The Multiple Monsters In Homer's Odyssey

In Homer’s Odyssey, the multiple monsters Odysseus encounters while on his journey from Troy are elements of the poem that metaphorically represent different obstacles that he and his men have to overcome to reach Greece. In their encounter with the Sirênês in particular, these “monsters” symbolize the temptation of staying anchored in the past instead of living and focusing in the present moment, for they attempt to hamper the men’s return back home (present) by trapping them in the deep waters of the sea (the past). The main factor of the Sirens’ strategy that stands out in the text is their song, as it illustrates the lure of dwelling in the past memories of the battle of Troy. I will therefore demonstrate the significance of these monsters

The main tactic in the Sirens words to convince the men to forget their destination is deception, as they induce them into believing that if they stay listening to the history of Troy, and thus their recent past, they will find joy: “oh turn your bows (…) moor and be merry” (line 223) and will grow wiser: “As from our song of Troy Greybeard and rower-boy Goeth more learned” (line234-36). The antithesis of “Greybeard”, symbolizing men of old age, and “Rower-boy” referring to young sailors, is an effective mechanism from the Sirens to persuade Odysseus and his men to stay in their past experiences, as it conveys the idea that all men, regardless of age, who have acquiesced in dwelling in the meaning of their song, have found happiness and knowledge. Hence, the image of the Sirens swaying Odysseus and his men portrays these monsters as the embodiment of temptation, for they attempt to lure the men into sinning in curiosity about recounting past events, that they must interrupt their present goal when doing so. Cohen argues that “the monster exists to call horrid attention to the borders that cannot - must not - be crossed” . In this sense, the Sirens in the Odyssey resemble Cohen’s conception of monsters, for the “border” that shouldn’t be crossed and that these monsters call attention to, is essentially the temptation of curiosity and idleness: an immoral transgression that essentially hampers their true