The Odyssey has captured minds for over 2700 years, and the story of Odysseus shows his determination to fight and conquer obstacles with and without the help of the Gods. The story dates back before 1000B.c. (The Modern Library, 1950, p.VI) His creative and cunning tactics throughout the story show his determination to reach his homeland of Ithaca.
After conquering the Trojan War, Odysseus was told by Poseidon “man is nothing without the gods”. Poseidon felt Odysseus was not thankful for Poseidon’s help with the battle Trojan War. He felt Odysseus needed to be taught a lesson to be more thankful to the gods for their help. Odysseus appeared righteous and gloated that he had conquered Troy on his own. (Hallmark Home Entertainment, 1997,
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As the Cyclops threw boulders at the ship, they ended up sailing in the direction they needed toward Ithaca.
The third conflict was the return of Odysseus to Ithaca. He returned, disguised as a beggar to take back his throne and get Penelope back. With this example, he again received help from a god, the goddess Athena (Fagles, 1996, p. 300). After 20 years, Odysseus returned to Ithaca to learn that suitors had taken over his home in an attempt to steal his throne and gain Penelope’s hand.
When Odysseus landed on the sands of Ithaca, Athena told him she had a scheme to help him and warned him of the trials and suffering that had taken place at his palace (Fagles, 1996, p. 296). Athena for many years had vanished and he was leary of her words, he told her “you’re mocking me”, and he felt that Ithaca was just another kingdom and that was just another test (Fagles, p. 297).
Athena stroked Odysseus with her wand. She shriveled his skin, and covered his body from head to toe with wrinkled hide of an old man. She gave him a staff, a beggar’s sack, torn and tattered and sent him with Telemachus to regain his thrown. She told him she would be there beside him to regain his throne (Fagles, 1996, p. 299).
Athena’s frequent absence from Odysseus contradicted the quotation “man is nothing without the gods”. Athena complimented Odysseus in a worldly, and self possessed manner. She added she could not fight her father’s brother,
“The Odyssey” is a story about a hero’s journey home in Ancient Greece. It was written by, who is believed to be, Homer, in the 8th century B.C. Odysseus left home to a go at war at Troy, which lasted ten years. Over the course of another ten years, Odysseus struggles to find his way back home. Odysseus, and others show loyalty towards each other at different instances throughout this story. Loyalty is the strongest theme portrayed in this story.
Determined, she influentially announces to the gods, “But my heart breaks for Odysseus, that seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long…” (Homer 79). Stealthily, Athena carries out her plans to get Odysseus off of Calypso’s island while Poseidon, the antagonist, is not present. As a result, he cannot interfere with her arguments. This wise action emphasizes Athena’s loyalty and caring gesture toward Odysseus.
Athena is constantly helping Odysseus throughout the book, and making sure he stays safe. She has no regards for Odysseus’ crew members, as she only cares about Odysseus. He tends to think very highly of himself because he is in the God’s favor. When Odysseus is caught up in a bad situation, he often brushes it off like it’s nothing because he knows that Athena will help him. This is not a good mindset to have, because he is not always sure Athena will swoop in and help him out of his mess. Alongside this, Athena only cares for Odysseus, and she only saves him. His crewmembers are not necessarily favored by the Gods, so they might be hurt because no gods are looking out for them. Athena made Odysseus prove his worth in Book 22 of the Odyssey. She had helped him so much along the way, but she finally decided to test him before he killed all of the suitors. Odysseus was frustrated that he had to work for his help from the gods, as he is usually handed assistance from
In The Odyssey written by Homer the main protagonist, Odysseus, learns many things about himself on his journey back home and reveals the truth that mankind can be easily manipulated by someone who seems more powerful and or intimidating. Odysseus has a troubling time getting back home to his wife and kingdom when the god of the sea, Poseidon, does almost everything in his power to stop him from doing so. Along Odysseus’s journey he has to face many obstacles and he learns to display three main traits of bravery, wittiness and perseverance which he uses to get home safely and avoid the dangers of threatening people and or things that get in the way. Odysseus proves himself to be full of bravery, which he exhibits during a fight with a cyclops:
Sinuhe and Odysseus both experience different pathways to peace within themselves while they share in knowledge of what it means to be away from their familiar lands; these differences and similarities are seen in the Egypt told in the Tale of Sinuhe and Greece in The Odyssey. Sinuhe tells of a royal courtier who was travelling with Prince Senwosret on a campaign to Libya. While on the expedition, news was spread that the dual king Sehotepibre had passed. Unbeknownst to Senwosret, Sinuhe overheard and fled Egypt in a panic. He travelled from land to land and finally stopped in Syria, where he lived, had a family and become a hero to the tribe he stayed with. Later in his life he felt the longing to return back home to be buried properly. After writing to the new king, Senwosret, for his request, he accepts and sends for him. His life before fleeing from Egypt was once again brought back to him until he died. For Odysseus in The Odyssey, his exile and longing was not easily resolved like Sinuhe’s story was. Odysseus was the sole survivor of an expedition gone wrong. After living away from home in exile after the doings of his naïve crew for several years, Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, helped him in secret to return back to his homeland in Ithaca. Odysseus, a man full of emotion, stress, and heart, made it back home after many attempts and stops but not without sorrow and torment. In the end peace is restored and Odysseus is known as a “king”. From the two
Homer’s story, The Odysseus revolves around Odysseus’s journey through many tribulations that he has to overcome. Odysseus, the main character faces many challenges in the battles at Troy and in the attempt to trace his way home to Ithaca. Odysseus is a hero is this story for numerous reasons. One of the major reasons is his escape, triumph over the trials he experiences and the way he maintains composure in the wake of tribulations such as his descent to the land of the dead, captivity, subjection to multiple marriage propositions, defying death, escaping the god’s wrath and the offer of immortality.
