Odysseus’s Portrayal of the Human Experience
A typical person’s life in the 21st century may be drastically different from that of someone who lived thousands of years ago, like during the time period depicted in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, but that doesn’t stop the timeless idea of the human experience from being applicable to any person at any time. The epic’s focal point, while being an unusual hero in a differing time period, embodies the sum of human experience that is incredibly relatable to people of all backgrounds, even today. The epic poem’s extension, Tennyson’s poem Ulysses, reminisces Odysseus’ journey, displaying it in the context of familiar concepts and emotions. Throughout Homer’s The Odyssey and Tennyson’s “Ulysses,” …show more content…
One of Odysseus’ biggest emotional hardships was introduced with his captivity on Calypso’s island, where he sat every day, “wrenching his heart with sobs and groans and anguish, gazing out over the barren sea through blinding tears,” because of his inability to return home (Homer 5.174-75). Odysseus’s devastating experiences may be worse than most humans will encounter in their lifetime, but they represent the difficult emotional times everyone will stumble upon in the whole of human experience. Odysseus eventually overcomes his hardships and pitfalls at the conclusion of the Odyssey, representing one can …show more content…
Odysseus’ entire journey home is driven by his aspiration to reclaim his country and he yearns so much to do so that he passes up immortality and lustrous Calypso to, giving reason, “I long-I pine, all my days- to travel home and see the dawn of my return” (5. 242-3). This shows the extent of Odysseus’s symbolism of aspiration because it shows how important hopes, dreams, and aspirations are to each and every person. Without this aspiration to return home, Odysseus wouldn’t have been so driven and determined to literally defeat monsters and fight so many obstacles, and he probably never would’ve returned at all. This just goes to show much Odysseys shows that aspirations are essential to the human experience. Odysseus also symbolizes the role of aspirations in the human experience as his aspiration to regain his wife and home drives him to take revenge on the suitors, and screaming, “You dogs! You never imagined I’d return from Troy...now all your necks are in the noose- your doom is sealed” Odysseus kills every last one of them (22.36-42). Odysseus’s incredible vengeance is fueled by his aspiration to take back what is rightfully his in the first place. Through risking his life and overcoming all odds to fulfill his aspirations, Odysseus exemplifies a symbol of aspirations in a human experience, and one can
A typical person’s life in the 21st century may be drastically different from that of someone who lived thousands of years ago, like during the time period depicted in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, but that doesn’t stop the timeless idea of the human experience from being applicable to any person at any time. The epic’s focal point, while being an unusual hero in a differing time period, embodies the sum of human experience that is incredibly relatable to people of all backgrounds, even today. The epic poem’s extension, Tennyson’s poem Ulysses, reminisces Odysseus’ journey, displaying it in the context of familiar concepts and emotions. Throughout Homer’s The Odyssey and Tennyson’s “Ulysses,” …show more content…
One of Odysseus’ biggest emotional hardships was introduced with his captivity on Calypso’s island, where he sat every day, “wrenching his heart with sobs and groans and anguish, gazing out over the barren sea through blinding tears,” because of his inability to return home (Homer 5.174-75). Odysseus’s devastating experiences may be worse than most humans will encounter in their lifetime, but they represent the difficult emotional times everyone will stumble upon in the whole of human experience. Odysseus eventually overcomes his hardships and pitfalls at the conclusion of the Odyssey, representing one can …show more content…
Odysseus’ entire journey home is driven by his aspiration to reclaim his country and he yearns so much to do so that he passes up immortality and lustrous Calypso to, giving reason, “I long-I pine, all my days- to travel home and see the dawn of my return” (5. 242-3). This shows the extent of Odysseus’s symbolism of aspiration because it shows how important hopes, dreams, and aspirations are to each and every person. Without this aspiration to return home, Odysseus wouldn’t have been so driven and determined to literally defeat monsters and fight so many obstacles, and he probably never would’ve returned at all. This just goes to show much Odysseys shows that aspirations are essential to the human experience. Odysseus also symbolizes the role of aspirations in the human experience as his aspiration to regain his wife and home drives him to take revenge on the suitors, and screaming, “You dogs! You never imagined I’d return from Troy...now all your necks are in the noose- your doom is sealed” Odysseus kills every last one of them (22.36-42). Odysseus’s incredible vengeance is fueled by his aspiration to take back what is rightfully his in the first place. Through risking his life and overcoming all odds to fulfill his aspirations, Odysseus exemplifies a symbol of aspirations in a human experience, and one can