The Odyssey, by W. H. D Rouse, exhibits Odysseus’ inconsiderate attempts to get back to his wife, Penelope. As Odysseus departs from Troy, he is always watched by the gods, and usually helped by Athena, who takes on several disguises. The different disguises that multiple characters portray shape the odyssey. Towards the end of the story Athena disguises Odysseus. The Different disguises that Athena and Odysseus convey don't just benefit them, but they also impacts those around them. Telemachus is directly impacted by the disguise of Mentes, and Mentes tells Telemachus to hold a meeting in the town. After the meeting fails Mentes ( Athena disguise) approaches Telemachus and mentions. “I tell you he is not dead yet he will find a way to get back because he is never at a loss.” This …show more content…
For the safety of Odysseus and his family, Odysseus it transformed to an old beggar by Athena who tells him,”Now then I will disguises you so that no one will be able to know you. I will shrivel up the sound flesh of that muscular body.” When she Disguises him no one knows him until he tells them besides Eureclea. The first person he trusted and one of the only people he trusted was, Euramos. Being the old beggar and letting few people know who he was saved him from getting stabbed in the back by one of the suitors. Even Though Odysseus says he wants to get back to his wife, his inconsiderate attempts keeps him away much longer the he should've. If it was not for Athena and the disguises the story would've ended sooner, and more harsh than the story did for Telemachus and Odysseus. Athena is Odysseus’ guardian throughout the story and they both use different Disguises to help out no just themselves, but directly and indirectly helps the others around them. Odysseus is given a disguise by Athena. All of the disguises Odysseus and Athena use benefits not just them but those around them
Telemachus goes through all of the twelve stages of the homeric hero’s journey; for example, “My sons, yoke the combed horses to the chariot so that Telemachus may begin his journey”(42). This is where Telemachus starts his journey to seek out information of his father’s well being. Telemachus takes a trip to Pylos and retrieves his information on his father. Furthermore, “I came [to Pylos] to see if you could tell me anything about my father... Tell me how my father, Odysseus, met his end” (53).
Rather than bringing Odysseus back from Ogygia, Athena guides Telemachus to embark on a journey to learn of his whereabouts. Athena hopes to inspire adventure and perseverance into Telemachus and prepare him for his future. However, Athena purposely presents herself as other characters instead of in her true form. The first instance of Athena acting as a mentor to Telemachus, she disguised herself as Mentes. She states, “ Your father will not be exiled much longer from the land he loves so well, not even if he’s kept in iron chains.
Throughout Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, the main character, Odysseus, exhibits multiple signs of cunning behavior, which therefore drives the plot and aids in characterization. One instance where Odysseus exemplifies his role as a cunning character is when he tricks Polyphemus in an effort to escape the Cyclops’ cave. He develops a plan in which he and his men blind Polyphemus and use the Cyclops’ sheep as a form of escape. This plan is comprised of a series of steps, including the development of a weapon, intoxicating Polyphemus, gouging out his eye, hiding on his sheep, and ultimately, escaping his cave. In an effort to keep his identity a secret, Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is “Nobody.”
I love that Margaret Atwood chose to tell Penelope’s side of the story through Penelope’s point of view. It definitely makes the narrative of Odysseus and his journey much more interesting. However, the change in point of view causes the reader to question who is telling the true story – Homer or Penelope? Personally, I am having a hard time choosing what to believe and what not to believe; more specifically, I am conflicted over the character of Odysseus. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as a hero whose only flaw is his pride.
It happened that an occurrence of storm in the Island of Ogygia had destined Odysseus and Nazarria to meet. According to Odysseus, he saw the occurrence of this storm made his life desperate, leaving him stranded on the shores of the same Island. For over twenty days, Odysseus has been deserted desperately in the wine dark sea which would swell upon the release of the gale winds as he tried to get away from the Island. While at the sea and on his way to his destination, Odysseus had multitudes of people around him but it is the occurrence of the storm that set him grieving at the Island.
Penelope, his wife, is greatly affected; as many greedy suitors disrespect her and move into their home to try and win her hand in marriage. Throughout ‘The Odyssey’, the greed and folly of men play a huge part in increasing the difficulty and severity of Odysseus’s situations and ultimately change his fate and the directions of his journey. The greed and folly of men are largely represented by Penelope’s suitors. In the very first book of The Odyssey, the disgusting actions of the suitors were introduced to the readers.
