Odysseus Flaws In The Odyssey

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Throughout the Odyssey, Homer reveals the character's internal flaws through their actions. Shown through the protagonist, Odysseus. In the Odyssey the reader is constantly discovering more of Odysseus’ flaws indirectly, through his actions. Odysseus’ actions in the scene where he encounters Kirke especially show his flaws. In these encounters, Odysseus’ actions externally represent that Odysseus’ has internal flaws. Odysseus, viewed as Greek hero, therefore, there are no direct statements showing his flaws. On the other hand, by reading between the lines and analyzing Odysseus’ actions, reveal Odysseus is flawed in several ways.
Kirke’s attempt to turn Odysseus into a pig symbolizes Odysseus’ foolishness and weakness. In the text, “all swinish now their minds were still unchanged.” Kirke is a powerful sorceress whose known to turn men into animals to keep as her companions and pets. Kirke desires to cast a spell that will turn Odysseus and his crew into pigs. Out of all the animals Kirke chooses the pig, and it wasn’t an accident. Homer uses the symbol of a pig to show Odysseus is flawed. Kirke, turning the crew into pigs, is a revelation that Odysseus and his …show more content…
Immediately after Odysseus and Kirke have sex, Odysseus refers to Kirke as “the loveliest of all immortals came to counsel me…” Odysseus’ diction shows his admiration for Kirke which does not compare to what he thought of her before. Sex is a symbol in the Odyssey used to show how a man’s weakness and foolishness. Sex symbolizes, weakness and sex exposes a men. Sex exposes men by showing them losing their dignity by falling to temptation. Revealed through Odysseus’ diction, Kirke has Odysseus wrapped around her finger, showing his vulnerability. All in all, the way Odysseus’ views Kirke changes after they have sex which reveals weakness and

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