ipl-logo

The Odyssey Essay: The After-Effects Of War In Homer

1012 Words5 Pages

Throughout Homer’s The Odyssey the after-effects of war, both on veterans themselves and their loved ones are shown. The events during war and the effects of war worsen the mental health of those involved in it. The way that war changes people as depicted in The Odyssey by having detrimental effects on their mental health is similar as compared to today’s world, however veterans are more emotionally closed and more recognized to have to deal with trauma caused it than depicted in The Odyssey. War changes people in The Odyssey mainly through affecting their mental state. The grief and depression that is caused by the loss of loved ones in war greatly affects family members in Homer’s epic. Menelaos is one person who suffers loss caused by war. After fighting in the arduous Trojan war and achieving victory, the violent sea shipwrecks him and his companions on their way home. As a result of the loss of all of his friends, Menelaos feels “...nothing but grief...for …show more content…

While he did not lose his friends in actual combat, the same feelings of loss and deep sadness would be provoked. This shows the psychological weight that war and events related to it bore down on the veteran. Menelaos was no longer able to live in the mental peace he could have lived in before the war. The immense trauma and anguish caused by having his friends taken away from him as a result of war left a terrible impression on Menelaos that did not fade. Not only does war affect the companions of those lost, but it much more directly affects families. After the Trojan War, Odysseus shipwrecks on Kalypso's island, and lives far away from his family, without any contact. The loss of Odysseus bears a lot of weight on his loved ones. Telemachus “...inherit[s] trouble and pain…” (Homer, 9) from the loss of his father. Odysseus’ absence leaves Telemachus empty and without one of his parents needed to guide him through life. Additionally, Penelope claims to feel

Show More
Related
459 Words | 2 Pages

Homer shows that Odysseus has feelings too, though he went through his journey without heartache. When Odysseus reunites with his son, Telemachus, he begins to shed tears of sadness and joy because it has been forever since he has seen him. As well he shows anger towards the suitors and Penelope because the suitors disrespected his wife and his home by trashing the home, eating his food, and plotting to kill Telemachus who is heir to the throne. Odysseus was also mad at Penelope because she devised a test to see if Odysseus was the real Odysseus which made Odysseus furious because nobody except for a god could move his

Read More
721 Words | 3 Pages

Assess the value and limitations of Homer’s account of the Trojan War. Despite Homer’s account of the Trojan war having unsupported evidence for various elements, it is still a valuable piece of writing. His mentionings of Greek gods and goddesses and the Trojan horse have yet to be baked up by evidence, but his account itself is an important text as it tells us about the Trojan War. Although evidence of the existence of the war is there within other ancient writings, Homers’ account is one that expands extensively on it, making it a useful source for historians. There have been many findings of archaeological and written evidence which support Homers’ account of the Trojan war such as the Hittite tablets, inscriptions and the layers.

Read More
1141 Words | 5 Pages

The responsibility for this suffering is caused by a mixture of both human actions, along with the intervention of the gods. The plotline depends heavily upon the idea of suffering, due to the separation between characters. The suffering through separation throughout the story plays a critical role in the development of the characters, and for the advancement of the storyline. Between Odysseus and Penelope and Calypso and Odysseus, the pressure of each character’s situation tests their mental strength, while highlighting their intense sorrow felt while being separated from one another. After Odysseus had defeated Troy, he ended up on an island with the beautiful goddess Calypso.

Read More
1601 Words | 7 Pages

After Telemachus and his father share a reunion, he leads his father to his house. Upon arrival, Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar and finds that the house has been taken over by sires trying to court his wife as a result of his actions. After completing Athena’s task, Odysseus reveals himself to his wife. However, Odysseus finds it very difficult to convince his wife that he has truly come back. When Odysseus reveals something no one else knows, Penelope runs to him and throws her arms around him.

Read More
1072 Words | 5 Pages

The Odyssey is often cited as an epitome of the hero’s journey and the monomyth. The hero of the story, Odysseus is on a 10 year battle homeward from the Trojan War to see his wife and son again. With the help divine intervention, Odysseus is able to return home and save his wife from the evil suitors who have continuously tried to win her. One could easily argued that Odysseus is an exemplar of the hero, but there is another story: Odysseus is the opposite of a hero and is not worthy to be called such. He is the villain where the gods are the hero.

