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Character analysis of Odysseus
The odyssey homeric heroism
The odyssey homeric heroism
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Character analysis of Odysseus
The odyssey homeric heroism
The odyssey homeric heroism
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Character analysis of Odysseus
The role of women in The Odyssey is to exhibit the many roles that women perform in the lives of men. There is a quote that states that behind every successful men there is a woman; to which homer would probably agree. As it was stated before, we can make reference to such quote by picturing The Odyssey without woman in the epic. Without woman, Odysseus would probably make it faster to Ithaca or would probably die in many of the obstacles that Zeus was putting in his way. Men’s position or respect, in ancient Greek mythology, was determinate by the things had successfully fulfilled in their life but no men had ever recognize that such success is part of the role that woman have in their lives.
The name "Penelope" is a Greek name that means "seabird". It is derived from "pênelopes". Odysseus's wife was named Penelope, who was the daughter of Periboea and Icarius; she was also the mother of Telemachus. Odyssesus, of course, was the king of Ithaca, and the creator of the Oath of Tyndareus. He fought vailantly in the Trojan War, and was the mastermind behind the Trojan horse.
In The Odyssey, the Cyclops is a monster because of his key differences from mere human beings, specifically his lack of wit and of morals. Depicting these qualities as monstrous support that cleverness and a general regard for human life were heavily valued in Greek culture. Odysseus easily trick the Cyclops bragging, “I poured him another fiery bowl - three bowls I brimmed and three he drank to the last drop, the fool”(9.404-406). To describe the bowls of wine as fiery foreshadows the demise of the Cyclops. Odysseus was able to use his brain, not strength, to make the Cyclops drink himself into a stupor.
In The Odyssey, by Homer, Athena influences the lives of Odysseus and his family. In Greek mythology, gods challenge and control mortals. Gods also provide support to mortals and thus, mortals depend and act on behalf of the gods and their decisions. Athena, daughter of Zeus, is the goddess of wisdom, and both Telemachus and Odysseus benefit from her power. Athena possesses the ability to disguise herself and others, and this skill allows her to give advice and guidance.
The gods and goddesses in Homer’s Odysseus perform a key role in the characters’ fates. They act as guides in reaching their destinies although sometimes they are petty, cruel and bent towards destruction of the characters. In this case, the gods have conflicting motives other than the main harmonious purpose utilized by those in union. However, the gods are like the human characters by which they influence their lives. The mortals in the story are experiencing some favour from the divine entity and hence may become violent.
In Homer’s, The Odyssey, the traits of an ideal Greek man is described many times over. Often times, Homer indirectly illustrates these characteristics through the qualities of men who do not appear to be ideal. Zeus relates the traits of an unideal man: “Greed and folly . . . stole his wife and killed the soldier on his homecoming day”(2). Zeus’s description of Agisthos, the man who had an affair with a king’s wife and killed him after he returned from the Trojan war, chastises this behavior, he indirectly teaches men the characteristics of a quintessential man.
Medusa was once the most beautiful woman in all of the land, but one day a curse given by Athena left her with snakes for hair, and eyes that turned you into cold hard stone if ever looked at directly. Athena did this out of jealousy, due to the fact that her husband Poseidon had strong feelings for her. Poseidon lured Medusa into Athena’s temple and seduced her. Later on, Medusa’s head was severed by Perseus, and
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.
It is said that when Athena was born she sprung from the forehead of Zeus, fully grown and clothed in armor. Her mother was Metis, goddess of wisdom and Zeus ' first wife. A warning from Earth that if Metis would bear a son, he would one day prove more powerful than Zeus. In fear, Zeus swallowed the pregnant Metis before she could give birth. Metis however, began to make a robe and helmet for her daughter.
Using his winged shoes, Hermes traversed across the battle field at lightning speed. Watching as metal clashed against metal, Hermes grimaced as may lives were lost, their souls awaiting further guidance. The reclamation of the body of Hector, who the Trojan king Priam wanted back so desperately, was a difficult task as he also had to lead the souls of the fallen to Hades. The folly of humans existed everywhere, and to a neutral party such as Hermes, it was hard to mitigate the tension between the humans as well as the gods who took the sides of the Greeks or the Trojans all while obeying the word of Zeus. Achilles, who was supported by Athena, Poseidon, and Hera slew the Trojan’s greatest warrior so grotesquely that as a neutral party, it
In a world where Athena is in control, she boldly said “A day can press down all human things, and a day can raise them up, but the gods embrace men of sense and abhor the evil’. Athena was the greek goddess of wisdom and war making her a very popular goddess, mostly amongst soldiers and people considered wise. She believed that war should only be used to protect people and bring justice. She used her wisdom in battle so it would be hard to lose the battle. With Athena being a popular Greek god there is no doubt that there are a ton of stories and myths about her ranging from her birth to her to interesting myths like the Arachne myth.
In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer portrays Greek gods and goddesses as possessing human qualities and faults. Through their actions and emotions, Homer emphasizes the detrimental effects of lust, envy, wrath, and greed in ancient Grecian society. He also never fails to remind readers of the importance of respect for holy figures because of their powerful abilities to create chaos and wonder". Homer wants to prove that gods and humans share a variety of traits, and the only difference is that god don’t allow these flaws negatively to impact their society. To help further his argument, we can compare Greek gods and goddesses to that of Christianity.
The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the blind, illiterate poet Homer. It takes place in ancient Greece and tells of a man’s journey home from war. The topic, intervention of the gods, is seen throughout the book numerous times as the gods who are in favor of Odysseus lend a helping hand. It is well-known that the gods are very important to the Greeks. In this epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer demonstrates the importance of the positive and encouraging intervention of the gods in Greek culture; the brave actions, encouraging words, and cunning strategies of Athena as she assists and guides Odysseus on his journey back home.
In the Odyssey, I feel as if the Gods role was to function more as spiritual guides and as support for the human of choice. An example being Athena reuniting Odessyus and his son after 20 years, Hermes warning Odysseus of Circes witchcraft, and Circes giving him directions. Yet, I also feel as if they punish for poor behavior as well.
She is portrayed as the average Greek woman, but in reality is very cunning. Though both these women are two different characters, their roles are similar, and they both are equally powerful. They are cunning; teach Xenia; develop Odysseus’ character; and an important role in their families. Athena is the cunning Goddess who guides Odysseus back to Ithaca for his family and countrymen without letting him know her reality – she disguises herself every now and then to help him by testing him and his knowledge.