Disobedience In Odysseus's Confessions

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In Confessions, Augustine faces the aspect of disobedience to the problem of sin. Throughout his life, he was a ‘slave to sin’, even when he desperately wants to escape it. In Book VI, Section iv of Confessions, he recounts the time as an adolescent, when he stole pears from the neighbor’s tree with his friends. This passage is used to portray an aspect of Augustine’s homecoming, journey of faith. Also seen in the Odyssey, the crew men 's disobedience hinders Odysseus’ homecoming. Augustine and Homer both use this idea of ‘homecoming’, where Odysseus is being able to go back to his homeland, his family, and his kingdom, and Augustine seeking the truth with the journey of faith.
Augustine states that his sin is an effect of moral life, creating …show more content…

Odysseus dealt with his disobedient crew. After an already difficult journey, Odysseus and his crew arrive at Aeolis, where the king Aeolus offers him wind in a bag, which had enough wind to send Odysseus’s ship back home to Ithaca. While Odysseus sleeps, the crew conspires, believing that the bag contained treasure, “Aeolus has lavished these gifts upon him. Let 's have a quick look, and see what’s here, How much gold and silver is stuffed in this bag” (Homer p.142). The crewmen opened the bag and the winds rushed out, taking them back to Aeolis’ island. Due to their curiosity and disobedience, the crew adds years to the journey. But the crew does not learn from the mistake, and the next time they disobey, the consequences were fatal. When they arrive one Helios’ island, Odysseus forbids the crew to consume the cattle of the Sun God. “But swear me a great oath, every last man: If we find any cattle or sheep on this island, no man will kill a single cow or sheep. In his recklessness, but will be content to eat the food immortal Circe gave us” (Homer p.186-87). But while Odysseus is gone, the crew disregards his instructions and feasts one Helios’ cattle. Their consequence was Zeus destroying the ship and the crew, leaving only Odysseus alive. Odysseus wishes to go home, but he cannot control his men’s ignorance. The crew’s disobedience prevents Odysseus from achieving his

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