English 212 - a Trail of Lust Vs Love

Baroly Diaz

Professor Norman Loftis

English 212

11/5/16

A Trail Of Lust Vs Love

Lust is defined as an extensive feeling of desire over something or someone similar or equal to that of a strong sexual desire. Odysseus shows how Odysseus overcame lust was simple for him. In the Odyssey by Homer this is true. In the Odyssey it revealed that Odysseus was in many positions where he put love over lust. There are several examples that demonstrate this. The most important one are wife, son, and his people.

One example where Odysseus put love over lust was when he was put his love of his wife over the temptations of the goddess. As Odysseus was rescue by the Goddess Calypso who has taken care of him and promised him immortality he declines the offer due to wanting to return back home to his wife. Though Odysseus sleeps with Calypso, he weeps for his wife. However, Calypso who falls in love with Odysseus has forced him into the role of a husband but he remains loyal at heart to his wife. Odysseus chooses mortal suffering and imperfection over divine tranquility. In addition, Odysseus displays his loyalty in his constant battle to get home to his wife. The entire journey consists of his reaction to one confrontation after another, including marriage offers and the promise of immortality from those who meet and fall in love with him. Odysseus shows an example of overcoming lust when him and his crew sails pass the Sirens’ Island. Odysseus commands his crew to keep him bound to the ships mass and to plug their ears to sail pass the Siren’s Island without being overcome by the supernatural lust that bears over them when they hear the sound the of the Sirens’ singing voice. This was a torment to his temptations.

Another example where Odysseus put love over lust is when he wants to reconnect and see his son after so many years. When the Trojan War began Odysseus try to avoid it at all cost due to an Oracle had told him that if he participated in the war he would be 20 years away from his home. So, Odysseus pretended to So Odysseus pretended to be mad and sowed his fields with salt instead of seeds. When officials came to fetch him, they suspected a trick so they placed the infant Telemachus in the field. Odysseus stopped the plow to avoid killing the child. This shows that he put his love of his son over his desire to stay home. As the leap of absent of Odysseus to his son Telemachus, Telemachus learns to stand up for himself and become and hero like his father. In addition, Odysseus only hope to return to his beloved family where he has the faith that his son grew up to be just like him in the sense to protect his people and most importantly his mother Penelope. When Odysseus return home as a beggar, he first shows his true self to Telemachus instead of Penelope who he cried more to. Showing that although he didn't show much sorrow towards his son like he did to Penelope; revealing first to Telemachus shows his eager to see him after so many years and his leap of absent in seeing grow up.
        Lastly, another Example where Odysseus puts love over lust is when his whole journey goal was to return home to his town people. As Odysseus desire to return home because of his wife and son he also, desire to return home to be the king we was once. When Odysseus was being capture by Calypso where she warns him that if he knew the suffering ahead of him, he would stay with her and be her immortal husband; after all, she cannot be less fair than his wife. Odysseus replies that though Penelope is not as fair as Calypso, he still yearns for home. Odysseus was always a hero to his people and the toughest among all. As he went on to the fight in the Trojan War and rescue back Helen he gains more fame and glory along the way, he is always driven by his quest for home, his kingdom. His motivation stayed true throughout the story, even though he does overcome with difficulty along the way, he is always seeking home where he will be ruling his people once again. Among the way his town people was not the only people he was a hero to. With the help of his crew man along their journey to return home together he kept rescuing them. After visiting the land of the Lotus-Eaters, arrived at the country of the Cyclops; he save his men, by blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus where he pull the big rock so they can save themselves and continue their journey. He also, forcibly any men who were around the lotus plants back to their ships. Into he reaches back home where he and his son Telemachus fight against the suitors and rescue his kingdom again to rule his people and accomplish his goal to reach his goal at all cost.