How does the poet portray the changing moods of the sailors in “The Lotos Eaters”?
Or, What is the effect of the Lotos on the sailors?
In Tennyson’s (1809-1892) poem “The Lotos-eaters” (1832), the poet shows how the mood of the sailors changes slowly after they eat the magical lotos fruit. After eating the lotos, the sailors feel a strong desire to stay and rest forever on the island. They no longer want to toil hard and sail home.
Arrival in the Dreamy Land: At first, when they see the island, they are full of energy and hope. Odysseus, their king, says that the waves will soon take them to land. The sailors are excited. But when they reach the strange land, everything feels sleepy. The island feels like it is always afternoon there. The poet writes:
“In which it seemed always afternoon.”
It means the island is sleepy, dreamy, and very quiet. Th
e air is heavy and slow. Streams fall like smoke. The beautiful nature makes the sailors feel relaxed and calm.
The Effect of the Lotos: Then, the Lotos-eaters appear and give the sailors the lotos fruit. This magical fruit changes their feelings. Whoever eats the lotos starts to feel sleepy and dreamy. The sound of the sea seems far away and sad to them. Even the voices of their fellow sailors sound thin and ghostly to them. Although they are awake, they feel as if they are in a deep dream.
Tired and Resting Forever: The sailors sit on the sand and think about their homes and families. But they do not want to return to their fatherland. Because they feel very tired of the sea. Suddenly, one of the sailors says:
“We will return no more.”
Then all of them sing together:
“Our island home is far beyond the wave; we will no longer roam.”
So, the magical lotos fruit has fully changed their mood. From brave and strong sailors, they change to calm, dreamy, and lazy. The lotos makes them forget their work and fills them with a deep desire to rest forever.
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