The Odyssey, by Homer

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In Homer’s prominent epic, The Odyssey, A male protagonist gifted with immense physical strength and power named Odyssey is traveling back home to Ithaca. Over the course of his 10 year journey across vast and treacherous waters, his physical attributes are not enough to help him reach home. He faces many obstacles that he must overcome. The most important obstacle is temptation. His journey home is full of temptation and will challenge his physical and mental capabilities that he must learn to control, and overcome, so that he can find his way back home.

The first example of these transgressions in Odysseus’ journey takes place on the island of the Lotus-eaters. The fruit of the lotus is a tasty and tricky fruit that can tangle the mind so that one forgets about home. While Odysseus’ crew devours the fruit, he chooses not to partake. The discipline that Odysseus shows in this book is unlike that of the rest of the epic. This demonstrates that Odysseus does possess self-control, and that his focus is on reaching home. Although he proves he has the determination to resist temptation, he later falters in the epic. His submission to temptation is a flaw he needs to learn how to control. Odysseus proves that he has the power to overcome; he just doesn’t always have the self-control to resist.

Odysseus is tempted again when he encounters the Cyclops, Polyphemos. Unlike his encounter with the lotus-eaters, he displays a more reckless side when he couldn’t resist screaming out his name in pride after escaping the Cyclops:

“…So they begged,

but they could not bring my fighting spirit round.

I called back with another burst of anger, ”Cyclops—

if any man on the face of the earth should ask you

who blinded you, shamed you so—sa...

... middle of paper ...

...e to strike came, Odysseus, combined with his numerous physical strengths, used his self-control to do what was right. This rediscovered sense of control is something that Odysseus proved he had early on, he just didn’t realize it.

Odysseus, the epic hero blessed with great strength, intellect, and wit demonstrated that he was recognizable through his human error and flaw. Throughout the epic, Odysseus was well aware of his faults and did what was possible to control himself. His journey was a torment of temptations which he needed to overcome and each one of them challenged him to stay true and increased his will. While some of the temptations were just obstacles and others controlled his destiny, each one defined Odysseus. Odysseus evolved from a flawed man into an epic hero, overcoming his submission to temptation and receiving the ultimate glory he deserved.

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