Odysseus Case

Odysseus cares for himself more than anyone else. He believes he deserves the best, and deserves to do whatever he pleases. While on the journey at sea, once again, Odesseus and his men are to pass the Sirens, Scylla, Charybidis, and the kine of the Sun. When they first pass the Scylla, Odysseus tells his men "only [himself] she bade to hear their song" (117), or in other words telling them he is the only one to hear their beautiful song. Odysseus acts very duplicitous when he makes sure everyone's ears are stopped, while he gets to listen safely to the music, showing he cares more for his own pleasure than others around him. Also when the men are to dock on the island with the kine of the Sun, Odysseus only warns them once not to eat the kine. Once he finished with his little warning, he prayed "the gods to show [his] homeward way" (120), suggesting that even if all his friends die at least he will survive. Odysseus not only lets himself receive pleasures others cannot have, he also cares mostly for his one safety instead of those of all his friends.