Monsters In The Odyssey

Many things can be called monsters throughout life and The Odyssey, but few things are true monsters. Most ‘monsters’ are merely representations of what humans could become by possessing extremes of characteristics such as greed, impatience, desire, and anger. In books 9-12 of The Odyssey, Odysseus encounters many ‘monsters’ along his journey. The monsters all deter him or attempt to deter him, but in the end he is able to come out alive and well. None of the monsters in books 9-12 of The Odyssey are actual monsters. Instead they are simply human-like beings that represent human qualities, that, when are put to the extreme, can be scary and dangerous. This explains why all these beings are feared by characters in the book, because they are

afraid of how they could become them, if they let certain traits dominate their personality.

In books 9 and 10, Odysseus interacts with many ‘monsters’ that attempt to stop him on his journey. The Cyclops and Polyphemus represent the human quality of greed and selfishness. Polyphemus wanted Odysseus and his crew for himself, as a result, he trapped them in his cave. In book 9, Homer writes “...ripping them limb from limb to fix his meal” in this quote he is describing how the Cyclops was eating Odysseus’ men (9.328). Also in book 10, Aeolus who although he can be considered a ‘monster,’ it can be said that he is merely a reflection of superstition and generosity. This is because he was generous to Odysseus, when he helped him the first time, and Zeus, which is how he became king of the winds. When Odysseus came back Aeolus said, “‘away from my island-fast-most cursed man alive! It’s a crime to host a man or speed him on his way when the blessed deathless gods despise him so’”

(10.79-81) Aeolus, is worried that the gods sent Odysseus back because he is “cursed” and that it would be a “crime” to help him, because of his superstition. However, he lacked the understanding to see that it was the foolishness and mistrust of Odysseus’ crew that sent him back. In addition to the Cyclops, Circe can be seen as another figure of selfishness and greed. This is because, she turned Odysseus’ men into swine after luring them in with their greed. Circe didn’t care about the men and wanted them for herself showing that she is selfish and only cares for herself and not about how men’s families and friends would be devastated if they didn’t return. These monsters aren't really monsters, they are purely extreme representations of some possibly dangerous qualities of humans, which is what makes them scary and feared by humans.
In addition to the monsters in books 9 and 10, in book 11 there are other ‘monsters,’in the form of ghosts, in book 11 that are encountered by Odysseus. When Odysseus performed Circe’s ceremony in the Underworld, many ghosts appear to talk to him. Seeing all of these ghosts brought up old memories and the hardships he faced. One of which was his mother, Anticlea, and Odysseus reacts by, “...[breaking] into tears to see her here, but filled with pity even throbbing with grief…” (11.98-99). They can represent regret and pity because he is filled with sorrow about their deaths. They could also represent sadness and mourning because Odysseus became very melancholy after talking with them. The ‘monsters’ in book 11 were solely supernatural ghosts that invoked sadness in Odysseus, not monsters.
In book 12, Odysseus confronts Scylla, the Sirens, Charybdis and Zeus.

All of them try to deter him and his crew by attacking Odysseus and luring his crew into them. The Sirens’ songs could be heard, “...across the air and the [sailors’ hearts] throbbed to listen longer” (12.208-211). The Sirens represent desire and procrastination because they tried to lure sailors in and hinder them on their journeys. Scylla had six heads and a surplus of other body parts. Scylla was trying to capture and kill Odysseus and his men while they were passing. Scylla could be another representation of rage, desire, and greed because of her greed and desire to have the crew. Charybdis was a huge being with an immensely large mouth that could suck up a ton of water and ships and would spit them out into the air. Odysseus says, “...dreaded Charybdis…[and] her horrible whirlpool gulping the surge down…” (12.254-257). This shows how Charybdis was willing to do anything to eat, thus she could be a representation of selfishness for eating of these sailors, and determination because she kept trying and trying to eat them. All of these monsters are clear representations of human qualities that stop people from continuing their lives and journeys.
All of the monsters seen throughout books 9-12 of The Odyssey can be seen as a reflection of the most dreaded qualities of humans. Although they are very extreme and supernatural they can still be identified as embodiments of characteristics such as, greed, anger,

desire, sadness, procrastination, and more. These books convey the importance of remembering that it is not good to possess an extreme of any quality and this can turn people into a sort of ‘monster.’