Summary Of Jealousy In Homers Odyssey - 856 Words

The Odyssey by Homer, is an epic poem that takes its readers on an adventure with the epic hero, Odysseus. It takes Odysseus ten years to return to his home, Ithaka, after the Trojan War. He faces many mystical monsters and the rage of the gods. A lot of problems that he faces come from the results of temptation. Giving into temptation leads to setbacks and consequences, just like how in The Odyssey the bag of wind, the cattle of Helios, and the sirens prevented Odysseus and his men from returning home. Homer wants his readers to know the outcomes that come with temptation by analyzing these three tragedies. Jealousy is a major factor of the urges that come from temptation. Odysseus’ men were driven by temptation to open the bag of what†¦show more content†¦On the island of Thrinakia, the men of Odysseus were persuaded and tempted by Eurylokhos to eat the cattle of Helios. Even after Odysseus warned them not to and they swore on an oath that they wouldnt their hunger drove and tempted them. Eurylokhos’ persuasive speech urged the men to eat the meat when he said, â€Å"‘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 a man can come to. Will you fight it? Come, we’ll cut out the noblest of these cattle for sacrifice to the gods who own the sky; and once at home, in the old country of Ithaka, if ever that day comes- we’ll build a costly temple and adorn it with every beauty for the Lord of Noon’† (page 221, lines 437-448). He almost shames the men into eating the meat when he tells them that if their hunger killed them it would be an ignominy of a death. That being said, the temptation led them into eating the meat and, as a consequence, Odysseus men were sucked into the whirlpool of Charybdis. This is yet another example of how temptation leads to setbac ks and consequences, just like the Sirens tried luring Odysseus in to kill him. Persuasive people often tempt people into giving into their urges, which encourages their longing for something. Emotions and feelings are very tempting to give into. The Sirens are beautiful women who lure sailing men in by tempting them with this voice. They