Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey, Part B

In the story "The Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis," Odysseus and his men encounter sirens and two sea monsters. Odysseus has just heard from many ghosts and has gotten advice from Circe on how to get through his upcoming trials. When Odysseus and his men sail past the sirens, his men put beeswax in their ears to block out the sirens' song. Whoever hears the song is lured to their death. Odysseus wants to hear the song, so instead of putting beeswax in his ears to block it out, he has his men tie him down to the ship so he cannot be lured to the sirens when he hears their song. Although Odysseus is very tempted by the sirens' song and tells his men to let him go, but they just row harder and faster and tighten Odysseus's ropes. I found it interesting that in the sirens' song, their promise is for wisdom; perhaps this is what is so tempting to everyone who hears it, or maybe it is specific to Odysseus.

The crew gets past the sirens, but immediately find themselves in a dark storm. Odysseus tries to reassure his men that they can get through the upcoming difficulties because they have already gone through hard trials. He says his intellect and strength will get them through this. Odysseys ignore's Circe's instructions to not arm themselves as they pass Scylla and Charybdis. As they sail past, he and his men take up spears, and Scylla kills some of Odysseus's strongest men.

This story adds to Odysseus's characterization. It is shown that he is curious when they pass the sirens since he refuses to put beeswax in his ears and wants to hear their song. He is also characterized as prideful when he tells his crew that they can take on the sea monsters because he is smart and brave. It is shown that Odysseus longs for wisdom when he is tempted by the sirens' song.

Sirens and the Night by William Edward Frost. Source: Wikipedia

Story Source: Homer's Odyssey, translated into English by Tony Kline