In Homer’s The Odyssey, he deals with the integral theme of the tension between before and post the Agricultural Revolution. In the Greek world, this tension was huge, as it separated most heroes from their foes. The Greeks saw those who were still in the Stone age as inferiors; they knew that they were not as intelligent, “Then off they went, and I laughed to myself, at how my name, the ‘no man’ maneuver, tricked him” (Wilson pg. 253). Following Odysseus’ journey, many times we see his back against the wall, using his cunning and manipulative nature to come out as the notorious hero. Odysseus is Homer’s figure for the post-Agricultural world, and him being the hero, implies the advancement in technology, healing, and fighting that comes with being in the post-Agricultural world.  Throughout Odysseus’ journey, he meets many different individuals and enemies, ranging from those who may be from either of the two worlds, though the obstacles he faces in this epic are almost primarily those of the pre Agricultural world. So, Homer uses Odysseus as a tool in order to show the conflict between those still in the Pre-Agricultural world and those who have been living through the Agricultural Revolution for some time.

            We see this with the women that Odysseus encounters. Circe and Calypso both live in places that have yet to integrate any sort of agriculture. And this lack of agriculture is what ultimately brings their defeat to Odysseus. However, I think the most implicit example of this tension between the pre and post agricultural world is when Odysseus and his crew come across the Cyclops, Polyphemus, “They put their trust in gods, and do not plant their food from seed, nor plow, and yet the barley, grain, and clustering wine-grapes all flourish there, increased by rain from Zeus” (Wilson pg. 243). Upon Odysseus’ first look on the island its clear that these tensions between the groups are primarily from the lack of agriculture that Polyphemus has. As Odysseus goes on to explain how the Cyclops’ live, it is clear that Odysseus’ and most likely the Greeks, thoughts towards civilization are tied in the act of agriculture and structure. Without it, a group of people is deemed to be on the same spectrum of barbarians or Neanderthals. This central theme is reinforced again when Polyphemus throws a boulder at Odysseus as he brags about how he tricked the Cyclops, “He ripped a rock straight out of the hill and hurled it at us” (Wilson pg. 255). Polyphemus, still being in the Stone Age, has no real weapon to kill Odysseus with. He only has boulders, rocks, and the items the earth produces around him.

            The fight and ultimately the win that Odysseus claims, reinforces the central theme of the tensions between those in a pre and post agricultural world. However, these triumphs of Odysseus’ show that those who have advanced technologically, whether that be with food or weapons, will always win, “So we sailed on, with sorrow in our hearts, glad to survive, but grieving for our friends” (Wilson pg. 258). Time is ceaseless, so I believe that Homer is trying to infer that that advancement of technology will always be an advantage during these mythical times. The tension between those in the pre and post agricultural world are great but this advancement is the reason that Odysseus emerges as a hero time and time again.