Mortal Weakness: The Appetite

A Mortal Weakness: Appetite

Appetite in the context of the Odyssey is more complex than simply the sating of one's hunger. Appetite can best be defined as temptation created by one's stomach. An appetite is a mortal's impulse to satisfy his immediate desires. The need to fulfill this appetite connotes a negative behavior that usually results in a type of punishment from the gods. In the epic, the Cyclops episode and the sacred cattle of Helios' isle are the two most obvious instances that illustrate the struggle between one's appetite and the self-control to use one's mind.

The Cyclops represents the lowest human potential because the Cyclops lacks laws, morals, and does not answer to a higher power. His sole concern is the preservation of himself, and sets no restrictions in the pursuit of this desire. The Cyclops' appetite allowed for Odysseus' deception resulting in Polyphemus' blindness. Although Polyphemus claimed boldly that "We Cyclops never blink at Zeus and Zeus' shield of storm and thunder, or at other blessed gods --we've got more force by far" (9.309-11). Odysseus blinding Polyphemus might have been the will of the gods because of his undermining of the gods power, and the cruel treatment of a guest. His impiety and obsessive appetite not only shows his behavior is primitive, but it also shows a complete lack of humanity. Perhaps this is why Homer uses a Cyclops to demonstrate the concept that if we make decisions based simply on our appetite, we are nothing more than a savage cannibalistic beast, or in the context of the epic, a Cyclops. This behavior is in direct contrast to highest potential of human nature in which we have gods visit us regularly, and live in a Utopia like the Phaekians.

The motivation of Hospitality is of course to appease the gods, but second to this is for the wayfaring stranger. The host is not only trying to satisfy his guest's literal hunger, but also by giving the guest a gift he is also satisfying his appetite for kleos. Since the guest's appetite no longer distracts him, he can focus on his homecoming. The Phaekians fed Odysseus ample food, and gave him more treasures than he left with from Troy. The great hospitality of the Phaekians made it possible for Odysseus to make it back to Ithaca after attempting to make it back for 20 years already.

All mortals battle with this weakness to fill one's stomach, even our epic hero, Odysseus. Odysseus and his crew explore a cave, which appears to be a home to a Cyclops, and finds cheese that he takes without thinking twice. Despite urges by Odysseus' crew to leave, he refuses to leave because he is curious as to what the Cyclops will give him as a gift. After barely escaping Polyphemus, Odysseus foolishly lets his appetite get the best of him again. He arrogantly boasts to the Cyclops his name, his ancestry, and his accomplishments to the Cyclops. Instead, in this instance, his stomach's hunger was for