The Free Will Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

746 Words3 Pages

“On the highway to hell”
“If you're going to go through hell... I suggest you come back learning something” – Drew Barrymore”. Our brave hero Odysseus has been through many trials and tribulations but his hardships are not over. He has been through years of captivity with Kalypso, problems with Poseidon, conflicts with a cyclops, and clashed with witches on Circe island; but brave Odysseus faces his biggest challenge when he travels to the underworld.
Courageous Odysseus starts his journey on Circe island. He has been held captive for a year and is yearning to be with his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. After a very lengthy year, Circe his capturer shows grace and decides to let Odysseus and his men free. Before he leaves, she gives him instructions …show more content…

Odysseus replies “Circe, who will be our guide on that journey? No one has ever yet in a black ship gone all the way to Hades’.” Circe answer by saying that he does not need a guide and to let the winds guide him to his destination; Then jump off the boat and swim in the ocean bellow until you reach the gates of hell. Once he reaches the underworld he must immediately pour a drink offering for the dead. Next he should offer many animal sacrifices for his safe journey home. After receiving all of the instructions, Odysseus made his final descent into the dark and fiery abyss.
Our hero swam though the lake of fire seeing the horrid faces of the eternally damned, hearing the shouts of the unforgiven, Feeling the scorching heat press against his face; yet he still reached the surface of the Inferno. Upon reaching the surface he did just as Circe commanded and pours a drink offering to the souls the reside in the underworld. After presenting the drink offering, a former companion of Odysseus Elpenor appeared in a ghostly form. Odysseus is stunned to see Elpenor if front of him. Our hero says