Mythology

In lines 240-250, Odysseus could easily kill the Cyclops, but choose not to. Why does he let the Cyclops live? What does this demonstrate about Odysseus? Answer in a full paragraph.

powerless, looking on at this, appalled; bu cyclopes wet on filing up his belly with manflesh & great gulps of whey, ey lay down like a mast among hi sheep. My heart beats high now at the chance of action, & drawing the sharp swoard from my hip I went along his flank to stab him where the midrif hold the liver. I had touched the spot where the sudden fear stayed me:If I killed him we perished there as well, for we could never move his ponderous doorway slab aside

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Odysseus dies not kill the cyclops because by doing so he would seal his own fate. The men were trapped in the cyclops cave and lacked the strength to remove the boulder from its opening. Odysseus' decision demonsrate common sense and foresight,