Illustration of Odysseus tied to a ship's mast

The Odyssey

by Homer

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What do Odysseus's men want to do upon finding the Cyclops' cave?

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In Episode IX of The Odyssey, Odysseus takes the men to the island of the Cyclopes.  His men have been rebellious and difficult, having gotten into trouble with the Cicones and the Lotus-Eaters.  So, Odysseus is angry with them.  In coming to the Island of the Cyclops, Odysseus calls all the shots: his men have no say in the matter.

Observe:

"We sailed hence, always in much distress, till we came to the land of the lawless and inhuman Cyclopes.

It makes no mention of his men wanting to sail there or sail around it, to go ashore or to the caves.

Later, Odysseus tells his men:

"'Stay here, my brave fellows,' said I, 'all the rest of you, while I go with my ship and exploit these people myself: I want to see if they are uncivilized savages, or a hospitable and humane race.' "

He also says:

"I went on board, bidding my men to do so also and loose the hawsers; so they took took their places and smote the grey sea with their oars...I told my men to draw the ship ashore, and stay where they were, all but the twelve best among them, who were to go along with myself."

Later, when Odysseus directs the men to Polyphemus' cave, he says:

When they saw all this, my men begged me to let them first steal some cheeses, and make off with them to the ship; they would then return, drive down the lambs and kids, put them on board and sail away with them. It would have been indeed better if we had done so but I would not listen to them, for I wanted to see the owner himself, in the hope that he might give me a present. When, however, we saw him my poor men found him ill to deal with.

Is this what you mean?  They want to steal some cheese, lambs, and baby lambs, and run off to the ship?

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What plan do Odysseus's men suggest to him once they enter the Cyclops's cave in the Odyssey?

In book 9, Odysseus and his men sail to the mainland of the Cyclopes, where they discover a massive cave with exquisite cheeses, milk bowls, and young lambs inside. Odysseus realizes that the Cyclops has left his dwelling unattended, and his men petition him to quickly steal the cheese and come back for the lambs later. Odysseus's men are anxious to avoid the Cyclops and fear that the monster will be uncivilized and dangerous. Unfortunately, Odysseus does not follow their suggestions and decides to remain in the cave. Odysseus wants to wait for the Cyclops to return in hopes of receiving a valuable gift from him. Odysseus is under the impression that the Cyclops will respect him as a guest and reward him with a gift, which is the typical procedure when a stranger arrives to a new land from abroad. However, the Cyclops returns and proceeds to trap the men inside his cave by rolling a massive boulder over the entrance. Polyphemus then scorns the gods and proceeds to eat two of Odysseus's men.

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