Raw experiences

-Teacher, is Odysseus insane?

Sometimes it's hard to explain certain things to people who haven't experienced them yet—but I tried.

In my classes, I talk a lot about the Iliad and the Odyssey. But there is one passage from the Odyssey that is absolutely fantastic.

During his journey home from the Trojan War, Odysseus (Ulysses in Roman tradition) encounters the Sirens. To avoid their deadly song, he orders his crew to plug their ears with beeswax and has himself tied to the mast so he can hear the song without being seduced by its call.

There’s no logical reason why he wanted to hear the Sirens’ call.

He wanted to FEEL it—this is raw experience.

And the Sirens tricked him by using the voice of his loyal wife, Penelope.

Kirk Douglas nailed it.