Three Trials at Sea: the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis

Book XII

Rouse, Pages 138-147

As if they haven't gone through enough already, Odysseus and his remaining men must undergo three final trials before Odysseus lands -- alone -- on Calypso's island. First they return to Circe's island, where they keep the promise they made to Elpenor. You may be surprised by the turn-around in Circe's attitude: the former transformer of men into swine is now giving Odysseus helpful advice! Before they leave the island for the second and final time, Circe takes our hero aside and tells him everything that will happen as the ship tries to sail toward Ithaca. Prepped by Circe's instructions and advice (which, you'll notice, echoes what Teiresias has previously said), Odysseus and his men bravely depart the island; one by one, those things that Circe and Teiresias have warned Odysseus to anticipate appear before him.

As you read, notice...

• The nature of each test. What qualities or characteristics must one possess in order to survive the Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis -- and the temptation posed by Helios's cattle?
• The sirens, those temptresses of the sea who seduce sailors with their song and lead them to crash to their deaths on the rocks. Hmm...the sirens are female, and Scylla and Charybdis are also "shes." Why are all of these problems female?
• The mutiny in Odysseus's men. How is starvation a particularly cruel test at this point?

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