Niko Dimalaluan
Armstrong
English 9
3 December 2015
Divine Intervention in the Odyssey Homer’s classic epic (translated by Robert Fitzgerald) The Odyssey is about Odysseus and his return to his people in Ithaca several years after the Trojan War. Having made a mistake that angered Poseidon at the beginning of the story, Odysseus is made a hero seeking to return. Throughout his journey to his people in Ithaca, Odysseus faces adversity he sometimes overcomes himself. Although this is the case, without the help of gods and goddesses, Odysseus would never have succeeded. Divine intervention is a key theme in The Odyssey because of both friendly and unfriendly relations with gods and men. Homer’s additions of these themes are meant to affect ancient readers. Athena is a goddess who intervenes several times in order to help Odysseus. The first time she intervenes with the plot is the council meeting of the Gods, in which she was the one who persuaded them to make Calypso let Odysseus go. Her constant supervision of Odysseus makes him into a stronger character. She is shown several times later throughout the story assisting Odysseus, such as magically changing his appearance when reuniting with his son. Athena paid enough …show more content…
Poseidon interferes with the storyline several times in the story. One example is after Odysseus and his company comes into contact with the Cyclops, the son of Poseidon. At the end of this part, Odysseus makes the mistake of telling his name, and Polyphemus gets Poseidon to exact revenge by creating a great storm that almost kills him. Poseidon took action and opposed Odysseus with no hesitation when he damaged and almost killed his son. A similar example is when Odysseus’s men ate the cattle of the sun god Helios, and were punished with death by storm as well. Homer depicted these to show gods would show no hesitance after men defy them and destroy their possessions or
Armstrong
English 9
3 December 2015
Divine Intervention in the Odyssey Homer’s classic epic (translated by Robert Fitzgerald) The Odyssey is about Odysseus and his return to his people in Ithaca several years after the Trojan War. Having made a mistake that angered Poseidon at the beginning of the story, Odysseus is made a hero seeking to return. Throughout his journey to his people in Ithaca, Odysseus faces adversity he sometimes overcomes himself. Although this is the case, without the help of gods and goddesses, Odysseus would never have succeeded. Divine intervention is a key theme in The Odyssey because of both friendly and unfriendly relations with gods and men. Homer’s additions of these themes are meant to affect ancient readers. Athena is a goddess who intervenes several times in order to help Odysseus. The first time she intervenes with the plot is the council meeting of the Gods, in which she was the one who persuaded them to make Calypso let Odysseus go. Her constant supervision of Odysseus makes him into a stronger character. She is shown several times later throughout the story assisting Odysseus, such as magically changing his appearance when reuniting with his son. Athena paid enough …show more content…
Poseidon interferes with the storyline several times in the story. One example is after Odysseus and his company comes into contact with the Cyclops, the son of Poseidon. At the end of this part, Odysseus makes the mistake of telling his name, and Polyphemus gets Poseidon to exact revenge by creating a great storm that almost kills him. Poseidon took action and opposed Odysseus with no hesitation when he damaged and almost killed his son. A similar example is when Odysseus’s men ate the cattle of the sun god Helios, and were punished with death by storm as well. Homer depicted these to show gods would show no hesitance after men defy them and destroy their possessions or