The Odyessy: Books VII-X-II

The Odyssey reading this week, I thought, was more entertaining, as it read more like a story, as opposed to the past reading, which I found to be almost of a history-textbook nature. The cyclops description (eating-style wise) was, in a word... Interesting. However, I still don't understand exactly why the Cyclopes behave as they do; inhospitable and rude in general, with blatant disregard for any rules. Why do they behave as though they are in any way superior to general society, seeing as they are cyclopes, which I would assume they would be lower status-wise to the human population. Also, another thing I didn't really understand; why does Polyphemus, of all Cyclopes, not care for the rules of the gods? I mean, Neptune is his father, so it would only make sense that he have greater respect for the gods then the rest of his species, if indeed being contrite is a common attribute among them.