Free Will In The Odyssey

All their afflictions come from us, we hear. And what of their own failings?" (Homer 210). Zeus’s take on the way that man blames everything on the Gods is that, truly, it isn’t the Gods’ fault. It is almost like the Gods think that man should take responsibility of their own doings, and not just blame everything on the Gods. In that same tirade, Zeus questions Aigìsthos, because mankind blames the Gods for everything, yet Aigìsthos didn’t take the advice of the well-known messenger Hermes; "We gods had warned him, send down Hermes, our most observant courier, to say: .... Friendly advice-but would Aigìsthos take it?" (Homer 210). So, mankind blames everything on the Gods, yet when presented with advice given by the Gods to man, in this case, Aigìsthos, he doesn’t take it. Odysseus’s fate is still to go home, but it isn’t just because the Gods made his supposed fate to be so, it is because Odysseus is the loyal hero that made the faithful decision.

If he had not spoken up about how cunning he was or resisted the urge to ridicule Poseidon's son, Odysseus would have made it back to Ithaca much faster and would not have lost six of his men; Odysseus' ease in giving into his irascibility puts him at a considerable disadvantage when returning to Ithaca. Although Odysseus’ kleos has created some obstacles, it also benefits him in subtle

Another one of Odysseus’s character

As you think about Odysseus’ story, you remember that he was once in a comparable position as the suitors. He was once courting a woman to get her to marry him. (Helen). There is a huge difference in these two scenarios, Helen was not yet married. Penelope's suitors are almost stabbing Odysseus in the back, trying to get his wife to marry him, while also eating all his cattle and disrespecting his household.

In Homer's story of The Odyssey , Odysseus poses as many people one of which being a poor beggar. Odysseus Went on a mission and has stumbled across an island. On this island Odysseus is pampered like a baby. Odysseus had nothing to worry about , although he has have a mission to continue. Odysseus came across the tough decision on if to stay or to depart and continue his mission. Odysseus chose to continue on his journey.

Argos, Odysseus's forgotten and loyal dog, demonstrates loyalty and devotion because of his commitment to his owner. Beaten and lying on a pile of waste, Argos continues to live until he saw his owner for one last time. “...

This gives him the title as chosen one. His intention was to get home to Ithaca but he remarks with over prideful insults towards the gods. This low point results in punishment from the gods to face some of the worlds monsters. Through it all, he receives aid from those who think he can amount to more. He receives news of home from his grieving mother, and his prophecy from Tiresias. “For not to everyone will gods appear.” (pg.294) The only reason why Odysseus was able to survive through the quests was because Athena’s fondness for him. She covers him with a disguise when he finally returns home so that he may win his last battle. His restoration came with absence of pride and ego from all the horrors he has perceived. Although he had to fix his character, Odysseus is still known as a hero not only because of his cleverness but also how he fixed his

The Character that are in the Odyssey do not have “free will” as we define it today. Their fate is has already been decided, and there is not much that they can do to change what is going to happen. There is still a way to change how they get to their fate. Free will and fate are not mutually exclusive, even the gods can help change what is fated to come. It is clear that if you add all of this together you have flexible definition of what is “fated”.

In difficult times, a person's actions that are misconstrued as logical and cautious can lead to dangerous and unfortunate events for many when their actions are really signs of cowardice and convenience. In, Homer’s The Odyssey, Eurylochus, Odysseus’ second-in-command, is often at odds with Odysseus because he always chooses the more cowardly actions to get the crew home safely instead of the more loyal and brave choice. After witnessing Circe’s ability to turn men into swine and telling Odysseus about it, Eurylochus tries to persuade Odysseus to leave. Eurylochus says: “‘Don’t force me back there, captain, king...

    In order for Odysseus to encounter and pursue his destiny, he must be tried and tested by obstacles put forth by gods or their offspring, such as Poseidon, the Sirens, and Polyphemus. One instance of this occurring was when Poseidon sent a storm in an attempt to capsize Odysseus’ boat. Poseidon shows his hate for Odysseus when he says, "I hope to plunge him into sufficient trouble" (50). Poseidon sets forth an obstacle to test Odysseus by making a huge storm in the seas to capsize and break up his boat. Without these obstacles put forth by the gods, Odysseus would have made it home without any trouble. The epithet, "Long-tried

Near the end of this chapter when he has finished off all of the suitors, (mostly with the aid of Athena), Odysseus feels he has prevailed as the winner, righted the wrong. At one point he exclaims "these men the doom of the gods has brought low, and their own indecent acts. They'd no regard for any man who chanced come their way. And so thanks to their reckless work, they met their shameful fate."(435-438). The irony of this quote is the fact that he is

We see this as Odysseus tells the story of his crew and their adventures to King Alcinous and Alcinous’ guests. He tells of how he was warned by different gods, goddesses, and offspring; referred to as immortals, of what he should do to get back home to Ithaca. His time on the island of Aeolia, the Immortal Aeolus, keeper of the wind, takes him into his home and treats him and his crew lovingly, then gives him a bag made of ox which heled “the wild winds’ way” and sent the ship on its way. Odysseus and crew can see their island, so Odysseus goes to sleep. While he is asleep, his crew gets jealous and opens the bag, unleashing a wind that carried them back. This alone leaves the impression that although the gods seem to dictate these lives, human will and the choices they make can unravel it and make a difference. Another example of this, is when Circe warns Odysseus of what lies ahead in the journey, and if he listens to her he will make it home to Ithaca, if her warning is not heeded, however, she tells him his ship will face disaster and he will arrive home late, and alone. Again, it is his crew when they reach Thrinacia, an island belonging to goddesses of the sun who Sheppard cattle that never die, whose

    Fate seems to defy humanity at every turn.  A man may have his life planned out to the last second, but then some random force intervenes and he dies the second after he has completed his life plan.  Some believe in fate, believing that our lives are predetermined from the moment we are born.  Other people believe that everything is random, the result of some god rolling the dice in a universal poker game.  Still other people believe that each and every person is in total control of his or her destiny, every step of the way.  Who is to say which viewpoint is false?  Every culture has a unique perception of the role of fate in our lives, and no group has the "right answer," simply a

While the suitors sat and mocked him, he accomplished the task. Homer uses the epic simile, "Meantime wise Odysseus, when he had handled the great bow and scanned it closely, -even as one well-skilled to play the lyre and sing stretches with ease round its new peg a string, securing at each end the twisted sheep-gut; so without effort did Odysseus string the mighty bow...Great consternation came upon the suitors. All faces then changed color" (210), to describe the moment of honor. This is telling of Odysseus' agility because he saw the perfect timing to overcome the challenge in order to get a roused response from the suitors. This ability to think quickly and see the needs of the moment helps Odysseus seem more powerful than he may actually be.

Though Odysseus is as great a man as ever lived, he is still only mortal and at the gods’ mercy. Odysseus does not control his own destiny, but instead the gods determine what shall befall him and whether he shall ever reach his home. Odysseus is only a man and "hard is a god for mortal man to master" (36) even if he is great amongst his brethren. Odysseus can not control the gods anymore then he can control his fate and so he is left at their mercy. Even Zeus, who gives Odysseus many signs, will sometimes deal Odysseus woe which he is powerless to stop. To avenge the Sun god upon Odysseus’ evil crew, "…Zeus with a gleaming bolt smote [Odysseus’] swift ship and wrecked it in the middle of the wine-dark sea" (47). Such acts illustrate the control that the gods exercise over Odysseus and his inability to deliver himself from woe.