Odyssey Book 12
Next, Ulysses and his men return to Aeaea. Circe gives them more advice and warns them of obstacles they may face.
They are warned of the Sirens, whose beautiful sounds lure sailors into a semi-conscious state of blissful catatonia, at which time the ships crash apart on the rocks. They will need to overcome the Clashing Rocks. However, choosing to circumvent the Clashing Rocks, they are faced with a confrontation with either Scylla, a six-headed monster guaranteed to kill six of Ulysses' crewmen, or Charybdis, a whirlpool from which there is no escape.
Before encountering the Sirens, the crewmen are instructed to plug their ears with wax. However, Ulysses' curiosity drives him with a need to hear the song, so he allows himself to be tied to the ship's mast as they sail past the Sirens. The plan works, but Ulysses is almost driven to insanity by his desire to succumb to the Sirens' song.
Ulysses then chooses to take the chance with Scylla, but knowing that Scylla is, the ship sails past without engaging. However, six men are lost, to the great distress of Ulysses.
Next, the ship arrives at the island of Thrinacia, home of Helios. Against explicit orders, the men feast upon the cattle belonging to Helios, when Ulysses is not around. This crime enrages Zeus, who then destroys the ship when Ulysses and his men depart. Ulysses is the sole survivor. He washes ashore on the island where Calypso lives.
Calypso immediately falls in love with Ulysses and holds him captive as her lover. She wishes to marry him, but his heart remains with his wife, Penelope. After seven years of captivity under Calypso, she finally releases him.
Analysis
Clever solutions are the answer to overcoming near-impossible odds. Ulysses' being tied to the ship's mast solved the problem of his insatiable curiosity, while still permitting safe passage. His choice to avoid engaging Scylla shows his leadership as masterful, despite the gut-wrenching knowledge that six men would be—and are— lost to the monster.
Yet, again, his leadership is questioned, as his crew disobeys orders when they feast upon the livestock belonging to Helios. Again, a steep price is paid, but Ulysses is spared the fate of the rest of the crew.
The passage of seven years takes but a moment for the reader, but should not be overlooked as a trivial amount of time.
