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Comparing Odysseus Return And A Soldier's Return

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Whether in real life or in mythology there is going to be conflicts. Odysseus’ return and a veterans return would be unquestionably similar. They may not face the same conflicts such as fighting a cyclops, but there are still similarities that relate. Some of the hardships that happen when soldiers come home is worse than being at war. Many of the hardships Odysseus faced in the Odyssey can be likened to some of the hardships that soldiers may face when returning home from war. The lotus eaters in the Odyssey are similar to soldiers returning home. Once you begin a routine you don't want to get out of it. When soldiers are out on the battlefield sometimes they don't want to leave because they like the adrenaline rush. The soldiers feel like they belong there, protecting their country. In the Odyssey there were lotus eaters that lived on an island and they ate the plant lotus (lotus is a fruit). The lotus eaters would influence anyone that came to the island to eat the lotus. The lotus was a narcotic fruit so it made you sleep peacefully and feel good. So the people would keep eating it and they would want to stay on the island to have it. So modern soldiers and the characters from the Odyssey have something holding them back from coming home. …show more content…

Odysseus was haunted by all the things that happened to him during his journey. For example Odysseus had horrible memories of Poseidon torturing him while we was on his journey at the ocean, he was really stressed. Sometimes when soldiers come back from war they have post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder that can be triggered by seeing terrifying events; such as war or in Odysseus’ case, monsters, and being away from his family for an extended period of time. Odysseus being haunted by all these things could symbolize PTSD, which is found in most

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The distinct imagery of Odysseus travelling foreign lands over a prolonged period recalls the events of the narrative that has seen Odysseus in far off places for twenty long years up until this moment. He has to endure physical and metal tribulation, constantly striving for an unattainable end, so that his narrative

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In the epic poem, the Odyssey, our hero Odysseus goes on an incredible journey enriched with power, monsters, storms and various other drama and adventure. One popular archetype, the journey, is commonly used to symbolize the trials we tend to all face in life. The name of the book fits it justly because "The Odyssey" translates to "the journey". The challenges he faces throughout the story appear to represent life lessons anyone can take to heart. Patience is a virtue that has to be learned, typically through suffering.

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In the book called The Odyssey by Homer, it mainly follows the story of a king of a village called Ithaca, hundreds of years ago-This man, is named Odysseus. Odysseus goes through many adventures after the victory of the Trojan War. However, this is where Odysseus, is not being as strong as a great war hero and a king as he should be. Although Odysseus was seen as a very strong person, physically and mentally, he lacks the appreciation and the care of his crew throughout the trials and didn’t think through many of his actions thoroughly and how they would affect not only his crew but people around him.

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During Odysseus’ decade-long journey to his home, he encounters many forms of suffering, the most prevalent being transformative in nature. Transformative suffering, which is typically caused by mortals, themselves, alters a mortal being; albeit physically, mentally, or emotionally. In the first few years of his journey, Odysseus suffers the loss of much of his crew. He loses men while plundering a small island; he loses some to the lotus esters; and a few to Polyphemus. Throughout all these sufferings, Odysseus learns that he should listen to the advice of others; thus, transforming him mentally and emotionally through these sufferings.

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Homer shows how Odysseus feels the pain of the journey strongly when his men are being devoured by the deadly man eating whirlpool, Charybdis. “She ate them as they shrieked there, in her den, in the dire grapple, reaching still for me- and deathly pity ran through me at that sight- far the worst I have ever suffered…”(Lines 821-825). As his men were being consumed by Charybdis, Odysseus realized that the journey would be more painful than expected. Odysseus also felt the grieving emotional pain of the journey when he watched his men face their inevitable deaths. “ No sooner had I caught the sight of our black hull, than the savory of burnt fat eddied around me; grief took hold of me and I cried aloud…”(895-898).

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