Even Odysseus is the hero of the poem he is not wi Essays

Even Odysseus is the hero of the poem he is not without flaws and weaknesses. Odysseus and his men have faced adversity throughout their journey to get back home. Part of the reason for the difficult journey is that Odysseus's curiosity has put him and his men in horrible situations. Odysseus's curiosity is one of his flaws because it leads him to make horrible decisions that not only prolong his journey, but also endangers the lives of him and his men. Odysseus's says, "I want to see if they are uncivilized savages, or a hospitable and humane race." This quote is showing how Odysseus wants to judge for himself how the cyclops are as people. He acknowledges the risk by using the word "uncivilized". He knows that these creatures may or may not have the same customs as humans, but his curiosity leads him to see for himself. As he is telling the story he says that," my men begged me to let them first steal some cheeses, and make off with them to the ship/ they would then return, drive down the lambs and kids, put them on board and sail away with them. It would have been indeed better if we had done so but I would not listen to them, for I wanted to see the owner himself, in the hope that he might give me a present." Odysseus see's the immense creature and even though he knows if the cyclops is not hospitable, it can easily overpower and destroy him and all of his men, but he takes the risk because the idea of the cyclops gifting him a present justifies the risk of approaching the cyclops. Odysseus and his men approach the cyclops and when the cyclops speaks, they instantly know that they have made the wrong decision. "The cruel wretch vouchsafed me not one word of answer, but witha sudden clutch he gripped up two of my men at once and dashed them downupon the ground as though they had been puppies. Their brains were shedupon the ground, and the earth was wet with their blood. Then he tore themlimb from limb and supped upon them. He gobbled them up like a lion inthe wilderness, flesh, bones, marrow, and entrails, without leaving anythinguneaten. The cyclops viciously kills two of Odysseus's men. Odysseus instantly regrets the decision to approach the beast. Even though Odysseus ends up killing the cyclops, the whole situation could have easily been avoidable had Odysseus would not have acted so recklessly. Odysseus curiosity directly leads to two of his men losing their lives. Odysseus is a mighty warrior, but throughout the epic poem the readers sees that he still has flaws. Curiosity can be a good virtue, but in Odysseus situation it was his curiosity that directly led to the death of his men. His curiosity led him to take a chance and gamble. Even though Odysseus getting away from the island unharmed, the whole situation could have easily been avoided altogether.