In Stephen Stondheim's musical, Sweeny Todd, Sweeny Todd says, "These are desperate times, Mrs. Lovett, and they call for desperate measures." Todd and Lovett decide to prepare and market meat pies. The problem with their plan is that the meat will be human. Sweeny Todd focuses on the decisions people make in desperate times. Although no mentally stable individual would normally consider making pies with human flesh, the characters feel that they will not be able to conquer their financial situation by any other means. Characters in other works may feel forced to make desperate decisions because they feel trapped not only by their economic situation, but also by their relationships, family, and social situation. When analyzing a character's actions, you may decide to use the psychological lens of interpretation, a form of analysis that is “strongly based on the idea of ​​the existence of a human consciousness – those impulses, desires and feelings of which a person is not aware. of but which influence emotions and behaviors. Maslow's Higher Needs Architect theory discusses the effect that human consciousness has on one's actions and can be used to understand the motivations behind a character's actions. Using the psychological lens of interpretation in Homer's epic Odyssey, one can understand Odysseus' violent reaction to the suitors in his home as a result of his instinctive needs not being met during his travels and see how important it is for a man to feel he is respected from the company. Instinctive needs are the biological needs that humans share with animals. Maslow's higher architect theory of human needs assumes that “needs are organized into a higher archy in terms of power. … The lower the need in the hierarchy, the more powerful it is” (Hergenhan 477)....... middle of paper ...... h physically and emotionally stressful. It leaves many of its needs only partially satisfied. When she returns home and prepares to face her suitors, many needs remain unmet. For Ulysses, the killing of the suitors constitutes a last, desperate attempt to guarantee intimacy with his wife, security, family and respect. He sees no other way to ensure that his needs are met without eliminating the people who currently cause him stress. His actions, while certainly not acceptable, show what happens when a person is faced with a desperate situation. Works Cited Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. WHD Rouse. New York: A Signet Classic, 1937. Print.Meyer, Michael. Bedford's introduction to literature: reading, thinking, writing. 8th ed. New York: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2008. Print.