Who Is Responsible For Odysseus's Downfall

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Christian tradition states that there are seven cardinal sins that are present in everyone to some degree. These seven vices include greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth, and pride. Human weakness is the innate nature of humanity that causes one to fall into the temptation of these immoralities. In The Odyssey, the characters of the poem are not exempt from the temptations of human weakness. The great hero Odysseus is even subject to these vices, his main flaw being pride.
Homer makes a point of portraying Odysseus’ pride throughout the story, and how pride brings mortal men to ruin. After Odysseus and his men escape from the cave of Polyphemos, Odysseus yells, “Cyclops, if any other mortal man asks about the disgraceful blinding of your eye, you can say that Odysseus, sacker of cities, did it, son of Laertes, whose home is in Ithaca.” (Book 9 Lines 484-488). Poseidon is made …show more content…

Before leaving the island of Ithaca, Odysseus is the overly self confident king of his homeland. As he goes on his journey, Odysseus changes throughout the whole process, however his most prominent transformation occurs when during his homecoming disguised as an old beggar. While Odysseus is present at the suitor’s feast, Antinoos, “spoke, and picking up the footstool he threw it hitting Odysseus at the base of his right shoulder, where it joins the back. But Odysseus stood firm like a rock, Antinoos’ cowardly blow did not stagger him. Odysseus shook his head in silence, pondering evil deep in his heart.” (Book 17 Lines 424-428). The cruelty of the Antinoos causes Odysseus to learn humility and restraint. Odysseus has truly changed. Before his journey he would have fought back both physically and verbally, but now he says and does nothing when he is insulted and abused in his own home. This transformation and overcoming of Odysseus’ pride would not have been possible without the

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