Great Books Ep 94. Euripides - The Cyclops. Navigating Truth in a World of Misinformation

Reflecting on themes of misinformation, distorted narratives and the ease with which truth can be manipulated.

This is the last of Euripides’ plays in the “Great Books” series. I feel like I want to read more plays from Euripides, but it also feels fulfilling to have finished reading all of them. The feeling is similar to having watched a season of a long TV series like Fringe, BSG, etc. As an aside, I wonder why TV series now have just 7 or 8 episodes. Why not 20+ episodes? The experience of watching something over a few months or a year is different from that of watching something over a few weeks or just binge-watching over a weekend.

I’m glad that the last play was a story from The Odyssey. Great timing! Last month, a movie named “The Return” came out with Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus. Then I heard that Christopher Nolan’s next film is going to be based on “The Odyssey”. Looks like there is a renewed interest in the Classics, especially Homer. When I started reading the Great Books series, it was more of a personal knowledge quest on the side, acknowledging that it is something that most people may not be interested in. So, I didn’t even tell most people around me that I was doing this. But now it seems like I’m reading something that a lot of people are interested in, or that I’m part of a broader cultural movement where people are actively seeking out classical literature. Like a person walking alone but finding themselves in a rally. Well, it could be a ‘frequency illusion’ where one notices something more frequently after one discovers it. Say you buy a jacket thinking that it is unique and then find many others wearing similar ones! Either way, it is a great feeling. The journey must continue.

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The Cyclops

Photo by Kiki Falconer on Unsplash

Odysseus: “No, there is not a particle of truth in the story he tells, now that he has been caught selling thy property behind thy back.”

Silenus: “I? Perdition catch thee!”

~ ‘The Cyclops’ by Euripides (Edward P. Coleridge translation. GB5 - p. 442)

Brief Summary - The Cyclops

At the start of the play, we see Silenus in front of the Cyclops Polyphemus’ cave on Mount Aetna. Silenus gives the backstory on how he and his children (the Satyrs) ended up there. He talks about fighting side-by-side with Dionysus after he (Dionysus) was driven mad by Hera. When he heard that Hera had sent Tyrrhenian pirates to kidnap Dionysus, he and his children sailed to his aid to rescue him. But on the way, they were shipwrecked and captured by Polyphemus, the one-eyed Cyclops. They are now enslaved to him, tend his flocks, and maintain his cave. Silenus wonders if it was all a dream that he was friends with a god now that he is just a slave.

Odysseus and his crew arrive at the mountain and, upon seeing Silenus, ask him if they have chanced upon the city of Dionysus (he probably made the connection based on Silenus’ dress). Silenus says that he was shipwrecked and now serves the Cyclops, who is barbaric and even eats strangers who come into his land. Odysseus says that they need food and can trade wine. When Silenus hears that Odysseus has wine from Maron (Dionysus’ son), he is overjoyed. He gets drunk and even offers other provisions in addition to food. But Polyphemus arrives suddenly and Silenus does an about-face. He says that Odysseus and crew had ambushed him and were trying to steal, and he was trying his best to stop them.

Polyphemus is angered by this and asks for preparations to be made to kill all the men as a feast for him. He lights a large fire, prepares the vessels, etc., and also kills a couple of Odysseus’s companions in a gruesome manner. Odysseus offers him wine, and Polyphemus gladly drinks it. When he asks Odysseus for his name, he says, “Noman”. The wine is so good that he drinks more and eventually becomes drunk and incapacitated. Odysseus then goes on to the next stage of his plan, in which he and his companions blind Polyphemus by driving a heated stake into his eye. As he is escaping into his boat, Odysseus reveals his identity and Polyphemus recalls a prophesy that had predicted this incident and says that the oracle had also predicted that Odysseus would pay for this with hardships in his journey.

My Thoughts

I was taken aback by Silenus’ sudden lying. One moment, he was friendly with Odysseus and was happy to trade and get wine, but the next moment, when Polyphemus came in, he went about-face and started telling lies about Odysseus. Not just a simple denial, but an elaborate fabrication with details. When someone lies like that, the abruptness leaves one temporarily speechless, similar to what Odysseus probably experienced in the story.

Gaslighting and lying blatantly are not things that we expect from civilized society. But one sees so much of it in social media, TV channels, etc. So many people try to deliberately twist facts that one begins to doubt oneself because it is not just the lying but the detailed false narratives that are truly unsettling. In the past, it used to be said that history was written by victors, but now, so many people rewrite history in their own ways and create ‘alternate truths’. Documented facts are disputed, past statements are denied despite evidence, alternate versions of events are promoted on social media, and it has gotten so bad that a major social media company decided to remove fact-checking of posts since it probably has become an extremely complex thing to get right. I was reminded of this passage from Yuval Harari’s “Nexus”.

