Why do Odysseus and his men stop at the island of the Lotus Eaters in the first place?

Why do Odysseus and his men stop at the island of the Lotus Eaters in the first place?

After leaving Troy, they stop to the island of the Cicones: to stop for supplies. The Cicones attack Odysseus lost 72 of his men. When his men ate the Lotus, they soon began to lose their desire to go back home to Ithaca. Instead, they wanted to stay there forever.

Why does Odysseus forbid the men from eating the lotus fruit?

When Odysseus and his men eat the lotus plant, it makes them forget their longing for home. All they want to do is eat the lotus plant and stay there. This is bad because Odysseus wants to get home to his wife and son.

What did the Lotus Eaters do to Odysseus men?

A storm sent by Zeus sweeps them along for nine days before bringing them to the land of the Lotus-eaters, where the natives give some of Odysseus’s men the intoxicating fruit of the lotus. As soon as they eat this fruit, they lose all thoughts of home and long for nothing more than to stay there eating more fruit.

What happens to a man who eats the Lotus?

What happens to anyone who eats this plant? Anyone who eats this plant (the lotus) will lose their desire to return home. They will want to stay in the land of the Lotus-Eaters. If Odysseus’s men eat the lotus, they will long to stay forever and never return home.

What happens if you eat lotus?

Consuming blue lotus flower may make you feel “high” and result in a gentle euphoria. Some people have drawn comparisons to the high you experience after consuming cannabis, though this can be largely individual. Currently, blue lotus flower isn’t approved for human consumption in the United States.

Are Lotus Eaters evil?

First, we must consider the nature of the Homeric Lotus Eaters. They are often associated with drowsy narcosis, but their real evil in the eyes of Odysseus was the forgetfulness their fruit induced in his men.

Why doesn’t Odysseus respect the Cyclops?

Why doesn’t Odysseus respect the Cyclopes? They are lawless creatures with no sense of community and no drive to cultivate the land. In lines 91-92, what does Odysseus’ metaphor imply about the Cyclops? He is huge and alone, like a mountain.

What do Lotus Eaters look like?

The Lotus-Eaters were creatures that appeared to look very innocent, with looking like normal human beings. Odysseus and his men had lived on the sweet, intoxicating fruits of a tree, producing its lotus-like flowers. They got this name due to their unique properties and that kept them in a state of forgetfulness.

How did Odysseus find the Lotus Eaters in the Odyssey?

The men never send back a message to Odysseus; they stay and eat the plant with the natives. Odysseus finds the men, literally drags them back to the ships, and ties them to the rowing benches.

How did Odysseus get his men back to his ship?

After ingesting the sweet lotus plant, three of his men forget about their homes and families. Instead, they wish to stay in the Land of the Lotus Eaters. This episode foreshadows book XIV, when Odysseus is lashed to his ship’s mast while his ear-plugged crew rows them away from the enchanting Sirens.

Why are the Lotus Eaters important in Greek mythology?

The Lotus Eaters represent one of the challenges that Odysseus had to face on his way home – slothfulness. These were a group of people who had forgotten their purpose in life and who gave in to the peaceful apathy that came with eating the lotus. The story can also be seen as a warning of giving into addictive behavior.

How did Odysseus escape death on the island of Ismarus?

Odysseus and his men escape death on the island of Ismarus, but this escape does not come without a price. Because his men did not listen to orders, many died in a battle that could have been avoided. Ten days pass; the men fight the rough seas and weather, the gods’ curse, to get back on course.