My Current Readings #10

Just read book nine in the Odyssey, by Robert Fagles. In this section is was more so based on Odysseus. Odysseus was introduced previously and now they are writing as if he is talking and it is present. It tells about how Odysseus and a selected few carry on out at sea to go to Cyclops' area. They set sail when they arrive and pick a few loyal men to stay and hold down the fort at their boat. While the others are off seeing what around and going on at the Cyclops' place. They all notice that the Cyclops is not present, they sit by the fire and wait. When he arrives he yells and shouts at them "strangers! strangers! who are you and what are you doing here!" Everyone remains calm and waits to see what he further does. Time passes and things go downhill, Cyclops is ordering Poseidon to maybe let Odysseus get home, but not safely. He prays for Odysseus to go through intolerable conditions and arrive home through unknown people and barely hanging on. Some of the people that went along on the trip earlier in the day and stayed put, at the boat, were killed by forces not talked a lot about. This section was a lot of gruesome events and i feel that Odysseus really should just stay home. He shouldn't be mingling around going wherever he pleases because clearly there are gods not fond of him. I think Odysseus needs to plan more and keep his distance from these certain gods. Curious to see how his journey home is.