In sc. 7, Tom is playing the "Odysseus Game": Here is the story he is learning about:
Cyclops: Homeric Parallel
In Book 9 of The Odyssey, Odysseus describes his adventures among the one-eyed Cyclopes, who are "giants, louts, without a law to bless them" (9:106; Fitzgerald, p. 160). They live in a fertile land but are ignorant of agriculture; they "have no muster and no meeting, / no consultation or old tribal ways, / but each one dwells in his own mountain cave / dealing out rough justice to wife and child, / indifferent to what the others do" (9:112; Fitzgerald, p. 160). Odysseus and a scouting party are trapped in the cave of Polyphemus, one of the Cyclopes, who scoffs at Zeus and at the laws of hospitality that govern the "civilized" world, acting out his scorn by devouring two of Odysseus's men. Polyphemus imprisons Odysseus and his remaining companions, presumably to be eaten at the rate of two a day. The second evening he "feasts" again, and then Odysseus plies him with wine. In the course of the drinking bout Odysseus announces that his name is "Noman," and when the one-eyed giant collapses into drunken sleep, Odysseus blinds him with a burning pike of olive wood. Polyphemus shouts that "Noman" has ruined him, and his neighbors (taking him literally) mock him and refuse to help. In the morning Odysseus and his remaining men escape Polyphemus's search by hiding among his sheep. Once free and launched in his ship, Odysseus makes the mistake of revealing his identity, taunting the blind Polyphemus, who heaves a rock and almost sinks Odysseus's ship. Then the blind giant calls on his father, Poseidon, to prevent Odysseus from returning home, or, if "destiny / intend that he shall see his roof again far be that day, and dark the years between. / Let him lose all companions, and return / under strange sail to bitter days at home" (9:532ff; Fitzgerald, p. 173). Since destiny does "intend" that Odysseus return home, Poseidon is only able to grant the latter part of his son's prayer.
Fascinating connections to the story... This is why the play feels both epic and intimate at once.
Cyclops: Homeric Parallel
In Book 9 of The Odyssey, Odysseus describes his adventures among the one-eyed Cyclopes, who are "giants, louts, without a law to bless them" (9:106; Fitzgerald, p. 160). They live in a fertile land but are ignorant of agriculture; they "have no muster and no meeting, / no consultation or old tribal ways, / but each one dwells in his own mountain cave / dealing out rough justice to wife and child, / indifferent to what the others do" (9:112; Fitzgerald, p. 160). Odysseus and a scouting party are trapped in the cave of Polyphemus, one of the Cyclopes, who scoffs at Zeus and at the laws of hospitality that govern the "civilized" world, acting out his scorn by devouring two of Odysseus's men. Polyphemus imprisons Odysseus and his remaining companions, presumably to be eaten at the rate of two a day. The second evening he "feasts" again, and then Odysseus plies him with wine. In the course of the drinking bout Odysseus announces that his name is "Noman," and when the one-eyed giant collapses into drunken sleep, Odysseus blinds him with a burning pike of olive wood. Polyphemus shouts that "Noman" has ruined him, and his neighbors (taking him literally) mock him and refuse to help. In the morning Odysseus and his remaining men escape Polyphemus's search by hiding among his sheep. Once free and launched in his ship, Odysseus makes the mistake of revealing his identity, taunting the blind Polyphemus, who heaves a rock and almost sinks Odysseus's ship. Then the blind giant calls on his father, Poseidon, to prevent Odysseus from returning home, or, if "destiny / intend that he shall see his roof again far be that day, and dark the years between. / Let him lose all companions, and return / under strange sail to bitter days at home" (9:532ff; Fitzgerald, p. 173). Since destiny does "intend" that Odysseus return home, Poseidon is only able to grant the latter part of his son's prayer.
Fascinating connections to the story... This is why the play feels both epic and intimate at once.
Hubris is excessive pride with a lofty self-respect totally apart from reality; it distorts a person’s view of the world, much like a funhouse mirror. Hubris is a characteristic of the protagonist, Odysseus, in the epic poem, The Odyssey, by the blind poet Homer. The hero Odysseus is a dynamic character who, blinded by hubris, changes his perspective on life according to the positive and negative experiences he endures and overcomes during his adventure. He faces many challenges on his long journey that lead to his becoming the true epic hero which his pride makes him believe he is in the first place. From eluding a massive Cyclops, to floating all alone in the middle of the ocean on a wooden plank, Odysseus survives it all with the help of the gods on his epic quest to become a true hero. One of the first challenges Odysseus faces during his ten-year expedition involves the Cyclops monster. A son of Poseidon, the one-eyed Cyclops traps Odysseus and many of his crew members in his cave. Being the clever, creative person that he is, Odysseus comes up with a plan to stab the Cyclops in his eye with a huge wooden spear. When the beast falls asleep, many crew members push aside the huge rock blocking their only exit. Odysseus gives the okay, and they thrust the weapon into Poseidon’s son’s eye. They escape through the exit wearing sheep wool so, if grabbed, the Cyclops will think that they are sheep. While most of the crew escapes, the vane Odysseus perceives himself as the hero and the one responsible. As usual, he takes all the credit, thus maddening the gods for not acknowledging their contribution to the escape.
Odysseus’ epiphany or life change occurs when he is stranded in the middle of the ocean floating on a wooden plank after leaving Calypso’s island. Poseidon’s face appears in a series of huge waves and says to Odysseus, “My goal is not to kill you. You must understand that without the gods, man is nothing.” It is at this moment that Odysseus realizes the gods have been controlling his fate all along. It is true that he has always shown the heroic traits of courage and bravery, but now, he gains the humility and wisdom that comes with this new understanding. This newfound wisdom, gained when he is on the brink of death, results in an even more heroic Odysseus. Now, in addition to courage, cleverness, and a sense of adventure, he also possesses humility and wisdom, gained through life experience. More importantly, he realizes his own shortcomings. The hubris is gone, and he can see the world more truthfully.
WOW!
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