Odyssey Paper
In the Odyssey, written by Homer, and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? by the Coen Brothers, the authors both tell tales interwoven with divine beliefs. In these stories, Odysseus the Greek hero faces Gods on his journey home. Similarly Everett, the escaped criminal, faced the Christian god on his journey. The gods in these stories sometimes hurt and sometimes helped Odysseus and Everett, along their journeys.
In the Odyssey, Odysseus angered Poseidon, the god of the sea, who made his hard journey harder with sea borne attacks. Odysseus stabs Poseidon’s son Polyphemus’ eye out which causes Polyphemus say this prayer:
“...Grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never
see his home: Laertes’ son I mean...
Let him lose all of his companions...” (Homer IX 579-584).
That prayer was what alerted the receptive Poseidon to Odysseus’ actions, and Odysseus realizes that he has a harder journey ahead. This was the main encounter with a god that stalled Odysseus on his journey.
In the
…show more content…
instance of Poseidon Odysseus was being hurt by a god, but Odysseus also gained help from gods on his journey. The men that occupied Odysseus’ house after he left Ithaca were being rude to him and his house breaking divine law: “...There is a greater evil still: my home and all I have are being ruined. Mother wanted no suitors, but like a pack they came... ...these men spend their days around our house... ...Not caring what they do” (Homer II 51-62). These offences were against the etiquette of the gods, and included: depleting Odysseus’ stores of food and cattle; sleeping with his servants; and vying for his wife while he was still alive. “Contempt was all you had for the gods who rule wide heaven” (Homer XXII 41) This contempt came back to hurt them when Olympus allowed for their deaths. Odysseus always showed homage to the gods and this earned himself aid in times of need. Odysseus’ family was always respectful of the gods; his cunning also helped him earn the respect and aid of Athena, Zeus’ daughter. This partnership was beneficial for Odysseus during his travels. One instance occurred on the island of Circe, where Odysseus was helped by Hermes an Olympian god: “He bent down and picked up...a molu” (Homer X 341-44) This molu was helpful for Odysseus who otherwise would have, like his men, been turned into a pig. Another instance where Odysseus needed aid from the gods was when he was trapped on the island of Ogygia with Calypso who held him captive for seven years. “...Go make it known to the soft braided nymph That we, whose will is not subject to error, order Odysseus home let him depart” (Homer V 33-35). Odysseus did not have any prospect of getting off Ogygia until Athena sent Hermes to talk to Calypso thus freeing him from her grasp. Everett likewise had ‘gods’ against him.
These ‘gods’ came in two forms: the bible salesmen and the police sheriff. While on a picnic with the bible salesmen he attacks and robs Everett. “And it is that which I propose to give you a lesson in right now...His club is ready. He swings at Delmar who staggers back with a grunt” (OH BROTHER...THOU). This man of god betrayed, stole, stalled, and injured these men for money. This was a representation of a god creating problems for the main characters. Another example of a divine obstruction was the police sheriff that followed Evert across the land to catch and kill them for escaping prison. When Pete tries to argue that he had been pardoned by the law the sheriff replies: "The law. Well the law is a human institution” (O BROTHER... THOU). The sheriff felt like what he was about to do came from a higher power, like a god. In both of these instances the journey of Everett and his company was stalled by a god like
representative. After Pete and Delmar were baptised in the creek they felt as though they had been saved and that they were one with god. This unity with god they thought could help them on their journey. “Well that's it boys, I been redeemed! The preacher warshed away all my sins and transgressions. It's the straight-and-narrow from here on out and heaven everlasting's my reward!” (OH BROTHER...THOU). These men felt saved and one with god whom they thought could help them in real life with their crimes. Many people in the Great Depression prayed in times of need because they are: “...lookin' for answers” says Big Dan the preacher (OH BROTHER...THOU). Everett was a ‘man of science’ and did not believe in the divine, but this changed when the cops caught up with him and he was facing death by hanging: “Oh Lord, please look down and recognize us poor sinners... please Lord...I just want to see my daughters again. Oh Lord, I've been separated from my family for so long......I know I've been guilty of pride... and sharp dealing. I'm sorry that I turned my back on you, Lord. Please forgive me, and help us”(O BROTHER...THOU). This was Everett's last hope, to pray, he needed a god to step in and save them. Both Odysseus and Everett had moments of interaction with the gods that helped, for Odysseus; Athena delegating the gods to his aid, as well as allowing him to avenge on his household, and for Everett this was his prayer to the gods that conjured up a flood and his men being baptised and saved from trouble. These two men also encountered times of godly damage to their progression, in Odysseus’ case this was Poseidon, for Everett it was a priest and a sheriff. In both stories, gods were integral.
