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The gods and their roles in the odyssey
The gods and their roles in the odyssey
The gods and their roles in the odyssey
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Reading the Odyssey, a reader will marvel at the wonderful feats Odysseus accomplishes. But behind all of these astounding adventures is the presence of the Gods of Olympus who either assist Odysseus in his journey to return to Ithaca or do their best to deter him from his mission. From the powerful gods of Mount Olympus to lesser-known gods, Odysseus seems to attract the attention of many powerful immortal beings. Odysseus is gifted with the ability to recognize the effect the gods have on his journey to get home, and thus, his life. It is said that Odysseus represents all people who live, because they are on their own journeys of life. The impact that the gods have on Odysseus’ life can be related to the effect religion has on people living in today’s world. The gods and goddesses of Odysseus’ time went out of their way to change his life. Whether Odysseus deserved this special attention or not, the truth is that Odysseus’ story would not be the epic it is without the presence of the Greek gods. Athena, Odysseus’ protector, Poseidon, who holds a grudge against Odysseus, and Calypso, who dearly loves Odysseus, each affect Odysseus’ life in such a way that without their presence, the Odyssey would not be the same.
Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is Odysseus’ protector throughout his journey to return to Ithaca. Athena’s first task in aiding Odysseus is requesting that Zeus, her father, send Hermes to Ogygia, Calypso’s island, to request that she allow Odysseus to journey home. Athena again comes to Odysseus’ assistance when he meets the princess Nausicaa. She enhances his appearance so that Odysseus will win the princess’s favor, and thus, return home. When Odysseus is walking into Phaiacia, Athena clouds him in a mist so that n...
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...ne. Although Calypso certainly elongates Odysseus’ return to his beloved Ithaca, she does her best to alleviate his sufferings.
Just like God today, the gods of the ancient Greeks are quite involved in the lives of the mortals whom they were worshipped by. Athena is Odysseus’ never-failing protector. Poseidon is the antagonist, who adds to the struggles faced by Odysseus but never succeeds in deterring him from his mission. Calypso is the goddess who provides shelter and nourishment to Odysseus, although she keeps him from returning home by doing this. These three immortals come together to shape the Odyssey in a way that can only be done by gods and goddesses, so that Odysseus’ story is richly interwoven with actions by these ancient Greek immortals.
Works Cited
Homer, W. H. D. Rouse, and Deborah Steiner. The Odyssey. New York: Signet Classics, 2007. Print.
Homer, The Odyssey, The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, ed. Maynard Mack, Expanded Edition, (New York: W. W. Norton, 1995), pp. 219-503.
Stuck on the island of Calypso, Odysseus finds trouble getting his way out of there. Zeus, the king of gods and men explains to the messenger of the gods Hermes, to tell Calypso to liberate Odysseus from her island after spending seven years of being her sexual slave. Zeus infers that it is ultimately Odysseus fate to go through many troubles and eventually reunite his family. Calypso does see that by keeping O...
In Homer`s epic poem, The Odyssey translated by Allen Mandelbaum, illustrates Athena`s loyalty to Odysseus's journey.Athena tells her father to have Calypso let Odysseus go free.Athena assists Odysseus through all his trails that he faces like when Poseidon makes the storm that destroys Odysseus raft, she has Nausica help Odysseus,she disguises herself as a small girl,Penelope's sister, and as Mentes,and helps get rid of the suitors,so she is a big part of Odysseus's journey .She is there from the being and to the end, to get him home.Athena keeped her loyalty even when Odysseus made it home.
For the duration of most of his journey home, Odysseus is with Calypso, a beautiful nymph; he spends the time there unhappy and longing to go home to Ithaca. For example, in book V, Athena notices Odysseus’ need to go home and pleads with Zeus to help him: “Meanwhile he lives and grieves upon that island / in thralldom to the nymph” (V, 15-16) Athena is a helping hand to Odysseus
I said that after going through much hardship and losing all his men he should come home again in the twentieth year and that no one would know him; and now all this is coming true” (14). This shows how the gods did interfere and would tell the people on earth with symbols. The gods knew from the beginning the fate of Odysseus because they predestined it. The gods are those who gave Odysseus misfortune, and they are also the ones who fated him the way he did. Through these examples of hospitality, pride and fate, one can learn many important Greek principles.
