UCIthaca A journey is a long and often difficult process of personal change and development. Many people go on journeys to learn more about themselves or reach a certain goal. The Odyssey, written by Homer, portrays many obstacles that can be related to many people’s journeys in life. Odysseus, the protagonist of the epic poem, went on his own journey where he experienced struggles and triumph. He first took ten years to travel to Troy and take part in The Trojan War. Soon after, he took the journey of going home to Ithaca. During this voyage home he encountered many obstacles which ended up adding another ten years to his journey. Odysseus went through this twenty-year expedition to reach Ithaca. Ithaca can be seen as a symbol for not only
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In The Odyssey, Odysseus was at a point in his journey where he wasn’t sure on where to go or what to do. Homer himself writes,” Odysseus and his reduced crew escape and reach Aeaea, the island ruled by the sorceress-goddess Circe. She transforms half of my men into swine. Protected by a magic herb, Odysseus demands that Circe change his men back into human form. Before Odysseus departs from the island a year later, Circe informs him that in order to reach home he must journey to the land of the dead, Hades, and consult the blind prophet Tiresias” (Homer. Od. 576). This quote emphasizes that Odysseus did not know how to get home or what to do. Circe, the goddess, tells Odysseus what to do next in order to reach his Ithaca. This shows that even if you don’t know where to go or what to do there will always be resources or people to help you. For my Ithaca I might go through a similar situation of Odysseus’ where I’m not sure on what to do so I look or ask for help. These two ideas are similar because right after the cyclops situation Odysseus was not sure on how to get home and possibly after a big obstacle I overcome I might not know what to do or where to go. For these reasons, we can see that both Odysseus and I can experience obstacles in our journeys including this …show more content…
During Odysseus’ journey he experienced a major setback when he got stuck in the Cyclops’ cave. According to Odysseus,” Neither reply nor pity came from him, / but in one stride he clutched at my companions/ and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies/ to beat their brain out, spattering the floor. / Then he dismembered them and made his meal, / gaping and crunching like a mountain lion--/ everything: innards, flesh, and marrow bones” (Homer. Od. 568. 232-238). Homer suggests that in the cave the Cyclops got a hold on some of Odysseus’ men and ended up killing them. This evidence proves that dangers and obstacles in your voyage can greatly affect how it plays out. Furthermore, Odysseus states,” … if I killed him/ we perished there as well, for we could never/ move his ponderous doorway slab aside” (Homer. Od. 568. 248-250). Odysseus reports that the Cyclops blocked the doorway and if they killed him then they would be trapped there forever. Equally important, is the fact that the Cyclops is blocking the door with a material that is impossible for Odysseus and his men. This shows that Odysseus would be there forever and never be able to go home to Ithaca. Basically, Homer is saying that if you go through so many obstacles you may never be able to reach your Ithaca. I may end up getting bad grades through high school that can affect my chances of going to UCI. These two ideas are similar as they
In The Odyssey, Odysseus was at a point in his journey where he wasn’t sure on where to go or what to do. Homer himself writes,” Odysseus and his reduced crew escape and reach Aeaea, the island ruled by the sorceress-goddess Circe. She transforms half of my men into swine. Protected by a magic herb, Odysseus demands that Circe change his men back into human form. Before Odysseus departs from the island a year later, Circe informs him that in order to reach home he must journey to the land of the dead, Hades, and consult the blind prophet Tiresias” (Homer. Od. 576). This quote emphasizes that Odysseus did not know how to get home or what to do. Circe, the goddess, tells Odysseus what to do next in order to reach his Ithaca. This shows that even if you don’t know where to go or what to do there will always be resources or people to help you. For my Ithaca I might go through a similar situation of Odysseus’ where I’m not sure on what to do so I look or ask for help. These two ideas are similar because right after the cyclops situation Odysseus was not sure on how to get home and possibly after a big obstacle I overcome I might not know what to do or where to go. For these reasons, we can see that both Odysseus and I can experience obstacles in our journeys including this …show more content…
During Odysseus’ journey he experienced a major setback when he got stuck in the Cyclops’ cave. According to Odysseus,” Neither reply nor pity came from him, / but in one stride he clutched at my companions/ and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies/ to beat their brain out, spattering the floor. / Then he dismembered them and made his meal, / gaping and crunching like a mountain lion--/ everything: innards, flesh, and marrow bones” (Homer. Od. 568. 232-238). Homer suggests that in the cave the Cyclops got a hold on some of Odysseus’ men and ended up killing them. This evidence proves that dangers and obstacles in your voyage can greatly affect how it plays out. Furthermore, Odysseus states,” … if I killed him/ we perished there as well, for we could never/ move his ponderous doorway slab aside” (Homer. Od. 568. 248-250). Odysseus reports that the Cyclops blocked the doorway and if they killed him then they would be trapped there forever. Equally important, is the fact that the Cyclops is blocking the door with a material that is impossible for Odysseus and his men. This shows that Odysseus would be there forever and never be able to go home to Ithaca. Basically, Homer is saying that if you go through so many obstacles you may never be able to reach your Ithaca. I may end up getting bad grades through high school that can affect my chances of going to UCI. These two ideas are similar as they