Read More
1701 Words | 7 Pages

When Odysseus left for Troy during the Trojan war, he left his whole life behind. He left behind his very young son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope. After the war, Odysseus started his journey back. Odysseus’ whole journey home was prompted by the fact that he wants to get home to his family and kingdom in Ithaca. Odysseus made it through the many trials and tribulations he was faced with to see his family.

Read More
1255 Words | 6 Pages

In spite of the fact that Homer’s Odyssey is an epic story of a man’s gallant journey, women play a huge part throughout. Their unique yet controversial personalities, intentions, and relationships are vital to the development of this epic and adventurous journey of Odysseus. The poem by Homer was written at a time when women had an inferior position in society, yet that didn’t stop them from being any less influential. All of the women throughout the Odyssey possess different qualities, but all of them help to define the role of the ideal woman.

Read More
1566 Words | 7 Pages

Breathing was hard here. People, mostly men, crowed around the gates of her palace trying to see the most beautiful woman in the world. She focused on her face, her breathing, utterly ignoring her cousin Penelope who glared at the suitors crowing the gates. “These men are insufferable,” Penelope sighed looking over at her beautiful cousin, “promise me you’ll marry any of them.” “Oh Duckie, you’re just jealous of me,” Helen laughed flipping her honey hair over a shoulder.

Read More
1078 Words | 5 Pages

Importance of Family In Homer’s “The Odyssey,” a valiant soldier-Ulysses-took twenty years to return home from war (Sentence 7a). He had left behind his wife and unborn child. Ulysses overcame a plethora of obstacles throughout his journey.

Read More
859 Words | 4 Pages

How long you’re gonna travel at sea? Why are you staying away from your home shore of Ithaca so long? The Trojan “war” has been already over, the soldiers and husbands all have come back to their home. I have neither. I got received word that you have survived the war and you’re an acclaimed a hero amongst heroes.

Read More
755 Words | 4 Pages

Imagine being apart from your family for over ten years, fighting for your life in a war, and in the many battles and problems you will face on your way home from war. Would you be able to fight a cyclops, pass a dangerous whirlpool and have to face the fact that your crew betrayed you? In the novel The Odyssey written by Homer, Odysseus must do all of these things and more. He has been away from his wife, son and many other family members for over ten years now, fighting for his life on his journey home after fighting in the Trojan war.

Read More
933 Words | 4 Pages

The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs claim that PTSD is a growing epidemic, with roughly 5.2 sufferers of the illness in the U.S. today. Homer’s The Odyssey illustrates the story of Odysseus after the Trojan war and his journey back home to Ithaca. During his expedition, Odysseus faces many physically and emotionally challenging situations that affect him psychologically in the future. Many scholars recognize Odysseus as a brave warrior in Homer’s

Read More
313 Words | 2 Pages

Abstract: War, honor and aggression was the first thought that came to mind when I read the Iliad. The Iliad of Homer talks about how and why they went to war, the effects on the human society and the rage of Achilles against his comrade Agamemnon and the Trojans. Helen, who is the wife of Menelos and sister in law to Agamemnon, was kidnapped by Paris, the son of the king of Troy. The Achaians who were under King Agamemnon, had been fighting off the Trojans off and on for nine years, trying to bring home Helen. After many years of Achaian attacks somehow Troy remained intact, and the Trojan army remain undefeated.

Read More
402 Words | 2 Pages

Telemachus learns and appreciates the ways of his father, and so decides to follow the story of Orestes, and kill the suitors to take back his father’s home (3.52). Lastly, in book 4, Telemachus visits Menelaus in Sparta. In this part of the journey, we learn more details of the Trojan War, and also that Odysseus is still alive but captured by Calypso (4.71). Menelaus continues, talking of tales about Odysseus’ bravery and cunningness, educating Telemachus about the heroism is father had, which he believes he should also

Read More
1058 Words | 5 Pages

The Epic Hero of The Odyssey The Odyssey is a tale of a great hero trying to get home. An epic hero. An epic hero is a courageous and honorable person. Homer’s character Odysseus exemplifies this in many ways.

Read More

More about The Odyssey Essay: The After-Effects Of War In Homer

Related Topics

Open Document