The image I used depicts the moment when Odysseus impales the cyclops in the eye with a pole blinding him. In the image, you can see the startled reaction Polyphemus has to being stabbed in his only eye, while Odysseus strongly forces the pole deeper into it. Positioning is very important to pay attention to in this image. As you can see, Odysseus is positioned higher up above the Cyclops in this image to metaphorically tell the audience that odysseus has the upper hand in this situation. Additionally, Odysseus’s stern posture significantly conveys his heroism and determination to escape from the cyclops. Although the Cyclops is much larger and powerful that odysseus, his change in posture depicts how damaging and significant his injuries are in the image above. Gender plays a significant role in this image as Odysseus is representing the “heroic” male that come in and saves the day where as the Cyclops who also represents a male is being defeated in a battle of whits. Lastly, clothing plays a very important part in this image. This distinction between Odysseus wearing clothes and the Cyclops not wearing them can be attributed their very different cultural and societal backgrounds.

This depiction of Odysseus and the Cyclops was illustrated by TIBALDI, Pellegrino. It is believed the artist published this image in 1551. This event is related to the absence of hospitality in Polyphemus and most importantly the consequences that arise from it. One of the most important facts about Polyphemus is his utter disregard for practicing hospitality. When Odysseus and his men seek shelter in the Cyclops’ cave, they expect to be treated with courtesy and respect. However, Polyphemus violates this practice by imprisoning the men eating them one by one. This blatant disregard for hospitality reflects his savagery and lack of civilized behavior. In response to the unwelcoming actions of Polyphemus, Odysseus resorts to his cunningness by devising a plan to escape. This event highlights Odysseus’ resourcefulness in a situation where hospitality has been abandoned. The blinding of the Cyclops is a crucial part in the epic that underscores the absence of hospitality in Polyphemus. This deviation from the expected social contract results in a violent and even savage situation. In summary, this event highlights the importance of hospitality and the consequences of its violation.

While the aesthetics and excitement of Odysseus blinding Polyphemus can captivate readers, it’s essential to dig deeper into the narrative to consider overlooked issues and voices that add complexity and depth to the story. While the story is primarily told from Odysseus’ point of view, we might not fully appreciate the perspective of other characters. In the epic, the Cyclops is portrayed as a monstrous antagonist, but if we were to look at it from his perspective, he was defending his home against intruders. Additionally, the consequences of Polyphemus’ violation of hospitality are evident in his fate, but the broader issue of hospitality and its importance is in Greek society, something Polyphemus had no knowledge of. Polyphemus says, “Well, foreigner, you are a fool, or from some very distant country.’ ‘You order me to fear the gods!’ ‘My people think nothing of that Zeus with his big scepter, nor any god.” (Book 9 lines 272-279) The society and culture of the Cyclops is left unexplored in the narrative, and mainly focuses on the perspective of Odysseus and his struggle. Taking time to understand more about the perspective of the Cyclops’ culture and way of life can provide a more nuanced view of Polyphemus. Another perspective in the story that’s overlooked is the individual stories and identities of Odysseus’ crew members. Each crew member likely had their own stories, backgrounds and identities. In the illustration, it is very telling and even ironic how the image is cropped to only show Odysseus and the Cyclops. However, when the image is expanded to the original, the illustration shows the crew hiding around the corner from Odysseus in the dark, emphasizing how the narrator thought of the crew as only secondary characters. The crew’s relationship with Odysseus is an essential aspect that could have been explored further in this encounter with Polyphemus. From the perspective of the reader, I am curious how the crew viewed their leader after this event and if the crew continued to trust him implicitly.