Some modern scholars have argued that Odysseus is too brutal with the Cyclops, Polyphemus, and that he earns the 'wrath of Poseidon". Do you think that this interpretation has any justification within the text of Homer"s Odyssey?.

             Within the text of Homer"s Odyssey it is possible to find justification that Odysseus whilst, admittedly, displaying too much curiousity and arrogance, was not too brutal with Polyphemus. Rather the text would tend to indicate the Cyclops was justly punished for his own part in the tale. Nevertheless, Odysseus was punished. He earns the 'wrath of Poseidon" in the same way that almost any man would earn a father"s wrath if he deliberately blinded the son. .

             Odysseus is far too curious and arrogant. He has no need to visit the land of the Cyclopes, apart from finding out "whether they are lawless or nice". He and his companions are well fed and well provisioned and Odysseus knows how desperately keen everyone is to get home. Nevertheless, he is most eager to see these monstrous men he has heard about and his curiousity gets the better of him. It has been suggested that his heroic "metis" gives him the foresight to take a skin of strong wine with him. .

             In this interesting scene, Odysseus shows various undesirable qualities (although arrogance and pride were probably considered perfectly acceptable in 'heroes") as well as several heroic qualities. It is his heroic qualities: his metis, his cunning, his endurance, which eventually get him out of his predicament alive. Polyphemus, less civilized and unfamiliar in dealing with any sort of social situation, is shown as a monster with no 'human" conscience, and this representation would tend to indicate that Homer sees a need for Odysseus to triumph over the Cyclops.

             Odysseus makes several mistakes: he enters Polyphemus" home and partakes of the Cyclops" food without an invitation, and when he and his companions are frightened at Polyphemus" return, they hide in the shadows until they are noticed.