How is fate determined? The concept of fate has been around for centuries, but it remains uncertain who or what specifically decides our fate. The epic poem written by Homer, The Odyssey, expresses the idea that fate was controlled by the gods. The ancient Greeks believed that gods, or higher beings, were the cause for any unexplained event that occurred in the mortal world. They would blame the gods for all of their misfortunes but would also pray to the same gods for help and protection. Gods could play with a mortal’s life as much as they wanted, and there would be no way for a mortal to stop them. Monsters, like gods, also have the power to alter the course of a mortal’s life. Even if fate is predetermined, gods, goddesses, and other …show more content…
Odysseus provoked Polyphemus, a giant, one-eyed monster, by plunging a burning stake into his eye and blinding him. In a fit of rage, Polyphemus condemned Odysseus by praying to Poseidon, “ ‘Hear me, great Poseidon; if I am indeed your own true begotten son, grant that Odysseus may never reach his home alive; or if he must get back to his friends at last, let him do so late and in sore plight after losing all his men let him reach his home in another man’s ship and find trouble in his house’ ” (Homer 100). Polyphemus pleaded to Poseidon to help put a curse on Odysseus and make his journey more grueling in order to prevent Odysseus from returning home to Ithaca. Polyphemus asking Poseidon, who is the god of sea, for assistance indicates that even monsters need the help of gods to interfere with a mortal’s …show more content…
Athena, for instance, aided Odysseus on his journey to guarantee that he would safely return home to Ithaca. When Poseidon casted strong currents of winds in Odysseus’ direction, Athena “countered him at once. The rest of the winds she stopped right in their tracks, commanding them all to hush now, go to sleep… so he could reach the Phaeacians, mingle with men who love their long oars and escape his death at last.” (Homer 89). Athena protected Odysseus from the wrath of Poseidon and helped him throughout his journey because she favored his heroic qualities. As Odysseus received help from a goddess, he was able to avoid the same terrible fate as his men, who all died from the meddling of