Use of Disguises in Homer's Odyssey

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Use of Disguises in Odyssey The characters' use of disguises in Homer's Odyssey is a crucial element that helps to catalyze the victory of good over evil. Each disguise is unique, created for a specific purpose. Before she talks to Telemachos, Athena disguises herself as a wise old man in order to ensure that her words carry weight and are taken seriously. She knows that she must assist and encourage Telemachos into searching for his long lost father without revealing her divine nature, so she assumes the guise of Mentor because men were generally given more credibility in those days. In a similar vein, Odysseus disguises himself as a homeless man in order to exude anonymity so that he can safely return to Ithaka where he slaughters the inconsiderate suitors. The characters' use of disguises is a key element that Homer utilizes to further the story as well as spice up the plot. "Fame and fortune is the ultimate goal of any man"(Heubeck 21). One lives to strive for the best and conquer the world, metaphorically speaking for reaching his highest potential. "Although not everyone can achieve such high status, if a man can conquer a feat thus similar, his name can be passed on and he will be immortal" (Van der Valk 63). In Homer's Odyssey, the ultimate goal of fame and fortune entices Odysseus to disregard his morals by using cunning and trickery for lying and killing others, to ensure his homecoming to Ithaka. First of all, Odysseus is deemed a hero in the eyes of the Achaians. His intelligent mind renders him a heroic figure among ... ... middle of paper ... ... are one among those mortals who live in this country, ...blessed...with happiness at the thought of you, seeing/ such a slip of beauty...but blessed at the heart, even beyond these others, is that one/ who, after loading you down with gifts, leads you as his bride/ home" (Homer 106, L. 153-160). He has just ensured Nausikaa's approval and will receive aid from her, just by telling her what she wants to hear. Works Cited and Consulted: Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford 1988 Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. Murnaghan, Sheila, Disguise and Recognition in the Odyssey, Princeton UP 1987 Van der Valk, Marchinus. Textual Criticism of the Odyssey. Leiden: A.W. Sijthoff, 1949.

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