Odysseus has grown from the man he was before, as now he finds comfort and safety in obeying the gods when in the past he did not consider their wishes. Odysseus has only returned due to Athena and he has recognized that and his compliance is founded in his appreciation and respect for her. Odysseus is now a hero due to the obedience he now has to the gods, founded in a sense of humility. Through Odysseus’ experiences on his journey, he learns the value of obedience and dangers of arrogance and ultimately, become a hero through the lessons learned.
Athena is a major character throughout the book of The Odyssey and is known as the goddess of wisdom and battle. Throughout the course of the book, it is evident that Athena has a weak spot for the main character, Odysseus. Odysseus is trying to return home after the Trojan War, as the other Greek hero’s have already done, however he faces multiple challenges a long the way. Fortunately, for Odysseus, Athena was there to guide him through a few of these troubling situations.
The Odyssey by Homer is an exemplary story that teaches life lessons to those going on a journey for themselves. It illustrates how the challenges and obstacles one may face can help someone become a better leader. The Odyssey highlights one man, Odysseus, a man filled with excessive pride, experiencing the wrath of the god Poseidon. He expects to arrive at his home, Ithaca, safely to reunite with his wife, Penelope, but unfortunately faces many temptations and setbacks. Due to the challenges he faces, it prevents him from arriving home as early as he thought he would.
Using her power of disguise, Athena visits Telemachus and informs him of his father’s whereabouts. Disguised as Mentes, Athena expresses to Telemachus that “great Odysseus is not dead. He’s still alive…” (83). Because of this information, Telemachus feels assured that his father still lives, and searching for him will have a positive outcome. Athena further advises Telemachus how he should proceed with this information and how he should find his father and bring him home.
Naturally, he has much to be proud of: his sexy and loyal wife, his bravery, and his victorious battles from the Trojan War and beyond. However, his arrogance creates a weakness in his character that negatively impacts himself and the people around him. The evolution in Odysseus’s personality turns him from an arrogant flaunter to a humble man, and demonstrates that the strifes he encounters during his journey home is not simply new experiences, but also his beginning of a profound revelation. Starting from the middle of the mountain, Odysseus’s new transformation will allow him to soar to the top with eagle
Upon Odysseus arrival to Ithaca, Athena hides his identity to help him defeat the suitors. She turns him into a very old beggar to conceal his identity from everyone, most importantly the suitors. Odysseus reveals himself to his son Telemachus, cowherd and the swine herd. The nurse Eurycleia recognizes him because of a scar he got years ago by a boar’s white tusk. Penelope doesn’t recognize Odysseus at first sight because of the disguise.
Telemachus addresses the suitors after talking to Athena the previous day and tells them that they need to stop courting Penelope until either Odysseus returns, or news of his death is confirmed. (Page 21). When Telemachus receives guidance from Athena, he has the courage to be brave and stand up to the suitors and tell them to wait until there was confirmation of Odysseus’ death, which will prolong Penelope’s decision on a suitor. Telemachus then leaves Ithica and visits Nestor to ask for information about Odysseus, “Him answer’d, bolder now, but still discrete, Telemachus. For Pallas had his heart with manly courage arm’d, so that he might ask from Nestor tidings of his absent Sire…”
The Odyssey is a well known epic that brings the reader through the tale of how Odysseus and his family reunited. Odysseus spent twenty years away from his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope. He was away for ten years at Troy and spent the other ten years on his journey back to his native land, Ithaca. Within the epic, author Homer reveals characters of gods and goddesses throughout the poem who impacted the families journey. One importantly, was the goddess of wisdom and war, Athena.
struggling against Penelope’s suitors; since Odysseus had not returned for about 20 years, the suitors came in order to assume a role as king of Ithaca. Under the guidance of Athena, Odysseus has decided not to reveal his true identity yet and instead constructs a persona. Odysseus therefore lies both in order to ascertain the loyalty of his family; as well as to respect the Greek ideal of the ideal time to reveal himself to his wife in the best state possible. Odysseus lies in order to prove Penelope’s fidelity.