What Is Odysseus's Glory

Words: 2018
Pages: 9

Book 8
1. The "pride" for glory won by "hands and feet" is an example of the Greek’s strive for excellence and shows their competitiveness. Up until Book 8, Odysseus has exemplified the Greek hero’s goal of personal glory, because he was the King of Ithaca and because he designed the Trojan Horse, which led the Greeks to victory in the Trojan Way. At the games, he shows a slightly different type of glory because others believed that he was not athletic, but he wanted to prove that he was talented to the people. For this reason, the glory that he showed during the games was meant to show off, whereas during the Trojan War, he wanted to support the common cause.
2. Demodocus’ song explains Aphrodite’s affair with Ares, while she was married to
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Circe tempts Odysseus and his comrades to not return home by showing hospitality and by being a beautiful goddess. Odysseus and his comrades could not resist the meal that Circe gave them. This meal caused them to become swine and stay on her island for one year. The swine symbolize that they have changed into different life forms and that they are not alive anymore, because they have been forgotten since they did not return home.
3. I feel pity toward Odysseus for remaining a year in luxury and idleness, because they would not be able to become stronger and because they would be forgotten by their friends and family. This inaction is similar to the Christian concept of the sloth, because Odysseus does not want return home, because he is too lazy to live a life with occasional struggles. This deadly sin has been recognized by most Western cultures and religions.
4. When Odysseus asked Circe if she could help him return home, she said that he had to go to the underworld to see Tiresias in order to find his way home. This is because Persephone had given Tiresias wisdom and “everlasting vision”, which was necessary for Odysseus to return home. Also, Odysseus could reflect on his journey and what he had learned with Tiresias before he returned