Summary: The Wanderings and Calypso:
In the story, Odysseus is stuck on an island, being held captive by the beautiful goddess Calypso, near the end of his ten year journey home from the Trojan War. Athena has aided Odysseus throughout his journey thus far and does so again by sending the messenger god, Hermes, to the island to demand that a forlorn Odysseus be released. Reluctantly, Calypso prepares a raft as well as provisions for Odysseus for his journey home before having one final meal with him. She warns him of the dangers out at sea and the struggles he will face as well as reminding him of how peaceful it is on her island, but nevertheless Odysseus decides to set sail. Poseidon strikes Odysseus with a storm on the ocean which destroys Odysseus’s raft and he barely survives to the island of Scheria, where he quickly falls asleep.
Obstacles as Universal Themes:
Resisting Temptation
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While Odysseus does want to get home to his family, it would be so much easier for him to stay on the island, where he has almost no problems, with the beautiful Calypso. She tries to tell him this, saying that, “if you could see it all, before you go, the adversity you face at sea, you would stay here… and be immortal”, but Odysseus decides to leave anyway (I: 114-116). This demonstrates the theme of resisting temptation because Calypso tempts Odysseus to stay on the island and even offers him immortality, making staying seem the the easiest and best decision, but Odysseus holds strong and leaves for his family and his wife who, as Calypso reminds him, is not as beautiful as