Odyssey Theme Assignment

Theme: The overall theme of the story the odyssey is to listen to your elders and take their advice and orders to heart.

PIE 1:
         In book 12, The Cattle of the Sun, Odysseus and his crew arrive on the island of the sun. Earlier in the story Circe had told Odysseus to tell his men not to eat the Cattle of the Sun, but the hungry men did not listen to their leader and decided to eat the cattle anyway. "Then in the same breath Zeus hit the craft with a lightning bolt...shipmates pitched out of her, cutting short their journey home forever." (Pg. 284 Ln.447-552). Zeus killed the sailors because they ate the Cattle of the Sun, this connects to the theme because if they would have listened to Odysseus and not ate the cattle, they could've lived. Even when something seems like it won't matter, if someone older says not to do it, don't or you will end up like Odysseus' crew.

PIE 2:
         In book 16, Father and Son, Odysseus and Telemachos are plotting their massacre of the suitors and Telemachos does not agree with his fathers ideas right away. But he is willing to see what his dad has to say, and its a good thing he was. Odysseus says, "If we pit ourselves against all these in a house, i fear the revenge you come back home to take will recoil on our heads- a bitter, deadly blow." (Pg. 346 Ln. 284-286). This connects to the theme because when Odysseus explains why they can't attack right away his son realizes that going in for the kill right away would have been a bad idea and he respects his dad's wisdom in the situation. Therefor  listening to your elders helped save Telemachos' life.

PIE 3:
         In book 22, Slaughter in the Hall, Odyesseus is still disguised as an old man and has just strung the bow. Odysseus and Telemachos are in the hall with the suitors and suddenly Odysseus kills Antinous with the bow and reveals himself to the suitors. Eurymachos tries to reason with Odysseus and asks him what they did wrong and if they can live. Odysseus replies, "No Eurymachos! Not if you pay me all your father's weath...not even then would i stay my hands from slaughter till all you suitors pay for your crimes." (Pg. 441 Ln. 66-68). Odyesseus will not budge on killing the suitors because while he was gone they took advantage of his palace and did not listen to Odysseus' orders. This is a great example of the bad things that can happen when people don't listen their elders rules.