This question is missing the necessary excerpt to be answered. I've found the complete question online. It is as follows:
Read the excerpt from Part 1 of The Odyssey by Homer.
but on the spot I told them: 'Back, and quickly!
Out to sea again!' My men were mutinous,
fools, on stores of wine. Sheep after sheep they
butchered by the surf, and shambling cattle,
feasting,—while fugitives went inland, running
to call to arms the main force of Cicones.
How does this excerpt prove that Odysseus’s men caused their own problems?
by describing their neglect of orders
by explaining their military strategy
by showing their physical weaknesses
by illustrating their cruelty to one another
The best option is letter A. by describing their neglect of orders.
Explanation:
In the famous epic poem "The Odyssey", the main character Odysseus is on board a ship with his men, struggling to return home. Odysseus was told that if his men killed the cattle found in Helios's island, the boat and the men themselves would be destroyed. However, his men are stubborn and demand to land there. Odysseus then makes them swear they won't touch the cattle.
However, the men's promise only lasts for as long as they have food on the ship. As soon hunger begins to torment them, they lose their resolution and forget about the promise they made. The excerpt above shows how they ignored Odysseus's orders. It is this stupidity that will lead them all to die in a storm created by Zeus. Only Odysseus survives, since he is the only one who does not touch the cattle. If his men had been obedient to his orders, they would have stayed alive. They caused their own problems.
