In both The Odyssey and Ceremony the authors use a theme of mental strength as a way to show their power to overcome the antagonist. This is demonstrated in book 9 of The Odyssey when Odysseus tricked the Cyclops (Polyphemus) into believing his name was “Nobody” after overcoming the urge to tell him his real name. After Polyphemus ate two of Odysseus’s men and was planning to eat him last, Odysseus planned to kill him first. Odysseus intoxicated Polyphemus, which allowed them to heat a large stick that they had made for him, and drove it into the Cyclops’ eye blinding him. When he screamed, the neighboring Cyclops’ tried to ask what was wrong and who was there, but all he responded with was “Nobody”!
In both The Odyssey and Ceremony the authors use a theme of mental strength as a way to show their power to overcome the antagonist. This is demonstrated in book 9 of The Odyssey when Odysseus tricked the Cyclops (Polyphemus) into believing his name was “Nobody” after overcoming the urge to tell him his real name. After Polyphemus ate two of Odysseus’s men and was planning to eat him last, Odysseus planned to kill him first. Odysseus intoxicated Polyphemus, which allowed them to heat a large stick that they had made for him, and drove it into the Cyclops’ eye blinding him. When he screamed, the neighboring Cyclops’ tried to ask what was wrong and who was there, but all he responded with was “Nobody”!