Males in Odyssey

A detailed Summary of Males in Odyssey


Throughout the epic poem, the Odyssey, Odysseus and his men encounter many dangerous threats to their nosdos, or homecoming. The Homeric Ethic of a series of adventures provides Odysseus with opportunities to increase his heroism, by conquering his inhibitors. By being an epic hero his character has the ability to be a role model for men to be clever and strong.

One of these great opportunities to heighten his heroism occurs when Odysseus and his men wash up on the shore of Aiaia, island of Circe, an immortal enchantress who takes pride in attracting men and transforming them into animals. The cultural contact between Odysseus and his men with the thelkterion, or sexual magic, and polypharmaca, or potion making, powers of Circe paint a picture of the culture of ancient Greek society. In the episode with Circe, the men's approach to Circe contrasted with Odysseus's approach with her display a guide for men to dominate dangerous, troublesome woman, as Odysseus transforms this villain to an ally.

The immediate cultural contact between Odysseus's men with Circe foreshadows danger and serves as a warning to men to not be fooled by charming women. When the men listen to her "singing in a sweet voice" (221), and admire her "glorious


hair"(220) and "great design on a loom"(222), they are immediately charmed and absorbed into her world. The men intend to indulge in pleasure as "all their innocence entered" (231). From this act the reader can be conclude that these men are naive and gullible. They do not suspect this woman as a threat because she is beautiful, and she also has domestic responsibility, as she weaves on a loom. The naivete of the men is literal when Circe transforms them from pigs back into men, and they appear "younger than they had been" (395). Although the men should have recognized it, Circe is unlike other traditional Greek women as she is not attached to a man and mysteriously keeps lions and wolves as pets.

The beasts wandering about Circe's home are symbolic of tamed men. Homer contradicts the standard of women's roles as servile and obedient as he presents us with Circe, a beautiful and delicate woman, who has managed to tame and enchant violent "lions and wolves of the mountains"(212). Not only do these animals behave when around Circe, the animals also "came thronging about them [the men], waving their long tails and fawning, in a way that dogs go fawning about their master." (215-16) Similarly, Homer makes these fearless men, who have survived the bloody battles of Troy, acquiesce to Circe's

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 875
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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