She later sparks a flame inside of Telemachus to embark on his journey to find his father. At the first destination Telemachus arrives at, Athena appears once again in the court of King Nestor. She appears in the form of an eagle to represent that she is beside Telemachus in his righteous journey to find his father. When hearing of her son’s departure, Penelope becomes extremely distraught. In an attempt to reassure and comfort her, Athena appears as a “glimmering phantom” and says these comforting words, “Take heart, and don’t be so afraid. The guide who goes with him is one many men pray for to stand at their side, a powerful ally- Pallas Athena. And she pities you in your grief, for it is she who sent me to tell you this” (Homer 342). There are many motivators for Athena in The Odyssey. Some could argue she relates with Penelope, and provides protection for her household throughout the years. Others may say she is enamored with Odysseus because of their relating character traits. Athena basically takes on the motherly role of watching over both Telemachus and Odysseus. She monitors both of the men’s journeys, and allows them to go through tribulations in order to grow emotionally and spiritually. Brian Lower a literature professor from Union College wrote,” Athena allows Odysseus to experience the storm, but not die. She knows that it will make him stronger for it. There is an
Homer. “The Odyssey”. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puncher. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. 475. Print.
Homer. The Odyssey: Fitzgerald Translation. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998. Print.
Odysseus goes through a series of events in order to reach home after twenty arduous years. Throughout his journey, he is aided by a Goddess named Athena, who appears in several different forms. For instance, “she took the form of the famous sea captain Dymas 's daughter” in order to join Odysseus in helping him overcome his obstacles (Homer, Book VI). As a result, the Gods and Goddesses appear in disguise when interacting with humans. Instead of appearing in their true identity, the gods communicate subtly with humans. Furthermore, this disguised communication does not diminish the control the Gods have. For example, Poseidon was angered by Odysseus’s act in blinding Cyclops, Poseidon 's son. Poseidon is described to have “raged on, seething against the great Odysseus till he reached his native land.” (Homer, Book 1). Poseidon 's anger drives him to steer Odysseus away from home. As a result, the gods and goddesses appear in disguises, while having complete control of the events that affects humans, such as
Homer. "The Odyssey." The Norton Anthology: World Literature. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W.
“The Odyssey” is an epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the story of his many travels and adventures. The Odyssey tells the main character’s tale of his journey home to the island of Ithaca after spending ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and his adventures when he returns home and he is reunited with his family and close friends. This literary analysis will examine the story and its characters, relationships, major events, symbols and motifs, and literary devices.
... those phaeacians who have helped Odysseus to return home. And for Calypso, she tried to offer Odysseus the immortal life and promising him to be his eternal wife, but Odysseus’s love for his wife Penelope pushes him to fight for his return
middle of paper ... ... In Homer’s Odyssey, both Odysseus and his son Telemachus embark on long, difficult journeys; Odysseus trying to return from Troy to his home in Ithaca, escaping Calypso and the island of Ogygia, and Telemachus from Ithaca to Pylos and Sparta in search of his lost father. While The Odyssey tells of the courage both men demonstrate during their respective travels, their quests are the results of the intentions and desires of gods. Odysseus is trapped in exile on Ogygia by the will of Poseidon, whose anger Odysseus attracts when he blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, and by the love of Calypso, who wishes to make Odysseus her husband.
Odysseus starts in the ordinary world, his/her home, and then an even takes place in which the hero is being called, in Odysseus’ case he is called into the Trojan War. Odysseus then refused the call because he didn’t want to leave his family, knowing that it could take a long time for him to return home to them. Once Odysseus departed on his adventure, he goes through the next step which is having a supernatural aid or mentor to help him; in this case he receives help from the goddess of wisdom Athena. Knowing the gods would be angry and taking sides during the war, there was no question that there were gods that were going to make sure Odysseus died. Athena however, felt pity for him because she knew the kind of man he was; someone who wanted to be reunited with his loved ones. After the war, Odysseus began the next stage of his journey, crossing the Threshold into a different world. He enters the next stage called The Belly of the Whale after the freak storm conjured up by Poseidon, god of the sea, one of the many gods who were upset with Spartans. His god-like powers created powerful waves and increased winds that would send Odysseus and his crew further away from
In Ancient Greek Culture, there were countless gods. They ranged from all mighty Zeus, king of the gods, to Eris, Goddess of discord, and Dionysos God of wine and revelry. Some Gods and Goddesses, like Zeus and Athena, favored Odysseus and Telemachius, helping them on their journey. While others, like Poseidon, gave them serious trouble along the way. The causes of some of these feelings towards the protagonist may be clear, but others aren't so clear. But if one looks closely at the personalities and other characteristics of the gods and goddesses, their reasoning becomes more apparent.