“They tried, but didn’t persuade my hero’s heart–
I was really angry–and I called back to him:
‘Cyclops, if anyone, any mortal man,
Asks you how you got your eye put out,
Tell him that Odysseus the marauder did it,
Son of Laertes, whose home is on Ithaca.”
At this point in the text Odysseus is retelling the stories of his journey to King Alcinous and the Phaeacians. This is in response to Alcinous finally asking for Odysseus’ identity. Odysseus decides to share the stories of his arduous sailings after the Trojan war when Odysseus and his men leave Troy. These lines of excessive pride are Odysseus’ response to his men begging him not to provoke the Cyclops after they had just stabbed the Cyclops’ eyes and escaped the cave devised in Odysseus’ cunning plan. Odysseus uses the phrase, “didn’t persuade my hero’s heart…” to portray his men’s inability to convince him. This line is key in revealing the dimension to Odysseus’ character. Homer makes it evident that being a hero is something intrinsic within Odysseus’ nature. It is so meaningful to him that Odysseus refers to his heart, an organ absolutely necessary for survival, when discussing the hero within him. Odysseus’ heart exudes this heroism quality that is so necessary for his own survival; thus, comes the dire need to brush his own ego and maintain this standard of superiority above his enemy/victim regardless of whether the audience watching, Odysseus’ men, care. Anger fueled his need to answer back the Cyclops, illustrating how he felt disrespected and needed to further provoke Polyphemus. Furthermore, this dire need to carress his own ego and reputation is illustrated in Odysseus’ call to the Cyclops to tell, “anyone, any mortal man” who made the Cyclops blind. Odysseus could have let the Cyclops continue to think it was a wise, “Noman” who blinded him; however, he decides to make it very clear that it was, “Odysseus the mauder…” against the likely chance of having to succumb to the forceful wrath of the Cyclops. There is an underlying irony that exist here since the strategic and cunning Odysseus makes a foolish mistake. Here Odysseus also refers to himself as a raider, a conqueror which again, places himself at an elevated standard. He then states his paternal line which pays homage to the imperative culture Homer displays throughout The Odyssey, intrinsic of the motif of pride.
This passage is significant in not only conveying Odysseus’ hubris, the significance of heroism, and the fearlessness he exudes; but, also reflecting how Odysseus’ immense pride is at fault for much of the obstacles he faces on his journey home. Odysseus revealing his identity can only do more harm than the satisfaction of honor here. Since the Cyclops Polyphemus is son of mystic God Poseidon, supernatural revenge on Odysseus is guaranteed. This is solidified in Polyphemus’ foreshadowing revelation of a prophecy that states how Odysseus will have an arduous journey, and when he eventually makes it back to Ithaca– he will find a chaotic home. This passage embodies some vulnerability from Odysseus that is not seen much else prior in the text. Honor and pride is a significator of Odysseus throughout the text, as well as other loved leaders and gods; yet, his unwise hubris here becomes the brink of his downfall.
Your analysis has a deep insight into Odyssey’s characteristics that gives me much inspiration to consider the identity of leaders and gods in Greek mythology. Thank you very much!
When coming across the lines you select, I am also confused that why Odyssey intentionally provokes Polyphemus, which leads to his following arduous journey, for he could have left the Cyclopes island directly without any extra hardships. Based on his prior experience, Odyssey is cunning and concerned about his comrades. But sometimes, his behaviors and words reveal the recklessness and impulse in his personality. Like this time, Odyssey seems to have neglected the serious consequence what he calls back to Polyphemus can bring to his crew. Now I realize that as you mention, at this time Odyssey regards himself as a raider, which is more superior. He is unwilling to place himself in a situation of a victim or runway. The inherent “honor and pride” makes Odyssey refuse to succumb to others and become the passive party. As a godlike leader, Odyssey hopes he can always display an ingenious and valorous figure in front of his comrades.
As you point out, the word “heart” indicates that it is intrinsic for Odyssey to be a hero. “Every coin has two sides.” To be a hero can either make benefits to others or give rise to misery. The “proud and honor” of a hero generates the recklessness, impulse and stubbornness, which, on my part, could be thought as the vulnerability of Odyssey.
Hi Rosina,
This response is thoughtful and complex. One thing you point out–rightly, I think–is that the characteristic sense of pride that spurs Odysseus to respond to the Cyclops in this way is BOTH what makes him heroic AND what leads to horrible problems (in this case, nearly dying!).
As a reader, I wanted to hear more about the link between pride (what you are here terming ‘ego’) and anger–both in this passage, and in the work as a whole. Does anger have uses? Why is it so often public, outward-facing? Is Odysseus here performing something for his men, as well as taunting the Cyclops–is there perhaps something calculated about his speech? As you note, it is almost FORMAL, including the standard elements of self-declaration: naming his father, his place of origin, etc.
This analysis made me think about his response to Euryalus, in book 8–another moment when anger leads to action. Worth considering together, perhaps, if this is a topic you want to keep pursuing!
Strong work overall.
Prof Kolb