ipl-logo

Suffering In The Odyssey

830 Words4 Pages

Perhaps one of the most defining characteristics of Christianity comes from Christians’ view of life as a journey. Jesus’s life, the standard for Christian living, ended up as a journey to the cross. Full of pain, these journeys offer solace in the hope of a happy ending, although uncertainty and pain lie between the believer and the end of the journey. Journeying home often becomes the main purpose of Christian journeys, while journeying from pain serves as an escape from unhealthy life experiences for Christians. However, the thirst for earthly desires and knowledge sometimes becomes a stumbling block for Christians. Through the journey home, the journey from pain, and quest for earthly material, these paths can either destroy or refine the the believer. As most Christians believe, the life of a Christian ultimately ends with Christ’s open arms. However, Christ did not guarantee an easy pilgrimage. In fact, he often reminded his disciples of the fact of pain and temptations. In The Odyssey, Odysseus, …show more content…

Yet suffering can still lead to growth and fight—the righteous fight. In Huckleberry Finn, the slave Jim despises the yoke placed on his shoulders and yearns for the life of a freeman, so he escapes with Huck, setting his sights on lands where he believes will set him free. By the end, his fight pays off and he enters freedom. With Pearl, a man faces the death of a woman dear to him, probably his daughter, and in his depression, crumbles in his attempts to bring her back to him. However, the woman points to an image of the Heavenly City, telling him that she dwells there now. Additionally, she urges him to look towards and fulfill the will of God instead of looking for her presence on earth, which, when he awakes, he resolves to do. Unfortunately, many Christians understandably fall and bend to troubles along the road, but with God at their side, many get up and continue the

Show More
Related
210 Words | 1 Pages

Beyond the Curse stands as an uplifting exposition of the surrender and self-sacrifice of Christ. This compelling book issues a timely call to action that every Christian should heed: walk on God’s path and live beyond the curse. The focus of the author’s teaching and reflection is Galatians 3:13-14, which

Read More
512 Words | 3 Pages

Just as when Telemachus cries for the first time, Odysseus’ first tears reveal his connection to the Trojan War. Like Menelaus, Alcinous does not ask for him to state his identity, due to hospitality, and instead diverts the other guests’ attention. During this first song, Odysseus disguises his tears with his cloak, in order to be respectful to his host, but also because he is not ready to announce his identity. However, when the bard sings the next story, Odysseus cries freely.. This leads Odysseus to his first step in recovery, in which he is publicly revealed to his host.

Read More
1141 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More
189 Words | 1 Pages

Consequently, that discovery leaves us in such a state that it is difficult for others to tolerate us. Hence, the author says that Christianity is both hard and easy. It is hard in the beginning for the reason that

Read More
831 Words | 4 Pages

Writing about controversial subjects can often be difficult; however Hughes executed his story, Salvation, in an intriguing manner that is suitable to all audiences and religions. In this story, the writer retells an experience from his childhood describing his journey to Jesus Christ. Discussing the complications, the main character, Hughes, faced while trying to come to Jesus is what makes the story interesting to read. On many occasions, you will read a story or watch a movie that shows the main character coming to Jesus and having an immediate and obvious realization of their Savior. For this reason, I found this story to be unique and relatable in the way that it shows a journey that countless Christians face, but you are not often granted the opportunity to read about this type of experience.

Read More
172 Words | 1 Pages

This lack of individuality in the Underworld of Virgil is of course what lends to it its nightmarish, frightening qualities, which on the whole are not shared by Homer 's version. In the Odyssey, although certain tortures are described in detail, there is little sense of true misery, and even less a sense of fright on the part of Death 's inhabitants. Indeed, these creatures are living out their punishments purely for themselves; although seen by Odysseus, they are never "on display" in the way that Virgil 's figures are. In the Virgilian Hades, by contrast, the tortured souls become even more pitiful by virtue of their exposure to the public eye: the purpose of their punishment seems to be not only a personal tribulation, but a warning and

Read More
394 Words | 2 Pages

Odyssey one= In the story Odyssey the main character is Odysseus whom, in the begin of the story goes into a big battle with his army which took 5 years to finish, and when they won the long war they started to return to their homeland. But on the way to his homeland, Odysseus and his People went on an island and when Odysseus and his people went onto this island which was full of Cyclops. Cyclops are creatures that have one eye and are large in size also, But Odysseus didn’t know until him and his men went into a cave that was Polyphemus’s cave a, Cyclops, that owned that cave that they were in taking shelter in.

