In book 9 of Homer's Odyssey: Polyphemus starts the violence, but in what ways does Odysseus perhaps cause the conflict to happen? Why does he visit the Cyclopes? What is his motive? And when he mentally describes Goat Island off the land of the Cyclopes as a seeming colonial project, might we say that his subconscious desires are emerging, or perhaps his cultural biases are at work, even if he is not literally a colonist/imperialist?

 

Odysseus caused the conflict by insisting to stay and received the giant's gift. They waited for the cyclops to return expecting him to treat them as a guest and respect the rules of gods. He and his men visited the cyclopes cave to acquire and get some food and leave. But Odysseus was curious about Polyphemus and decided to rely in the laws of hospitality. Odysseus has subconscious desires to colonize different places to establish dominance. However, he relinquished the idea and focused on heroic values such as self-restraint and rational conduct.

Step-by-step explanation

Polyphemus starts the violence, but in what ways does Odysseus perhaps cause the conflict to happen?

Odysseus caused the conflict by insisting to stay and received the giant's gift. They waited for the cyclops to return expecting him to treat them as a guest and respect the rules of gods.

Why does he visit the Cyclopes? What is his motive?

He and his men visited the cyclopes cave to acquire and get some food and leave. But Odysseus was curious about Polyphemus and decided to rely in the laws of hospitality.

And when he mentally describes Goat Island off the land of the Cyclopes as a seeming colonial project, might we say that his subconscious desires are emerging, or perhaps his cultural biases are at work, even if he is not literally a colonist/imperialist?

Odysseus has subconscious desires to colonize different places to establish dominance. However, he relinquished the idea and focused on heroic values such as self-restraint and rational conduct.