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The Isle of Vanity (Odyssey)
Arriving to this atrociously displayed island, Odysseus and his men craved for nectar and ambrosia. The smooth current of the water and soft breeze of air; something the men were not used to after such oppressive seas. The Adam’s ale so reflective that one could mistake it for mirrors on sea. One by one the men disembarked the ship, Odysseus waiting to be last to touch the hard-featured soil. Gradually, each man became absorbed in the reflection of the waters. Forthwith, Odysseus became confused and stared into the waters to realize that his crew was staring into their own reflections.
Compelled into the beauty of his face that the waters originated, Odysseus couldn’t pull away. One’s own sweet time later, Odysseus broke out of the trance because of his appetence for food. Calling out for his men was no use, thus he was driven to pushing every single man down away from the waters; breaking them from the trance. For minutes only did the men search for food, until the winds pushed them back to the shining waters.
Weeks passed, the men undergoing the same routine, starvation losing the battle against the beauty of their images. That day, the sun scorched into each man’s eye, but they didn’t mind at all. As Odysseus walked to a shadier water, he lost balance over driftwood and fell out of the entrancement once again. Looking up, He noticed the mutated shaped trees, the invidious and poisoned plants, the dull colors of dying life. He noticed many men all staring at the sea water in front of them. Not only his men, but substantially many other men as well. His own men, men from other ships, and to Odysseus’ surprise, the god Narcissus. So beautiful, even from distances away. Tempting Odysseus to look into the waters and see his own beauty.
But at that time, Odysseus understood that if not even a god himself couldn’t pull himself from his reflection, his men wouldn’t be able to either. He had to calculate a way to arrange his men back onto the ship on the journey home. Accordingly, the winds pushed Odysseus back to the shining, silver mirrors. But this time, he used a weapon of his own. Ability and courage. Seconds after looking into the water, he saw nothing unfamiliar, and had the ability to overlook the powers of the vanities of sea. Brought back to life and certainty, Odysseus and his men were no longer on the path to death.
Odysseus, Son of Laertes, king and hero, was able to bring sense into his crew. All but one man listened to his orders and prepared the ship. As this man failed to bring himself to reality, Odysseus had to grab onto him and pull him to the ship, despite his cries and restrains. In the act of the ship pulling away from the island, Odysseus stared back at Narcissus and in all hubris thought, “Son of Laertes am I. More victorious than a god.”
