When Scrooge's nephew claims he is going to get married, Scrooge believes he is a fool to cling to frivolities like marriage and asks why the nephew thinks this is a good idea. The nephew says that he will marry because he is in love and wants to live forever with the woman he loves. At this moment, Scrooge is sure that his nephew is crazy and an idiot for maintaining romantic ideals in the real world and for that reason, he remains serious and charged with irony and contempt, he replies to his nephew with a "Good afternoon." he leaves, giving his nephew a cue to understand that he is not welcome and must go.
While walking the island, the men encounter the Lotus Eaters and find that they are a peaceful people; they do nothing except eat the lotus plant. Odysseus' men eat the flowering plant and are immediately changed. Anyone who eats this sweet plant becomes forgetful of their purpose.
