Illustration of Odysseus tied to a ship's mast

The Odyssey

by Homer

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Odysseus and his men's experiences in the Land of the Lotus Eaters

Summary:

In the Land of the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus sends three men to explore, who eat the lotus plant and lose their desire to return home. The intoxicating fruit causes them to forget their purpose and long to stay on the island. Despite the peaceful nature of the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus forcibly retrieves his men, ties them up, and commands the crew to leave quickly, highlighting his leadership and determination to continue their journey home.

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What happens to Odysseus and his men in the Land of the Lotus Eaters?

In Book IX of The OdysseyOdysseus begins the tale of his wanderings, starting with the journey's second part, that from Ogygia through Phaeacia. Odysseus begins by describing the departure from Troy:

Following Odysseus's and his men's plundering of the Ciconians, Zeus roused a storm against the ships, driving some of them to death; the other ships were brought to the nearest place that was sheltered from the wind by the strength of the sailors who rowed with their oars. After the storm, the men set sail again and made progress until they came round Malea and the current drew them farther out to sea. They drifted nine days; on the tenth day, they landed on a coastline belonging to the Lotus-Eaters. After a meal, Odysseus sent sailors to learn who dwelt there. These men came upon the Lotus-eaters who, meaning no harm, 

...gave them lotus to taste; but...

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whosoever of them ate the lotus's honeyed fruit wished to bring tidings back no more and never to leave the place, but with the Lotus-eater there desired to stay, to feed on lotus and forget his going home.

This tale is not dissimilar to the tales of the American soldiers during the Vietnam Conflict. There were some who became so addicted to drugs which were , so disillusioned with America and the protests at home against the "war" and insults toward soldiers that they went AWOL and did not return to the States. In their disillusionment and drug-induced state, they lost sight of duty and country, and any meaning to life.

Similarly, Odysseus's men who have been through battles and terrible storms at sea are lured by the euphoria of the lotus, and they lose their mental strength, caring no more if they ever reach home, content on the island of the Lotus-Eaters and losing their souls.

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When they arrive in the land of the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus sends out a total of three men (2 men and a runner) to explore the island. These three men eat the Lotus and lose "their hope of home," which means they forget about their entire goal: to go back to Ithaca. Odysseus warns the rest of his men not to eat the Lotus and ties up the three men in an attempt to bring them home anyway.

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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.  The people of the lotus plant are very friendly, but the intoxicating plant is dangerous because it makes them forget.

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What happens to the men who go ashore in the Land of the Lotus Eaters in The Odyssey?

When Odysseus and his crew reach the island of the Lotus-eaters, Odysseus sends just three men ahead "to scout out who might live there." He is being cautious, and so does not send all of his men to explore. This is another example of his intelligence. These three men find and mingle with the Lotus-eaters, who are very peaceful, and they "gave [the men] the lotus to taste [...]." Odysseus says that the men "lost all desire" to get a message back to the ship about the island's natives, to come back to the ship, or even to return home to Ithaca. They only want to stay there, with the Lotus-eaters, eating the lotus. However, unwilling to leave any members of his crew behind, Odysseus goes, himself, and finds the three men and forces them back to the ship. Once he has them back on board, he "hauled them under the rowing benches, lashed them fast and shouted out commands to [his] other, steady comrades [...]." So, he actually has to tie them up in order to get them to stay on the ship, and it sounds like he even has to remain with them to make sure they don't try to escape.

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When Odysseus' men went onto the Lotus Eaters island, they were encouraged by the natives to eat the Lotus plant.  This plant acted as a type of drug, causing the sailors to forget about their home and their goals.  Instead, the sailors only wanted to stay on the island, eating more Lotus plants.  Odysseus had to go onto the island to capture his own men and drag them back to the boat.

  • "...the land of the Lotus-eaters, who eat a flowery food....I sent forth some of my comrades to go and learn who the men were....and the Lotus-eaters did not plan death for my comrades, but gave them of the lotus to taste. And whosoever of them ate of the honey-sweet fruit of the lotus, had no longer any wish to bring back word or to return, but there they were fain to abide among the Lotus-eaters, feeding on the lotus, and forgetful of their homeward way. These men, therefore, I brought back perforce to the ships, weeping, and dragged them..."
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What are two events that occurred in the land of the lotus eaters in the Odyssey?

Odysseus' account takes place in book nine. He recounts how a storm drove them to the land of the Lotus-eaters. Now here is what happens:

First, when the natives there give his men some fruit from the lotus plant to eat and they partake, they lose all thoughts of their journey homeward. In fact, the fruit is so addictive and intoxicating that they want to stay and only eat. This fact alone could have made their homeward journey stop dead in its tracks. Here is what the text says:

When they had eaten and drunk I sent two of my company to see what manner of men the people of the place might be, and they had a third man under them. They started at once, and went about among the Lotus-eaters, who did them no hurt, but gave them to eat of the lotus, which was so delicious that those who ate of it left off caring about home, and did not even want to go back and say what had happened to them, but were for staying and munching lotus with the Lotus-eaters without thinking further of their return.

Second, when Odysseus saw this he forced them to return to the ships. It was the force of his character that saved the day. The men reluctantly obeyed as they were weeping. Then Odysseus made them row like mad, lest anyone have second thoughts or seek to eat more lotus fruits.

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