Along his journey, Odysseus faces many challenges and disasters causing him to spend 20 years lost at sea. Many of the decisions that expanded his journey home were caused by his hubris and lack of respect for others. He ignores advice from others which creates more problems than solutions. As his journey progresses he begins to change and learn from his mistakes. He becomes a mentally different person than when he first left Troy. On Odysseus’ trip home, the disasters he suffers through teaches him to respect others.
His experiences on his journey teach him to have more respect for the gods. In the Phaeacian palace, King Alcinous talks about the possibility that Odysseus could be a god. Odysseus immediately replies, “I’m nothing like the immortal gods who rule the skies, in either build or breed” (186.245-246).When we are first introduced to Odysseus, he angers the god Poseidon by claiming he, a mortal man, was better than the gods. Now when he was asked if he is a god he claims to be nothing compared to the gods. The pride that he had in the beginning has been
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When Odysseus approaches Princess Nausicaa asking for help, he pleads, “Princess , please! You after all that I have suffered, you are the first I’ve come to. I know no one else, none in your city, no one in your land. Show me the way to town, give me a rag for cover, (174.193-196).” When he meets the Nausicaa, he asks for only a rag and directions. Earlier in his journey, he would have expected more from his host. Odysseus would’ve taken advantage of the hospitality of the Phaeacians. Although he could’ve asked for more considering he was talking to a member of the loyal family, he didn’t want to burden her. In his situation, it was respectful to ask only a littles of her. His viewpoint and mentality towards hospitality and respecting others has changed throughout his journey. Odysseus has learned a lot about respecting