Athena, throughout The Odyssey, is a guiding figure for the protagonists, helping them in their most dire situations, and showcasing women are tremendously beneficial. Throughout the story, Athena appears multiple times to guide the heroes and to support them in ways they can not do themselves. Athena first frees Odysseus, by influencing Zeus to take action. She mentions that “... my heart breaks for Odysseus,/ that seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long…” (Homer 79) and inquires why Zeus is so “... dead set against Odysseus?” (79) even after Odysseus has done much for the gods and people. These statements influence Zeus to take action and send Hermes to tell Calypso, Odysseus’s captor, to free Odysseus. Athena’s action displays her caring towards Odysseus, and shows how she values him and is willing to
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Furthermore, Athena inspires Telemachus to take steps to find his father. She inspires Telemachus by comparing the likeness of him to his father, stating “You’ve sprung up so! Uncanny resemblance… the head, and the fine eyes-/I see him now” (84). Her statement lifts Telemachus’s spirits and inspires him to take action to drive out the suitors and also to find his father, which then begins the narrative. Athena finally is there to help Odysseus in dire times of need, such as when Odysseus needs a method of transportation home, Athena gifts Nausicaa, a princess of the Phaeacians, bravery in the moment, so she would “... [stand] her ground,being given/a bold heart by Athena, and steady knees” (738). Odysseus would have scared Nausicaa off with his mountain lion appearance. Instead, Athena intervenes and gives Nausicaa the ability to hear Odysseus out even with his disheveled appearance, allowing Odysseus to ultimately succeed. This encounter also displays how women such as Athena play a dominant role in the interactions of men in the Greek world, as women can allow others to listen and hear out the men, and also guide men to success, as shown through Athena’s
Furthermore, Athena inspires Telemachus to take steps to find his father. She inspires Telemachus by comparing the likeness of him to his father, stating “You’ve sprung up so! Uncanny resemblance… the head, and the fine eyes-/I see him now” (84). Her statement lifts Telemachus’s spirits and inspires him to take action to drive out the suitors and also to find his father, which then begins the narrative. Athena finally is there to help Odysseus in dire times of need, such as when Odysseus needs a method of transportation home, Athena gifts Nausicaa, a princess of the Phaeacians, bravery in the moment, so she would “... [stand] her ground,being given/a bold heart by Athena, and steady knees” (738). Odysseus would have scared Nausicaa off with his mountain lion appearance. Instead, Athena intervenes and gives Nausicaa the ability to hear Odysseus out even with his disheveled appearance, allowing Odysseus to ultimately succeed. This encounter also displays how women such as Athena play a dominant role in the interactions of men in the Greek world, as women can allow others to listen and hear out the men, and also guide men to success, as shown through Athena’s