Read More
544 Words | 3 Pages

“There are no mistakes in life, only life lessons.” These words by Robin Sharma, a Christian writer, reveal the fact that lessons in life have been around for generations. In The Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus journeys for 20 years finding his way back home and overcoming many challenges. I showed these traits when it came to cross country. Odysseus and I both showed self-restraint and determination.

Read More
481 Words | 2 Pages

part 1 - The story takes place 10 years after the trojan war. All heroes have returned home but Odysseus was on an island ogygia with the calypso witch who loved him and was keeping him there and was never planning on letting him leave. Back home his wife Penelope has a lot of suitors, they are trying to take his kingdom and power and his son Telemachus. On Olympus Zeus sends Hermes to get Odysseus from calypso with Odysseus and leave on a ship.

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

The Odyssey Garrison Bair The story begins ten years after the fall of the city of Troy. Odysseus, hero of Troy, has still not been able to return home. Telemachus, son of Odysseus, is at home desperately trying to throw out suitors that are courting his mother. One suitor, Antinous, plans to assassinate the young prince, eliminating the only thing stopping their reign over Ithaca.

Read More
890 Words | 4 Pages

Sin can get in the way of this journey, like the she-wolf of self-restraint, "the beast pursued, forcing herself against me bit by bit till I slid back into the sunless wood," (Dante, 33 58-60). When faced with the temptation to sin, one has to keep going and, like Dante, make it to

Read More
864 Words | 4 Pages

Salvation is found in no one, but Christ Jesus; however, how does this salvation come to an individual. Or even more, does an individual have a role to play within the process of salvation? These questions have circulated within the church for centuries and at times, have divided the body of Christ greatly. However, one consensus has remained; salvation is both a gift and a task.1 This means that God fully accomplished salvation for humanity in the past (gift), but also his salvation continues to work its way into ones life now and into the future (task). And yet, the role God plays versus humanity plays within salvation is what has separated Christians over salvation.

Read More
894 Words | 4 Pages

McDowell begins the book with an anecdote of his life; a familiar story of the sceptical university Agnostic, ready to fire back a retort at the slightest mention of God, Christianity, and anything (or anyone) within. He recounted the all too common feeling of a meaningless life, the seemingly innate itch of human existence, and how it brought him to various places in his life—until he stumbled upon a particular group of people and was changed forever. This introduction, though short, is crucial to understand, for it sets the stage for the remainder of the book. It tells not only the story of a former non-believer, but the story of everyone—it presents us the life of Jesus Christ, not as a gentle sermon or a feel-good retelling, but as an assertive, rational reply to the accusation: ‘Christianity is a myth, and so is your God.’

Read More
1345 Words | 6 Pages

“The deep truth is that our human suffering need not be an obstacle to the joy and peace we so desire, but can become, instead, the means to it. The great secret of the spiritual life, the life of the Beloved Sons and daughters of God, is that everything we live, be it gladness or sadness, joy or pain, health or illness, can all be part of the journey toward the full realization of our humanity” Henri

Read More
1036 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout life, people are often faced with many decisions. Some of these decisions are easy to make, while others are excruciating, as they can be life altering. From a Christian’s perspective, however, people never have to make these decisions alone. God promises that he will never abandon his people, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (New International Version, Deuteronomy 31:6).

Read More

More about Suffering In The Odyssey

Related Topics

Open Document