Society is formed around morals, but society is ruined by the flaws of the citizens. Man has come a long way since the time of Homer, yet there are still many blemishes prominent in man, which binds man to society and society to man. Homer uses The Odyssey to address and analyze these flaws of society and man such as man's distrusting spirit, man's survival based on others' misfortune, and man's nature to gain unworthy assistance through pity. These vices are universal, and no one, not even the immortals, may eliminate them.
             One of the main flaws with man is their distrusting spirit. Even Odysseus himself, is distrustful of others when others have not yet proven their trust. Since Calypso has not yet proven her trust to Odysseus, Odysseus does not feel that he should trust her even when her intentions are pure. Because of his distrust, when Calypso was meant to send Odysseus on his way, he made Calypso take an oath and says, "I will never, notwithstanding what you say, set foot upon a raft till you consent, goddess, to swear a solemn oath that you are not meaning to plot me further woe"(48). Even with Calypso just being a messenger of the gods, Odysseus still will not put his trust in her. In order to allow himself to depend on Calypso, he must be assured by the gods that Calypso means no harm.
             Along with people having to prove their trust, Odysseus takes away the trust he sets in others and the gods when he is doubtful of himself. Once Odysseus experiences self-doubt, then he undergoes a mental process in which no one may be trusted. This can be overcome once a god makes Odysseus believe in himself again. One of the most prominent examples in The Odyssey where Odysseus looses belief in himself is when he faced with the task of eliminating his house of the suitors. It is then on Athena's shoulders to make Odysseus trust himself and her, a god. She does puts that trust back into the mind of Ody...