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The Role Of Phaeacia In Homer's The Odyssey

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Throughout our history the belief in a higher being has been a common practice. There have been many versions of these beliefs and it is understandable why. When a person believes in a superior force it helps them be motivated. In Homer’s The Odyssey you see humans blaming their problems and crediting their success to the gods. Throughout The Odyssey there are instances where it was beneficial for Odysseus and others to believe in gods and goddesses to explain the unexplainable and guide them through life’s journey.

In book 8 of The Odyssey, Odysseus arrived on the beaches of Phaeacia, there he met Nausicaa and she led him back to the city. Odysseus is meeting with the king of Phaeacia, Alcinous. Athena is then credited for the appearance of Odysseus, “... making him taller, more massive to all eyes…”. What I see is that the Phaeacians have never seen someone of such a height and build as Odysseus’s. Since they have not seen a person like him before, they decide that the only way to explain it is that Athena, a goddess and therefore a superior force, has made him this way. …show more content…

While they are eating, the king has his bard sing stories, which by coincidence are of the stories of Troy and Odysseus. Odysseus upon hearing the stories of what he has endured starts to cry. Then the king Alcinous inquires why his guest is crying. It is then Odysseus tells his host who he is and starts to tell him the story of how he got to where he is now. Odysseus immediately blames the gods, “What pains-the gods have given me my share.” In the eyes of Odysseus he has gone through a lot of pain and he doesn't understand why. It’s more comforting to think it’s not his fault or just bad luck, but that it’s the

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