Final answer:
Polyphemus' brothers did not help him because Odysseus tricked Polyphemus into believing that 'Nobody' was attacking him. When Polyphemus cried out, his brothers mistook the cry for a non-issue, thus Odysseus' cunning allowed him and his men to escape.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you're asking pertains to an episode in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, where the Cyclops Polyphemus is not aided by his brothers when he is blinded by Odysseus. The reason Polyphemus' brothers did not help him is that Odysseus cleverly tricked Polyphemus into telling his brothers that 'Nobody' was hurting him.
When Odysseus attacks Polyphemus and blinds him, Polyphemus cries out to his brothers for help, but since Odysseus had previously introduced himself as 'Nobody,' the brothers believed Polyphemus was not in danger, saying, 'If nobody is hurting you. you must be sick, and that is beyond our help.'
This event illustrates Odysseus' cunning as part of his strategic character, often referred to as 'Odysseus the cunning' or 'wily Odysseus.' The misunderstanding caused by the use of the name 'Nobody' highlights the human-like follies, such as lack of communication and misunderstanding, even among the mythical creatures in The Odyssey.