So there are these creatures called the sirens, and they're kind of like the mermaids from that breach. They want to drown sailors. So they sing. And their singing is supposed to be the most beautiful thing in the world. It drives men mad, it enraptures them, and they sail toward it and dash their ships on the rocks and then the sirens eat them. And Odysseus has to go past this island. So he has all his sailors stuff beeswax in their ears, so that they can't hear the song, and sail past safely.
But. He's curious. That's who he is, the core of him, he always has to know. He wants to know what the song sounds like. So he orders his crew to tie him to the mast before they go, so tight he can't possibly get free. They sail, and he doesn't have the wax in his ears. And when he hears it, he goes mad. He needs to go to them. He screams and begs and commands and fights like a lion, and he almost gets free, almost kills himself and his entire ship. But he doesn't, they tie him tighter, until they're far out of range, and he's sane again, and they finally let him loose. And then he's the only living man who's heard the siren song.
no subject
Yeah. Same guy, same story, different obstacle.
So there are these creatures called the sirens, and they're kind of like the mermaids from that breach. They want to drown sailors. So they sing. And their singing is supposed to be the most beautiful thing in the world. It drives men mad, it enraptures them, and they sail toward it and dash their ships on the rocks and then the sirens eat them. And Odysseus has to go past this island. So he has all his sailors stuff beeswax in their ears, so that they can't hear the song, and sail past safely.
But. He's curious. That's who he is, the core of him, he always has to know. He wants to know what the song sounds like. So he orders his crew to tie him to the mast before they go, so tight he can't possibly get free. They sail, and he doesn't have the wax in his ears. And when he hears it, he goes mad. He needs to go to them. He screams and begs and commands and fights like a lion, and he almost gets free, almost kills himself and his entire ship. But he doesn't, they tie him tighter, until they're far out of range, and he's sane again, and they finally let him loose. And then he's the only living man who's heard the siren song.