Read the excerpt from Part 2 of The Odyssey.

Question

(Odysseus):

'We would entreat you, great Sir, have a care
for the gods' courtesy; Zeus will avenge
the unoffending guest.'

He answered this

from his brute chest, unmoved.

(Cyclops):

'You are a ninny,

or else you come from the other end of nowhere,
telling me, mind the gods! We Cyclopes
care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus.'

Answer 1

In this excerpt from Part 2 of "The Odyssey," we see a pivotal moment in Odysseus's encounter with the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Odysseus appeals to Polyphemus's sense of respect for the gods, referencing Zeus's authority and the concept of hospitality that was sacred in Greek culture. However, Polyphemus responds dismissively, indicating his brutal nature and the Cyclopes' lack of reverence for divine power.

This interaction highlights the themes of civility versus barbarism, the importance of hospitality (or lack thereof), and the tension between human authority and divine will. Odysseus, representing human reason and civilization, is met with Polyphemus's ignorance and primal instincts, illustrating the challenges Odysseus faces on his journey home. The Cyclops's scorn for the gods emphasizes his isolation from societal morals, setting the stage for the conflict that follows.