“While information always connects, some types of information—from scientific books to political speeches—may strive to connect people by accurately representing certain aspects of reality. But this requires a special effort, which most information does not make. This is why the naive view is wrong to believe that creating more powerful information technology will necessarily result in a more truthful understanding of the world. If no additional steps are taken to tilt the balance in favor of truth, an increase in the amount and speed of information is likely to swamp the relatively rare and expensive truthful accounts by much more common and cheap types of information.” ¹

I think “Nexus” is a book that came out at the right time. It is a must-read, in my opinion, for most people since we consume so much content from the Internet daily. The other thing is the issue of who to rely on for truth? In the play, the Cyclops is barbaric, and Silenus is not. Yet, it is not the barbarian who lies. So when we expect some sections of society or some institutions to be the guardians of truth and they become the channels for disinformation, that erodes trust and creates disillusionment.

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AI Response to the Post

Text Response (Gemini)

1. Expanding on Gaslighting, Lying, and Twisting Facts:

You rightly point out the shock of Silenus’s sudden betrayal. His behavior is a clear example of gaslighting, a form of psychological manipulation in which a person seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a victim’s mind, making them question their own memory, perception, or sanity. Silenus doesn’t simply deny knowing Odysseus; he actively fabricates a story accusing Odysseus and his men of attempted theft. This is a crucial element of gaslighting:

• Fabrication of a False Narrative: Silenus creates an entirely new version of events, placing himself in the role of the victim and Odysseus as the aggressor. This is not just a lie; it’s a carefully constructed narrative designed to manipulate Polyphemus’s perception.

• Exploitation of Power Dynamics: Silenus understands his precarious position as a slave. By accusing Odysseus, he attempts to gain favor with Polyphemus and protect himself. This highlights how gaslighting can be used to maintain or reinforce power imbalances.

• Creating Confusion and Disorientation: The suddenness and audacity of Silenus’s lies are designed to disorient Odysseus, leaving him speechless and unable to effectively defend himself. This confusion is a key goal of gaslighting, as it makes the victim more susceptible to manipulation.

Your connection to modern media is spot on. The constant barrage of conflicting narratives, deliberate distortions, and “alternate truths” on social media and certain TV channels creates a similar sense of disorientation and erodes trust in established sources of information. The removal of fact-checking by some platforms, as you mentioned, exacerbates this problem, leaving individuals even more vulnerable to manipulation. The quote from Harari’s “Nexus” perfectly captures this: the sheer volume of information doesn’t guarantee truth; it can, in fact, drown it.

The play also highlights the danger of misplaced trust. We often expect certain individuals or institutions to be bastions of truth, but when they engage in deception, the impact is far more damaging. This is precisely what happens with Silenus, who, despite not being a “barbarian” like Polyphemus, is the one who lies. This reminds us to be critical of all sources of information, regardless of their perceived authority or status.

2. Deeper Analysis of Themes and Symbolism:

• Civilization vs. Barbarism: The play explores the contrast between Greek civilization (represented by Odysseus) and the barbaric world of the Cyclops. Polyphemus rejects the Greek values of hospitality and piety, declaring himself self-sufficient and subject to no law but his own appetite. This theme resonates today in discussions of cultural relativism, the importance of universal human rights, and the dangers of unchecked power.

• Intelligence vs. Brute Force: Odysseus’s victory over Polyphemus is not achieved through physical strength but through cunning and intelligence. He uses his wit to deceive the Cyclops, get him drunk, and blind him. This highlights the power of reason and strategy over brute force, a timeless lesson applicable to various aspects of life, from personal relationships to international relations.

• The Power of Language: The play emphasizes the power of language to deceive and manipulate. Silenus’s lies and Odysseus’s clever use of the name “Noman” demonstrate how words can be used to create false realities and achieve specific goals. This theme is particularly relevant in the age of social media, where language is often used to spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion.

• The Nature of Slavery and Freedom: Silenus and the Satyrs are enslaved by Polyphemus, highlighting the dehumanizing effects of slavery. Their eventual decision to side with Odysseus and return to the service of Dionysus represents a choice for freedom and a return to a more civilized way of life. This theme resonates with contemporary discussions of human rights and social justice.

Lessons for Today’s World:

• Critical Thinking and Media Literacy: The play underscores the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in navigating the complex information landscape. We must be able to evaluate sources, identify biases, and recognize manipulative tactics.

• The Dangers of Unchecked Power: Polyphemus’s rejection of any authority but his own appetite serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power. This lesson is relevant to both political and personal contexts.

• The Importance of Reason and Dialogue: Odysseus’s victory through intelligence highlights the importance of reason and dialogue in resolving conflicts. We must strive to engage in constructive communication rather than resorting to violence or manipulation.

3. Thought-Provoking Questions for Modern Readers:

• How do the tactics used by Silenus resonate with the spread of misinformation in today’s media?

• What does the play say about the nature of truth and the challenges of discerning it in a world of conflicting narratives?

• How does the theme of civilization vs. barbarism relate to contemporary issues of cultural conflict and international relations?

• What lessons can we learn from Odysseus’s use of intelligence and strategy in overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles?

• In a world saturated with information, how can we ensure that truth prevails over falsehood?

By reflecting on these questions and engaging with the play’s themes, we can gain valuable insights into the human condition and the challenges we face in the modern world.

1. Harari, Yuval Noah. Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI (pp. 16-17). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.