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Examples Of Foe In The Odyssey

Decent Essays

Friend or Foe? The Fine Line Between
Who are the Phaecians? They’re a society that resides in Phaecia and are adored by the gods. They excel at nearly everything. From dancing to games and sailing, these masters have gained control of it all. Yet there is something they have yet to lure into their grip. The one and only Cyclops. For instance, the Phaecians once lived upon an island, Hyperia, where they danced to their heart’s content all day long. However, they lived “all too close to the overbearing Cyclops, stronger violent brutes who harried them without end” (6.6-7). Finally, they ended up forfeiting the battle for land and evacuated. The silent battle between the two societies caused the Cyclops to become enemies in the Phaecians’ eyes. …show more content…

To begin, one must understand what the opposite of an enemy is. An ally. By definition of Merriam-Webster, an ally is “a person, group, or nation associated or united with another in a common purpose” (Merriam-Webster). Here, an ally is condensed down as someone that shares the same goals or beliefs. If an ally or friend is a counterpart with alike views, then an enemy must categorize itself as the opposite of an ally. An enemy is someone that does not share the same goals or beliefs. I believe that deciding who your enemy is based on this definition is ethical only when backed by a substantial reason. Hypothetically, if one society were to believe in women being educated versus another society believing in women not being educated, believing that they are enemies based on opposing views would be morally right. However, if one’s rationale is something of a cultural issue such as Iran and Saudi Arabia over religion, it is not classified as ethical. Both countries have the right to their own religion, and the only way it would be correct to cause a divide is if the other religion was hurting a group. Additionally, the techniques that many societies apply to terminate a foe should be condemned as a result of the lack of morality. Forcing another to abandon their opinions or pushing a new opinion upon them is efficient but certainly not the most ethical way to end the rivalry. Doing so is like you taking away someone’s chocolate bar and replacing it with carrots just because you’re going on a diet and doesn’t want to see sugar. While your view may sometimes be right, the other person is still entitled to their view. Taking away what is theirs and replacing it with yours will only temporary pause their opinions until they remember what they believe in. Overall, one must

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