The Odyssey
The Odyssey The great muses are called upon by Homer to tell the great
adventure of Odysseus in his travel back to his home. Prayers are given to the
Greek Gods and muses by Homer in order to proceed this story. The Greeks life
revolved around the gods in a matter of fashion as we presently revolve around
Christianity. The depiction of the roles the gods played in the Odyssey is both
presented in good and evil. The Greeks portrayed their gods as powerful and
merciful. However in the Odyssey the gods play a role in a savior like Jesus
Christ and the tormentor like Satan. With the present role in the story of
Odyssey the gods can be seen as a key role in Odysseus life. Odysseus alone
cannot have escaped the treacherous Trojan War without the aid of the gods.
However can it be reconcile that the gods were truly the ones who controlled our
lives? In Odysseus’s case the gods played a vital role. Throughout the entire
story Athena was the crutch Odysseus and his family leaned on in the time of
aid. Through the treacherous paths Odysseus traveled it was hope of seeing
Penelope and his son Telemachus that brought him strength and wisdom. With the
loves one left behind Odysseus fearlessly face the gods and tramples over their
challenges. Without the help of Athena and her wisdom and devotion to Odysseus
his challenges would be help with no boundaries. With Athena on Odysseus side,
he was able to return home without any harms done to him or his family. With the
gods in favor of Odysseus return all he had to fight was the challenges Poseidon
threw at him. With the water being the only road back to his home this challenge
was fare more difficult then the Trojan War itself. With the guidance of Athena
Odysseus was safely returned to Ithica. Even though Athena played a key role in
Odysseus life she was still unable to protect him from the challenges he faced
with Poseidon, Calypso, and Helios. The gods can be seen as Odysseus’s
sub-conscience.
Athena being Odysseus’s wisdom, Helios the jealousy hidden in
our curiosity, Calypso the temptation we face, and Poseidon the challenges in
life we face everyday. These main Gods played a key role in Odysseus’s life.
Poseidon tormented blinded Polyphemus. Poseidon would have never tormented
Odysseus if only he kept his boastful self-quiet. A lesson in life learned by
Odysseus to keep him self- humble at all times. Odysseus faced other challenges
that slowed his journey towards home seem longer. Calypso who kept Odysseus on
her island for seven years offered him the impossible. Odysseus with his wife in
mind declined the gift for a passage towards home. With temptation and
challenges that blockaded Odysseus journey home. However Odysseus and his
deceased crew could of made it home safely if it wasn’t for the curiosity and
jealousy of the crew to open the bag of wind and their evil temptation to kill
and eat Helios cows. The gods playing minor roles it was human nature that
brought the crewmembers to their doom and slowed Odysseus down from returning
home. Homer portrayed human nature with the gods and goddesses. We are our own
enemy. We are the ones who lay the path in our life and destination. However
there are bumps in the word that slow us down and break us down. With hope we
resist temptation and fight evil off. The gods in the Odyssey portrayed the good
and evil in human nature. Odysseus being the hero of the Odyssey resisted and
learned valuable lessons in life on his adventure back home.
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