Examples Of Archetypes In The Odyssey

Let’s be real, The Odyssey is a complicated piece of text. With its ever-branching storyline and intricate characters it can take a minute to truly decipher it all. But once you do, you can see the many levels of not only the story, but also its characters. Archetypes are a literary device we use to categorize characters and the options are endless. We are basically able to summarize a character as a whole with these character archetypes. They allow for a better understanding of the characters. Now, what are some of the archetypes in The Odyssey? While these two characters are both strategically minded, Circe in The Odyssey exhibits the characteristics of a temptress archetype, and Odysseus displays the characteristics of a warrior archetype.

For instance, when Odysseus failed to fall for Circe’s spell she became keen on him and tried to lure him to her by saying “Come, sheathe your sword, let’s go to bed together, mount my bed . . .” (10, 240). Even Odysseus struggled to restrain himself from her, thinking, “So she enticed but I fought back, still wary.” (10, 240). Since Circe is being flirtatious and speaks persuasively, she would be deemed a temptress. A temptress often tries to manipulate those that are vulnerable and impressionable, much like what Circe is doing to Odysseus. Furthermore, when Eurylochus explained what happened when he and some of the other men went to explore Circe’s palace he said “Someone inside was plying a great loom, and how she sang—in a high clear voice! Goddess or woman—we called out and hailed her … She opened her gleaming doors at once and stepped forth, inviting us all in, and in we went, all innocence. But I stayed behind—I sensed a trap.” (10, 163). A temptress uses sly tactics to get what they want. This is what Circe does when she uses her captivating singing skills to attract Eurylochus and the others towards her palace, simply, to capture them. Circe uses her charm and charisma in persuasive manners to tempt others into doing what she pleases, showing, that she is the archetype of a

For example, when Odysseus was retelling the story of his adventure, he spoke about his experience in Ismarus. He stated “There I sacked the city, killed the men, but as for the wives and plunder, that rich haul we dragged away from the place” (9, 212). Odysseus acted by fighting and engaging in violence which is a trait that those of the warrior archetype is inclined to. He also did not allow his derailment from his path home to affect how he laid waste to Ismarus, this stubbornness proves him to be a warrior. Additionally, when Odysseus was trapped in the Cyclops' cave with his men, he came up with a plan to escape that included stabbing the cyclops' eye. He thought “Hoisting high that olive stake with its stabbing point, straight into the monsters’ eye they rammed it hard- I drove my weight on it from above and bored it home . . .” (9, 223). Odysseus used his courage when he chose to follow this plan of his that involved stabbing a cyclops that towered above all his men and himself greatly. He used his strength to attack and was driven by honor in this situation proving once more, he is the archetype of a warrior. With his courage, strength, and drive for fighting, Odysseus is the archetype of a