Question

Why do you think Ulysses cannot control his men? What qualities do you think he displays that might encourage misbehavior from his crew?

Answer 1

At various points on his journey back to Ithaca from Troy, Ulysses loses control of his men. These weary men have been away from home for a very long time. They are exhausted from sailing and look forward to opportunities to stop at islands on the way, where they can have good food and get some rest. On the goading of one man, they all disobey Ulysses by killing and eating the cattle that belong to the sun god:

While thus Eurylochus arising said:

"'O friends, a thousand ways frail mortals lead

To the cold tomb, and dreadful all to tread;

But dreadful most, when by a slow decay

Pale hunger wastes the manly strength away.

Why cease ye then to implore the powers above,

And offer hecatombs to thundering Jove?

Why seize ye not yon beeves, and fleecy prey?

Arise unanimous; arise and slay!...”

Ulysses’s men also realize that their leader has flaws and makes mistakes. Even the choice to sail near Scylla and sacrifice some men might have undermined his authority with his crew. They take advantage of his weaknesses at times and break rules and promises. The men indulge in their own weaknesses when they drink Circe’s magic potion and when they eat the lotus flower for its amnesia-like effect. If Ulysses could resist the temptation to seek glory, then he may have been a more effective leader.