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Fate And Free Will In The Odyssey

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In the Odyssey, Fate and Free Will involves with Odysseus, Poseidon and being in the Underworld. Odysseus revealing his name to the Cyclops: “Cyclops, if anyone, any mortal man, Asks you how you got your eye put out, Tell him that Odysseus the marauder did it, Son of Laertes, whose home is on Ithaca” (9.500-504). Odysseus having trouble in the sea: “It came down just being our dark-hulled ship, / Barely missing the end of the rubber” (9.536-537). As a result, For Odysseus to disclose his name and stab the Cyclops eye his fate is for him to suffer in the sea. Next, Zeus is willing to help Odysseus get home by convincing Poseidon: “Let’s all put our heads together and find a way / To bring Odysseus home. Poseidon will have to / Put aside his anger. …show more content…
(1.83-86)”. Athena comes up with plan to get Odysseus home: “Father Zeus, whose power is supreme, / If the blessed gods really do want / Odysseus to return to his home, / We should send Hermes, our quicksilver herald, / To the island of Ogygia without delay / To tell that nymph of our firm resolve / That long-suffering Odysseus gets to go home” (1.89-94). In this case, Fate and Free Will is combined because Poseidon must let Odysseus go home but he gets to choose how much Odysseus gets to suffer in the process. Lastly, Fate and Free Will is shown in the Underworld when Tiresias reveals Odysseus’ fate: “For I do not think you will elude the Earthshaker, / Who has laid up wrath in his heart against you, / Furious because you blinded his son. Still, / You just might get home, though not without pain, / You and your men, if you curb your own spirit” (11.99-103). Odysseus explains it is not his fault for Ajax death: “The gods / Must have meant it to be the ruin of the

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