The Impact Gods Make

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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... ... middle of paper ... ...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.

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