impudent man will eventually face the consequences for his actions; this is the way Odysseus must live in The Odyssey. In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer tells the story of Odysseus as he journeys home from the Trojan War. The poem begins with Hermes forcing Calypso to free Odysseus from his seven years in captivity; the nymph Calypso seduces Odysseus to stay on the island. After Odysseus journeys out to sea, his ship is wrecked due to Poseidon, the god of the sea, being angered at Odysseus for his actions. Odysseus washes up on the shore of the Phaeacians, who treat Odysseus with great respect; Odysseus tells the story of how he ended up on the unknown island and the story flashes back. Odysseus is one of the greatest warriors man has …show more content…

Odysseus and his men came upon an island, where they chose to find shelter from the impending storm. In the cave, Odysseus’ men knew there was a barbaric creature lurking within the vicinities of the cave. Frightened, his men insisted on leaving; yet Odysseus, full of impudence, decided to tease the Cyclops for the sake of pride. “...makes him insist on waiting for the barbaric giant” (prologue for The Cyclops). If it were not for Odysseus’ impudence, the men would have convinced Odysseus to leave the cave and all would have been well. Instead, Odysseus was forced to pay the price of the lives of over half his men. Odysseus wished to be clever instead of witful. Not only did he lose his men, but Odysseus also angered Poseidon, father of Polyphemus, the cyclops. While journeying home, Poseidon caused a storm that ravished across the earth, made for none of Odysseus’ men to survive. Not only did Odysseus anger Polyphemus, but the goddess Circe as well. “...persuades Odysseus to stay with her”(epilogue of The Enchantress Circe). Although Odysseus could have freed his men easily from the powers of Circe, his impudence and cause to be right forced him and his men to be trapped in the home of Circe. Odysseus is forced to pay the consequence of venturing to the land of the dead. Had he simply slain Circe, they would have encountered no problems; Odysseus especially.

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