Deception is one of the major themes in the The Odyssey. Some forms of deception used in the epic are lies and disguises. Many characters use these to get their way. Penelope, Telemakhos, and Athena are three examples of people who use lies and disguises in order to help and protect their loved ones.
The first example of deception is when Penelope lies about finishing her weaving. She is weaving a shroud for Lord Laertes when his time comes to die. She asks her suitors’ permission to finish it before she marries, lest she should have spun it in vain. In reality, she does not want to marry any of the suitors, and secretly hopes that Odysseus is still alive. So she comes up with a plan to stall them: “So every day she wove on the great loom- / but every night by torchlight she unwove it, / and so for three years she deceived the Akhaians” (Homer 24.157-159). She managed to deceive her suitors for three years before they found out what she was really up to.
Another example of deception is when Telemakhos lies to his mother about going out to look for his …show more content…
Athena, as Mentor, encourages Telemakhos and finds a ship for him. She tells him to return home and collect provisions for his journey while she rounds up a crew to help him. Athena disguises herself in order to help Telemakhos without causing a huge scene. With her help, he goes on to have a successful journey in finding news of his father.
The theme of deception is mainly used in this epic to help characters get what they want. Lies and disguises help to advance the theme of deception as a way of how characters make decisions. Although not always moral, without deception, their plans wouldn’t be as effective. Through this trickery, characters get the results they are looking
The first example of deception is when Penelope lies about finishing her weaving. She is weaving a shroud for Lord Laertes when his time comes to die. She asks her suitors’ permission to finish it before she marries, lest she should have spun it in vain. In reality, she does not want to marry any of the suitors, and secretly hopes that Odysseus is still alive. So she comes up with a plan to stall them: “So every day she wove on the great loom- / but every night by torchlight she unwove it, / and so for three years she deceived the Akhaians” (Homer 24.157-159). She managed to deceive her suitors for three years before they found out what she was really up to.
Another example of deception is when Telemakhos lies to his mother about going out to look for his …show more content…
Athena, as Mentor, encourages Telemakhos and finds a ship for him. She tells him to return home and collect provisions for his journey while she rounds up a crew to help him. Athena disguises herself in order to help Telemakhos without causing a huge scene. With her help, he goes on to have a successful journey in finding news of his father.
The theme of deception is mainly used in this epic to help characters get what they want. Lies and disguises help to advance the theme of deception as a way of how characters make decisions. Although not always moral, without deception, their plans wouldn’t be as effective. Through this trickery, characters get the results they are looking