The Symbolism Of Obstacles In Homer's The Odyssey

Though it may seem strange, a poem that is almost 3,000 years old symbolizes the obstacles I will soon face in my life. This epic poem is The Odyssey by Homer. Many believe that the obstacles in this story are not to be taken literally, but that they provide deeper messages or morals. The Odyssey is a perfect allegory for life. When a reader looks at the story at the surface, it seems that it is simply about a Greek man, Odysseus, trying to return home land of Ithaca while he must fight monsters and avoid magical dangers. However, there is a deeper meaning to be found. This story symbolizes the many obstacles one must overcome to be successful in life. Among the many goals I will try to accomplish in the next 10 years of my life are: graduating

I will need to ignore the many distractions that life has to offer. In the text of The Odyssey, Odysseus is trapped on Circe’s island. She is a witch who uses her magic to trap Odysseus and his men. She tricks them into staying on the island for a year. He is so distracted by her beauty and her magic that he is blinded from remembering his original goal: returning home to Ithaca. Odysseus must not succumb to his distractions. I will need to avoid distractions, just as I will need to concentrate on my goals for school in college. Distractions such as television, social media, money issues, and problems at work will cause me to get off the path of happiness. I will need to shake off these distractions and keep my eye on what is truly important. At the end of the day, I will have to remember that these distractions are part of life. Once I overcome these distractions and ignore them, I will be able to remain happy as an

My goals include graduating college, getting a job, and staying happy in my adult life, but these will be challenged with many obstructions, including distractions, large obstacles, and temptation. Even though Odysseus is facing physical monsters and creatures, we still face “monsters” every day that we have to overcome. These monsters have one purpose: to distract us from our true goals. It’s only once we defeat these obstacles that we are able to move on in life. The most important part of the Odyssey to me is that no matter how many obstacles or challenges that Odysseus faced, he always moved on in the end. He was always able to get out of troubling situations. We can learn that even though situations may seem tough, we are able to overcome them with