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Roles gods played in homers epic poem the odyssey
Roles gods played in homers epic poem the odyssey
Odyssey fate and free will
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Odysseus’s fate is being changed by this monster because of his overwhelming confidence, and if Odysseus acted differently, the results could have been worldly unalike. His fate is influenced directly by his attitude earlier on and created a chain reaction Homer intended on detailing. Homer is telling us through this lesson that being overconfident can change the largest things, and in Odysseus’s instance, his fate. Fate and the theme of death helped impact Odysseus, along with his recklessness and creates a lesson worth
Prior to this moment, Odysseus’ wellbeing is made a
I am he”(XVI.219-223). What Odysseus says displays his empathy towards his son for not visiting him in so long. The reader can realize that Odysseus is selfless since Odyssessus instantly denies being referred to as a god and owns up to what he has done to Telemachus. In addition, Odysseus fights with another beggar making many people from the town watch. During the
Depending on Others, Can Teach Self-dependence From a young age people are often told, contradictory things. People are told that they should try to do things on their own, but are also told that, if they need help they should ask for it. These conflicting messages are exceptionally difficult for soldiers trying to assimilate back into society after the war. As soldiers return home, they often try to live self-dependently, but sometimes they need help and have to depend on others. This effects Odysseus because when he needs help, he has to rely on the gods to lead him the right way.
While in the Land of the Dead, Odysseus talks to Tiresias, a dead seer, that says, “you think of going home as honey-sweet, but the gods will make it bitter” (Homer). The challenges Odysseus faces are significantly a result of the Greek gods and goddesses. Odysseus is facing the consequences of his actions, and those consequences are costing him. Kenna has just arrived back in town and thinks about her hardships, “...close my eyes and cry because life can be so cruel and hard, and I’ve wanted to quit living it so many times” (Hoover 16).
Although Odysseus is in Hades, his description of words rising on wings sharply contrasts his mother’s shadowy apparition, creating
In real life we make our own decisions, and some of those decisions lead to bad outcomes, even though we don’t blame ourselves for many of our mistakes, we are to blame. In Greek Mythology, humans make many important decisions in their life, many of them lead to horrible endings. In the journey of Odysseus, he made many choices throughout his journey that eventually led to the death of all his crew members. In other stories from mythology like the stories of Theseus and Icarus, they made decisions that led them and their loved ones to life threatening situations. Even Zeus once stated “My word, how mortals take the gods to task!
Odysseus encounters many monsters and immortals throughout his homecoming journey. He faces everything from Sea Nymphs to Sirens, from Lotus Eaters to Cyclopes, and from Enchantresses to even the Gods themselves. Because Odysseus stuck through and pursued on, he finally returned to his wife and child. When Odysseus arrives in his homeland, Athena directs him to Eumaeus’ hut where he meets his son. At first, his son refuses to believe his father has come back, but eventually convinces himself his father has truly returned.
Imagine being were swept away from home, away from everything that was dear, to fight a war that was not your own. Odysseus, King of Ithica, was sent into battle soon after his son was born. The great warrior he is, allowed him to win, but due to his overwhelming, vainglorious shouts of victory turned the god Poseidon against him. Poseidon vowed to not let him return to his homeland and set him keep him at sea forever. In his journey to find his way home, Odysseus and his crew encounter many obstacles that hindered his success which leads to the transferring of responsibility.
In this important exchange between Odysseus and his mother,
The cave is dark and musty. The beast is gruesome: nasty, brutish and gross. He gobbles down men and sheep for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With only one eye, decaying, rotted teeth, and the stench of his rancid breath filling the confined cave, the journey Odysseus had embarked on, did not look like it had a bright future. But, this was part of the journey that he had agreed to.
Tiberius tells him, “And at last your own death will steal upon you… / a gentle, painless death, far from the sea it comes / to take you down, borne down with the years in ripe old age / with all your people there in blessed peace around you,” (Ody. 11: 153-156). After having spoken to Tiresias, he goes to his mother, “And with those words, / now that his prophecies had closed, the awesome shade / of lord Tiresias strode back to the House of Death. / But I kept watch there, steadfast till my mother approached and drank the dark, clouding blood,” (Ody. 11: 170-174). This moment where Odysseus cries for his mother, who has died in his time away from home, becomes the center point of Odysseus’ journey. He’s heard from Tiresias that he’ll make it home to Ithaca, but now he’s seen his mother who he hasn’t seen in more than ten years.
Religion is a large part of modern life. It influences our belief system and values, as well as shapes who we are as human beings. However, most individuals decide upon and follow a belief system on a voluntary basis. Imagine not only being forced to follow a belief system, but having this system dominate your every action. This is the case for classic epic heroes, such as Oedipus, Odysseus, and Aeneas.
During Odysseus’ journey home from Calypso’s island, he pleas for help from the immortals. “I throw myself on your mercy, on your current now- I have suffered greatly. Pity me, lord, your suppliant cries for help” (Homer 5.494-496). Odysseus has accepted his mortality, and is begging to higher beings for help. Through his suffering, Odysseus is recognizing the power the deathless gods possess and his need for their support, showcasing a newfound humility.
There are many lessons Odysseus and is men learn on their journey home in the Odyssey. Unfortunately, only Odysseus makes it home and the rest of men are dead because of their foolish actions. In the Thrinacia and The Cattle of the Sun episode of the Odyssey Odysseus’s men once again disobey him and cost them their lives. The men and Odysseus learn valuable lessons throughout their epic journey, but in the episode the most important lessons they learn are; temptation can lead to death, being obedient can save your life, and trust your instincts. If Odysseus’s men would have been more obedient to their leader Odysseus perhaps all of them would have made it back home alive.