The sea served as an object that could stop Odysseus from getting where he needed to be. Modern day soldiers have many obstacles that they must overcome. These obstacles can be many things such as drug or alcohol use if they are offered some, and they must overcome the fear they face if they see someone in their unit be killed. The men being killed can also relate with Odysseus when his some of his men were eaten by the cyclops Polyphemus when they entered his home (a cave). Later Odysseus and what was left of his man took a wooden stake and drove it into the eye of Polyphemus to be able to escape from his cave. Little did they know that Poseidon (god of the sea) was the father of Polyphemus, he told his father of the terrible thing Odysseus had done and Poseidon caused Odysseus to have a rough journey
I believe Odysseus did not pray because of pride. I don't think that he could let go of his pride enough to pray. I think that he believed in the gods and trusted in them, but I think as a hero, he had to do things on his own. He wanted to be able to say that he did it just as he told the Kyklops in book IX: "'Kyklops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes; son, whose home's on Ithaka!' 1"
To start, within the course of The Odyssey, Odysseus displays hubris through many of his actions. The most prominent instance in which Odysseus shows hubris is while he and his men are trying to escape from the Cyclops Polyphemus. They drug the monster until it passes out, and then stab him with a timber in his single eye. Polyphemus, now blinded, removes the gigantic boulder blocking Odysseus’ escape, and waits for the men to move, so he can kill them. The men escape from the cave to their boat by tying themselves under flocks of rams, so they can easily slip by. Odysseus, now proud after beating the giant, starts to yell at Polyphemus, instead of making a silent escape. Odysseus’ men ask him to stop before Polyphemus would “get the range and lob a boulder” (436). But Odysseus shows hubris by saying that if they were to meet again, Odysseus would “take your life” and “hurl you down to hell!” (462; 463). Polyphemus, now extremely angry with Odysseus, prays to his father, Poseidon, to make Odysseus “never see his home” again, and after which, throws a mountain towards the sound of Odysseus’ voice. (470). Because of Odysseus’ hubris after blinding Polyphemus, Poseidon grants the prayer, and it takes Odysseus 20 years to return home, at the cost of the lives of all his men.
When I was young, it was easy to wish for infinite days on earth and beautiful youth for all eternity. As time passes, and more knowledge is gained, this wish starts to diminish. Reading the Odyssey really highlighted the differences between mortals and immortals. Over the course of the story we discover how different characters develop in these categories.
In The Odyssey by Homer, the interaction between gods and mortals plays an essential role to telling the story and displays the idea of how gods can mandate the lives of mortals. In the Odyssey, a goddess is willing to help a mortal and the interactions between them With the question of whether Odysseus is still living unanswered, it has been difficult for Penelope, his wife, to cope and therefore Athena comes to help the family and play the role of both a mother and father to Telemachus. As Penelope has been depressed, in book four she has a breakdown,“Down she sank on her well-built chamber’s floor, weeping, pitifully, as the young women whimpered around her, all the women, young and old, who served her house. Penelope, sobbing uncontrollably, cried out to them, “ “Hear me, dear ones!
The Odyssey has a lot of god’s but Odysseus gets the wrath of Poseidon because he punctures Poseidon’s son’s eye. After that day Odysseus’ life is ruined for 20 years trying to get back to his homeland of Ithaca. “(Zeus:) “For his sake Poseidon, shaker of the earth, although he does not kill Odysseus, yet drives him back from the land of his fathers. But come, let all of us who are here work out his homecoming
Book Four of The Iliad demonstrates the importance of the gods in the events of the Trojan War, during the quarrel between Hera and Zeus and the aftermath of this argument. The importance of this scene, approximately lines 60 through 90 of Book Four, is that it clearly establishes the fact that the gods influence and meddle with the events and the course of the war. This particular passage illustrates the consequences which the plotting of the gods causes both the Greeks and the Trojans, as Hera’s plotting and hatred of the Trojans results in the violation of an oath, in order to ensure the destruction of the Trojans.
In Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, gods play a very important role to the plot of the story. They are the one deciding if someone can survive or not according to the sacrifice that the person made for them. In the book 1, Athena said to Zeus her father, “Didn’t Odysseus please you with sacrifices beside the Greek ships at Troy?” (Homer 65, book1). In this part Athena was trying to plead with her father Zeus in favor of Odysseus because she wants to help him to go home, while others are trying to provoke his death. This love that Athena has for Odysseus and his family is revealed throughout Homer’s epic. Although Athena supported Odysseus throughout his voyage, other gods including Poseidon, Calypso, and Circe made it difficult for Odysseus to return home, such in our real life, some people will make your life hard, but you have a good faith as Odysseus, you should always find your way out. Our God is omnipr...
Religion was deeply intertwined with the culture of the ancient Greeks. In their stories, they prayed to the gods to satisfy their needs and offer assistance in their endeavors, and the gods would occasionally appear to select Greeks to give counsel, gifts, or other forms of aid. Alternatively, if the desires or endeavors of a mortal or mortals displeased one or more of the gods, they would also interfere with the fulfillment of their goals. In Homer’s Odyssey, the gods appear to or interfere with both Telemachus and Odysseus, either to help or hinder them in their journeys. Although the gods are responsible for the difficulty Odysseus faces returning from Troy, they are equally responsible for motivating and assisting Odysseus and Telemachus in their respective travels.
Throughout the course of his journey, Odysseus is haunted by the thought of his enemy, Poseidon, who has far more power than Odysseus and strives to keep him from returning to Ithaca. Poseidon still holds a grudge against Odysseus for blinding Polyphemus at his cave. Soon before Odysseus reaches Phaeacia’s shores with hope of rescue, Poseidon notices that “he’s [Odysseus] fated to escape his noose of pain” if he makes it to Phaeacia, and threatens to “give that man [Odysseus] his swamping full of trouble” to prevent him from reaching his destination (Homer 5:318-320). While Odysseus is among the most powerful mortals, he is not comparable to Poseidon. This is why, in a situation like this, it is an important skill to know your strengths, and act intelligently.
Throughout Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, gods are presented as remarkably human in almost every way. While it is assumed that gods are divine entities incapable of human transgression, they are portrayed with all the flaws of mortals in The Iliad. The gods are a manifestation of human emotions consequently helping to explain the behavior of the humans in The Iliad. The actions of the heroes are what determine their fate, not divine intervention. Ultimately, the humans in The Iliad have inherent characteristics that provide the driving force behind their actions: the gods simply act in concert with them, allowing the human beings to exercise free will of
Homer’s literature served as a moral messenger to the people of ancient Greece. The Odyssey by Homer demonstrates the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, and his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus was a great, wise, noble, and well respected war hero to his people. Odysseus had one tragic flaw that was demonstrated by his actions throughout the book. The author Homer continued to strip Odysseus of his arrogance throughout the story, by throwing challenges his way, making him pay for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus journey also to reach his home a more humble man. Reading Odysseus’ journey also served as a way to look at morals. The
“Gods can be evil sometimes.” In the play “Oedipus the King”, Sophocles defamed the gods’ reputation, and lowered their status by making them look harmful and evil. It is known that all gods should be perfect and infallible, and should represent justice and equity, but with Oedipus, the gods decided to destroy him and his family for no reason. It might be hard to believe that gods can have humanistic traits, but in fact they do. The gods, especially Apollo, are considered evil by the reader because they destroyed an innocent man’s life and his family. They destroyed Oedipus by controlling his fate, granting people the power of prophecy, telling Oedipus about his fate through the oracle of Apollo, and finally afflicting the people of Thebes with a dreadful plague. Fundamentally, by utilizing fate, prophecies, the oracle of Apollo, and the plague, the gods played a significant role in the destruction of Oedipus and his family.
The gods and goddesses constantly intervene in the "Odyssey". There are many examples of divine intervention in the "Odyssey". One of the most influential gods in the Odyssey is Poseidon. Poseidon causes Odysseus's journey to be so difficult. Poseidon is mad at Odysseus because of what he did to his son Polyphemus. Polyphemus asked his father to avenge him. This resulted in only Odysseus reaching Ithaca.
“Nine days the arrows of god swept through the army.” (Homer, The Iliad, 1.61) The Iliad written by Homer portrayed the war between the Achaeans and the Trojans. In addition to the mortals fighting each other gods also intervened in the war between the two sides, the gods in The Iliad played very significant roles in the battles; they brought divine powers on to the mortal sides of the war, Greek gods embody many human characteristics, there are many themes in The Iliad that construct the interventions of the gods, lust, jealousy, revenge, anger, pride, and favoritism are some of the reasons why the gods of Olympus got involved in the Trojan War. The gods of Olympus used humans as their puppets while the gods engaged themselves in conflict against each other.