In Homer's landmark epic The Odyssey, a male protagonist with immense physical strength and power named Odyssey returns home to Ithaca. During his 10-year journey across vast and dangerous waters, his physical qualities are not enough to help him return home. He faces many obstacles that he must overcome. The biggest obstacle is temptation. His journey home is full of temptations and will test his physical and mental abilities which he must learn to control and overcome in order to find his way home. The first example of these transgressions in Odysseus' journey takes place on the island. lotus eaters. Lotus fruit is a tasty and delicate fruit that can entangle the mind to the point of forgetting home. As Odysseus' crew devours the fruit, he chooses not to partake. The discipline Odysseus demonstrates in this book is different from that of the rest of the epic. This demonstrates that Odysseus has self-control and is focused on returning home. Although he proves he has the determination to resist temptation, he hesitates later in the epic. His submission to temptation is a fault that he must learn to control. Odysseus proves that he has the power to win; he simply doesn't always have the self-control to resist. Odysseus is tempted again when he meets the Cyclops Polyphemus. Unlike his encounter with the lotus eaters, he displays a more reckless side when he cannot help but shout her name with pride after escaping the Cyclops: "...So they begged, but they could not bring back my fighting spirit. I called back with another outburst of anger, "Cyclops - if anyone on the face of the earth were to ask you who blinded you, shamed you - his...... middle of paper. .....e to strike came, Odysseus, combined with his many physical strengths, used his self-control to do what was right. This sense of newfound control is something Odysseus proved early on, but. he simply did not realize it. Odysseus, the epic hero with great strength, intellect and wit, demonstrated that he was recognizable through his human error and flaw. Throughout the epic, Odysseus was well aware of his faults and did everything possible to control himself. His journey was a torment of temptations that he had to overcome and each of them challenged him to. remaining faithful and increased his willpower While some temptations were merely obstacles and others controlled his destiny, each defined Odysseus. Odysseus grew from an imperfect man to an epic hero, overcoming his submission to temptation and receiving the ultimate glory he deserved..