Odysseus’ Search for Purpose in Homer's Odyssey

1418 Words3 Pages

Odysseus’ Search for Purpose in The Odyssey

As a wayfarer in life, The Odyssey focuses on life’s greater purpose through the fulfillment of destiny, perseverance, and loyalty. These three themes recur continuously throughout Odysseus’ journey, molding life’s greater vision. Odysseus comes to understand his purpose in life by remaining true to these major themes as he faces and conquers each obstacle in his journey.

The overarching theme of The Odyssey is the belief that man cannot escape the destiny which has been preordained for him by the gods. Destiny plays a vital role in the survival of Odysseus throughout his adventures. As Odysseus languishes on the island of Calypso, Hermes commands her to free Odysseus in order for the will of Zeus to be carried out, "This is the man whom Zeus now bids you send away, and quickly too, for it is not ordained that he shall perish far from friends; it is his lot to see his friends once more and reach his high roofed house and native land" (47). It is evident that Zeus does not want his predetermined plans for Odysseus to be altered by any being, mortal or god, and will not allow anything to stand in the way of the destiny he has set out for Odysseus.

Although no mortal can escape his destiny, it is the more heroic mortals that attract the attention for (better or worse) of the gods. Odysseus’ bravery in battle fascinated the gods, causing them to take a special interest in him. During Odysseus’ trip to the underworld, he meets with Hercules who relates to the special notice that the gods have taken in Odysseus, " high-born son of Laertes, ready Odysseus, so you, poor man, work out a cruel task such as I once endured when in the sunlight, I was the son of Kronian Zeus, yet I...

... middle of paper ...

...he heroic figure in Greek literature by living out the destiny that the gods set out for him.

Works Cited and Consulted

Bloom, Harold , Homer's Odyssey: Edited and with an Introduction, NY, Chelsea House 1988

Crane, Gregory , Calypso: Backgrounds and Conventions of the Odyssey, Frankfurt, Athenaeum 1988

Griffin, Jasper, Homer: The Odyssey Cambridge UP 1987

Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988

Murnaghan, Sheila, Disguise and Recognition in the Odyssey, Princeton UP 1987

Peradotto, John , Man in the Middle Voice: Name and Narration in the Odyssey, Princeton UP 1990

Thalmann, William G., The Odyssey : an epic of return. New York : Twayne Publishers. PA4167 .T45 1992

Tracy, Stephen V., The story of the Odyssey. Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c1990. PA4167 .T7 1990

Show More
Related

  • Gilgamesh and Odysseus: Perfect Heros

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    Homer, The Odyssey, The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, ed. Maynard Mack, Expanded Edition, (New York: W. W. Norton, 1995), pp. 219-503.

    Read More

  • O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Modern Adaptation of Homer's Odyssey

    1253 Words  | 3 Pages

    Homer. The Odyssey: Fitzgerald Translation. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998. Print.

    Read More

  • Comparing Star Trek and Homer's Odyssey

    1820 Words  | 4 Pages

    Homer. “The Odyssey”. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puncher. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. 475. Print.

    Read More

  • Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator: The Last Ruler Of The Macedonian Dynasty

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    Her family had ruled Egypt for over 100 years. The reign began when Alexander the Great’ general, Ptolemy, became the ruler of Egypt. The next 3 centuries his relatives would follow in his footsteps to rule over Egypt. Cleopatra’s father was King Ptolemy XII. After his death in 51 B.C. he left the throne to his daughter Cleopatra just 18 years old and her brother Ptolemy XIII just 10 years old at the time. During the time of their ruling it was believed that the

    Read More

  • Important Role of Women in Homer's Odyssey

    1720 Words  | 4 Pages

    Fagles, Robert. The. The Odyssey. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1996. Katz, Marilyn.

    Read More

  • Cleopatra Argumentative Essay

    809 Words  | 2 Pages

    Amy Crawford the author of the article, “Who is Cleopatra?” supports this opinion with several examples from primary and secondary sources to shed light on the type of political leader she was and the motivations behind her actions. She explains that Cleopatra was a well-educated, clever, diplomat, who had deep devotion to her patriotism. Cleopatra made the effort to learn Egyptian, unlike her predecessors, among several other languages. She succeeded in ruthless power struggles with her siblings and created military alliances to maintain Egypt’s independence. Cleopatra sustained a vast,

    Read More

  • Parallels between Virgil’s The Aenieid and Homer’s The Odyssey

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lawall, Sarah N. “The Odyssey.” The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 206-495. Print.

    Read More

  • The Odyssey: A Tale of Redemption

    2140 Words  | 5 Pages

    Homer. "The Odyssey." The Norton Anthology: World Literature. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W.

    Read More

  • A Look into Cleopatra’s Early Life Influences

    1294 Words  | 3 Pages

    Much of Cleopatra’s life and her intentions remain a mystery. The aforementioned, thus raises questions about the early life influences that caused her to ascend to the throne. Cleopatra’s education, heritage, and personality all factor into her ascension as queen of Egypt.

    Read More

  • Achilles Vs Odysseus

    3801 Words  | 8 Pages

    Homer. ?The Odyssey,? World Masterpieces: Expanded Edition. Maynard Mack ed. Ed. Coptic St.: Prentice, 1995.

    Read More

  • Cleopatra's History: The Evolution Of Cleopatra

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    As previously stated, Cleopatra was born into power. Her father, known as Ptolemy XII or Auletes, was the king of Egypt. After his death in 51 B.C., Cleopatra and her brother, Ptolemy XII,

    Read More

  • Cleopatra Essay

    1666 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cleopatra was born Cleopatra VII Philopator. Her family could be traced back to the Macedonian house of the Lagid Ptolemies, who took the throne after the death of Alexander the Great in 356–323 B.C.E. ( Sally-Ann Ashton, 2008) Cleopatra's father was King Ptolemy XII. Ptolemy XII was heavily dependent upon the Romans and as their ‘friendship’ put an increased strain upon the Egyptian economy. (Lesko, 2017) His rule

    Read More

  • Why Did Cleopatra Fall Essay

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cleopatra family was a part of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a Greek family of Macedonian origin who ruled Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great. Cleopatra originally ruled with her father Ptolemy XII. She later had to rule with her brothers, Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV to whom she had to marry as part of her Egyptian family custom. Her marriage with her brother, Ptolemy XIV, ended quickly after he died from unknown sources. She had, even more, problems with her second marriage to brother, Ptolemy XIII. He had worked

    Read More

  • Clearly Canadian Beverage Corporation Inventories Analysis

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    Inventories that are held by this company are raw material inventories, working in process inventories, and finished goods inventories. As we know, Clearly Canadian is a beverage company, the raw materials that are needed to make the beverages are natural water, sugar, artificial coloring, etc.

    Read More

  • The Odyssey Literary Analysis

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    “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.

    Read More

More about Odysseus’ Search for Purpose in Homer's Odyssey

Open Document