Kirke herself gives off a false appearance to the men. When the first group of Odysseus’s men come to the house, they were enticed by the goddess’s song: “In the entrance way they stayed to listen there:” (240-241). She shows the men that she is courteous by inviting the men in and giving them food and drink. The goddess works her magic on the men by giving them temptations to deal with. She gives them food to eat, and wine that she has laced with some sort of potion that causes the men to lose desire to go home. Kirke then turns the men into pigs. She uses false appearance as a courteous enchanting god the lure the men in.
“[…]/ to call them in.[…]/ While she prepared a meal of cheese and baley/ and amber honey mixed with Pramnian wine./ adding her own vile pinch,/ […]/ all/ swinish now” (253-265).
The men are not the only ones that have to deal with the deception of Kirke. She tries to deceive Odysseus with the same food and drink that she offered his men, but with the knowledge attained from Hermes he was able to out wit the goddess. When her first attempt fails she then tries flattery to dupe Odysseus into the bedroom to lie with her: “ ‘What a champion, of what country, can you be? […]/ We two shall mingle and make love upon our bed. / So mutual trust may come of play and love’ ” (365-377). Being forewarned by Hermes, Odysseus out wits the goddess once again.
Odysseus and his men convey the theme of loyalty throughout the episode of Kirke. Odysseus shows his loyalty not only to his men but to his wife and homeland as well. His men show their loyalty to him and one another.
The men hold doubt when Odysseus asks them to go out and explore the island. They fear of what might happen after their adventure with Antiphates and Kyklops. The men think of what might happen if they put their trust Odysseus again. However showing their loyalty to Odysseus the men go off with out argument to the hall of Kirke, but crying: “So off he went, with twenty two companions/ Weeping” (227-229).
Odysseus thinks of his men before he indulges in the fine meal prepared for him by the nymphs. Upon his request, Kirke goes to the pen and transforms the pigs back into men. Odysseus returns to shoreline, where his loyal men are waiting mournfully. They were not expecting him to return, but the blissful tone that they spoke in (: “ ‘Prince, what joy this is, your safe return!’ ” (466);) upon his arrival shows the loyalty the men have for Odysseus. The loyalty the men have towards Odysseus show up again when Eurylokhos refuses to go with them back to the hall. The men side with Odysseus and are willing to leave Eurylokhos to guard the ship.
Odysseus shows loyalty not just to his men, but to his wife and his homeland as well. Even though he sleeps with the goddess Kirke, he doesn’t do it out of lust or love but because he has been told by Hermes not to disappoint her: “ ‘A pleasure you must not decline’ ” (335). While beginning the story of his journey before the Kirke episode he tells Alkinoos briefly at first all of the adventures he had, and tells Alkinoos about his encounters with Kalypso and Kirke. He then goes on to tell how his homeland is so dear to him and that nothing will ever replace it:
“I shall not see on earth a place more dear, / Though I have been detained by Kalypso, / Loveliest among goddesses, who held me/ In her smooth caves, to be her heart’s delight/ As Kirke of Aiaia, the enchantress, / Desired me, and detained me in her hall. / But in my heart I never gave consent. / Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass/ His own home and his parents? In far lands/ He shall not, though he find a house of gold” (31-40).
Odysseus and his men feel that it is time for them to depart and head home: “ ‘Captain, shake off this trance, and think of home-/ if home indeed awaits us,/ […]/[…] and I agreed (521-525). The theme of false paradise is present. The men and Odysseus have been feasting for a year now and they have fallen out of the daze that where they are is paradise. They rather be at home in Ithaca. Odysseus keeps is loyalty to his men and tells Kirke that she must keep her promise and send them home: “ ‘O Kirke,/[…]/ pleading when you are not at hand to hear (533-538).
In the Kirke episode Odysseus and his men show their loyalty to one another through false appearances. Kirke gives an appearance as a courteous maiden inviting the men into have food and drink. Since it was common courtesy during this time period to invite a stranger into your house and feed them before asking their name, nothing was thought of it. In the episode Kirke tries to seduce Odysseus, but fails because he has been warned about her. The book shows how the loyalty in both the men and Odysseus grow as it goes on. They trust one another and respect each other.