But now he lies away on an island suffering strong pains in the palace of nymph Calypso, and she detains him by constraint , and he cannot make his way to his country…” (12-15, 88). Therefore, Athena inaugurated Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca, although she also contributed along the way. For example, book twenty-two depicts how Athena, with the appearance of the Mentor, commiserates Odysseus.
Athena smiled. Now all Odysseus had to do prove himself for her, and her blessing would be bestowed on him. When Odysseus pressed to the advantage she let herself fade to the palace’s dining hall standing above all, as if she were some avenging
Odysseus, king of Ithaca, was probably on of the greatest warriors in the history of Ancient Greece. It is said that the poet, Homer, wrote the story of the Odyssey. In this story, Odysseus and his crew are trying to make their voyage back home to Ithaca after they have fought with the Trojans. During the long journey, Odysseus will show some of his character traits which include his bravery, cleverness, and wisdom that will assist him with the situations he encounters on his journey home.
Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and the main character in homer’s The Odyssey, was gone for twenty years before finally returning to his family and his homeland. He struggled through many hardships and lost many loyal companions. The King of Ithaca would not have made it home without the assistance of the Greek gods. Despite all of the help and advice that Odysseus receives from the gods, he is a very brave man because his courage and daring in the cave of the Cyclops, his inability to give up and abandon his men on Circe’s island, and his flawless following of the gods instructions are acts of bravery that is uncommon in most men.
Homer's epic tale The Odyssey is a story of the triumphs and downfalls that are in store for one warrior's long pillage home. Odysseus, the hero from the Trojan wars, has led his people of Ithaca and other Achaean soldiers to victory and now wishes to return home to his wife and family of Ithaca. Through his twenty year journey Odysseus is often tested not only of his physical strength, but his wits as well. The many accomplishments he achieved earned him great status and recognition throughout ancient Greece. The mistakes he made caused the deaths of many men. Consequently, we as readers are able to see the many personas that Odysseus carries with him.
Then once more Athena helps Odysseus by, as the summary says, “She disguises him as an old man, so that he can surprise the suitors, and then urges him to visit the faithful swineherd, Eumaeus.” (Homer, 16, Summary). Without Athena Odysseus’s trip home, his life, and safety could have all failed.
As the king of Ithaca and the crew leader of several men accompanying him on his focal return journey from the site of the Trojan War, Odysseus is necessarily loyal to his men, and to his denizens, as otherwise, Ithaca would falter, and the men on board with him would not be able to withstand the lengthy, epic journey as they had done. The demonstrations of this vital heroic character trait are numerous, such as when Odysseus remains alongside his supportive crew men during an assault upon his ships, with only the one upon which the previous portion of the odyssey had been conducted remaining afterward, and when his men are in despair at his temporary absence, coming to them in order to not only assuage them, but more importantly to signal to all of them that he would always be with them; that he would be their natural, passionate
Another character that was loyal to Odysseus is Athena, the goddess of wisdom, aided and stayed loyal to Odysseus through his journey in the Odyssey. By persuading Zeus and the Olympian court that the time has come for Odysseus to be set free from Calypso, a sea nymph who detained Odysseus for seven years, and should be reunited with Telemachus Odysseus’ son (Athena's Assistance,2). Next, Athena inspires Telemachus to embark on a journey to seek information about his father. She disguises herself as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus, giving Telemachos hope that his father is still alive and that the only way to find out the truth about his return is to go search for him personally (3). Without Athena’s persistence Odysseus would never have been able to leave Calypso’s island to continue on his journey back to Ithaca . By arguing in front of the Olympian court, Athena convinces Zeus to send Hermes, a messenger of the gods, to Calypso’s island and instructs Calypso that the time has come for her to release Odysseus from her
The first several books of Homer’s Odyssey are spent in suspense as the reader waits to meet the legendary Odysseus himself. His son Telemachus is distraught trying to maintain his father’s honor amidst the home being overrun. His wife Penelope unspins yarn at night to fend off suitors in a desperate attempt to stay faithful to her absent love after all of these years. Even the goddess Athena herself goes before Zeus to vie for Odysseus, and explain{s} how perverse it is that this great man be denied rescue from his unnecessarily excessive punishment. And finally we meet this great leader, Odysseus, tragically stuck on an island sleeping with the goddess Calypso bemoaning his fading reputation and opportunity for glory. Odysseus, initially thought by many to be an impeccable and even god-like character simply plagued by a misfortune of fate, upon further inspection proves himself to be too personally flawed to be even considered an effective leader.