Thither we came and beached our ship, and took out the sheep, and ourselves went beside the stream of Oceanus until we came to the place of which Circe had told us. Never does the bright sun look down on them with his rays either when he mounts the starry heaven or when he turns again to earth from heaven, but baneful night is spread over wretched mortals. “She came to deep-flowing Oceanus, that bounds the Earth, where is the land and city of the Cimmerians, wrapped in mist and cloud. All the day long her sail was stretched as she sped over the sea and the sun set and all the ways grew dark. So when we had made fast all the tackling throughout the ship, we sat down, and the wind and the helms man made straight her course. ![]() And for our aid in the wake of our dark-prowed ship a fair wind that filled the sail, a goodly comrade, was sent by fair-tressed Circe, dread goddess of human speech. “But when we had come down to the ship and to the sea, first of all we drew the ship down to the bright sea, and set the mast and sail in the black ship, and took the sheep and put them aboard, and ourselves embarked, sorrowing, and shedding big tears. Odysseus & Laertes THE ODYSSEY BOOK 11, TRANSLATED BY A. By the end of the journey, honor rather than glory becomes the guide to right action.Odysseus' Tale: Aeolus, Laestrygones & Circe Although the vengeance brings him glory in battle, it is ultimately an act of honor. Let not man ever be lawless all his life,/ just take in peace what gifts the gods will send." He humbles himself in front of the suitors in order to avenge the great dishonor they have brought to his wife and his household. Disguised as a beggar, he says to one of the suitors: "I too seemed destined to be a man of fortune once/ and a wild wicked swath I cut, indulged my lust for violence…. ![]() In the course of his journey home, however, Odysseus seems to repent of his youthful hunt for glory. Similarly, he decides to face both Scylla and Charybdis, "hell-bent yet again on battle and on feats of arms," although it costs him several of his men. In seeking glory, he betrays his crew and greatly prolongs his journey home. ![]() And because Odysseus names himself, the Cyclops brings great misfortune to him and his crew by inciting the rage of Poseidon (the Cyclops' father). But at the last moment, he calls out to the Cyclops to declare that it was he, Odysseus, who defeated him, so that the Cyclops can spread his fame and win him glory. Odysseus escapes the Cyclops with most of his crew in part by naming himself Nobody – a symbolic act of self-effacement. For example, Odysseus blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus in order to avenge the deaths of six crew members: the violence is an act of honor because vengeance is customary and just. Sometimes the two pursuits conflict with one another, since striving for glory can lead to reckless, proud behavior that violates customs and angers the gods. Glory is attained mainly by victory in battle and by feats of strength and cunning, while honor is attained by just, lawful behavior. In the course of the story, the two terms acquire distinct meanings. Odysseus and other characters are motivated by pursuit of glory and honor.
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