The Odyssey
In Homer’s Epic Poem The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as godlike, but at the same time he is a vulnerable mortal. In Greek culture gods were considered inspiring figures. Gods were well known and played an essential role in Greek culture. Gods had absolute power over mortal action. Mortals looked to the gods for guidance and pleased them with sacrifices in return for their favors. Mortals were loyal to their gods such as when they make decisions on their lives, providing the opportunity to choose between the options that gods gives. Furthermore, gods were very clever and intelligent when they had to present themselves to mortals. They change their physical appearance to avoid being recognized as in many instances. Likewise Odysseus …show more content…
Gods determinate the direction of their lives and Odysseus was not the exception. Additionally, after Odysseus won the Trojan War, he claimed that he got this victory without the gods’ help, which instead made gods angry. Thus, Gods took control over his fate and decided to punish him by do not allowing him returning home and to be capture against his will in Kalypso’s Island. Homer said, “By night he would lie besides her, of necessary … against his will, by one who was willing … breaking his heard in tears and lamentation and sorrow as weeping tears” (Book 5, 154-158). In other words, Odysseus is feeling depressed and unhappy. He did not want to stay on that Island. He wanted to come back to Ithaca to see his wife Penelope and his son Telemachos. However, gods did not care about Odysseus feeling. They only care about what they consider it is the right thing to do to punish injustices. Odysseus’ ignorance and arrogance in term do not giving gods credits for his Trojan War victory, offended the gods and they needed to take reprisal against him by retaining him capture on the island against his will. Thus, gods determined Odysseus’s fate and he had to accept it as any mortal in Greek culture would do …show more content…
Athena was helping Odysseus indirectly by the messenger Hermes. To illustrate, in his rescue of his companions from Circes spell, without Hermes intervention, Odysseus was going to be easily converted into pig as well as his companions. Homer said, “I will find you a way out of your trouble, and save you. Here is a good medicine … it will give you the power against the days of trouble and I will tell you all the malevolent guiles of Circes” (Book 10, 286-289). In other words, Hermes empower Odysseus by giving him the herb moly to save him against Circes spell. Also, Hermes gave instruction to Odysseus to follow to be able to return his companions to their human bodies. This prove that Odysseus was inferior to gods in term of power. He did not have the power to convert his companions into human by himself. Moreover, he was protected by the gods which made him a vulnerable
In Homer’s Epic Poem The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as godlike, but at the same time he is a vulnerable mortal. In Greek culture gods were considered inspiring figures. Gods were well known and played an essential role in Greek culture. Gods had absolute power over mortal action. Mortals looked to the gods for guidance and pleased them with sacrifices in return for their favors. Mortals were loyal to their gods such as when they make decisions on their lives, providing the opportunity to choose between the options that gods gives. Furthermore, gods were very clever and intelligent when they had to present themselves to mortals. They change their physical appearance to avoid being recognized as in many instances. Likewise Odysseus …show more content…
Gods determinate the direction of their lives and Odysseus was not the exception. Additionally, after Odysseus won the Trojan War, he claimed that he got this victory without the gods’ help, which instead made gods angry. Thus, Gods took control over his fate and decided to punish him by do not allowing him returning home and to be capture against his will in Kalypso’s Island. Homer said, “By night he would lie besides her, of necessary … against his will, by one who was willing … breaking his heard in tears and lamentation and sorrow as weeping tears” (Book 5, 154-158). In other words, Odysseus is feeling depressed and unhappy. He did not want to stay on that Island. He wanted to come back to Ithaca to see his wife Penelope and his son Telemachos. However, gods did not care about Odysseus feeling. They only care about what they consider it is the right thing to do to punish injustices. Odysseus’ ignorance and arrogance in term do not giving gods credits for his Trojan War victory, offended the gods and they needed to take reprisal against him by retaining him capture on the island against his will. Thus, gods determined Odysseus’s fate and he had to accept it as any mortal in Greek culture would do …show more content…
Athena was helping Odysseus indirectly by the messenger Hermes. To illustrate, in his rescue of his companions from Circes spell, without Hermes intervention, Odysseus was going to be easily converted into pig as well as his companions. Homer said, “I will find you a way out of your trouble, and save you. Here is a good medicine … it will give you the power against the days of trouble and I will tell you all the malevolent guiles of Circes” (Book 10, 286-289). In other words, Hermes empower Odysseus by giving him the herb moly to save him against Circes spell. Also, Hermes gave instruction to Odysseus to follow to be able to return his companions to their human bodies. This prove that Odysseus was inferior to gods in term of power. He did not have the power to convert his companions into human by himself. Moreover, he was protected by the gods which made him a vulnerable