Role Of Zeus In The Odyssey

Zeus is primarily the one who determines the fate of each character. He exists not only to oversee the heavens and humankind, but also to enforce his will in how smoothly or not the story continues. Segal insists that "on the divine level, Zeus 's program for retributive justice at the beginning is not an accomplished fact of the world order but appears as work-in-progress" as he prepares to assist directly or indirectly in any way for Odysseus ' safe return (491). Zeus makes his first appearance in the Odyssey in book I as he berates humankind for blaming the gods for their woes, "[a]h how shameless--the way these mortals blame the gods . . . with their own reckless ways, compound their pains beyond their proper share" (37-40). In a way, Homer …show more content…
In the end, Calypso has no choice but to follow the will of Zeus. During Zeus ' message for Hermes to give to Calypso pertaining the release of Odysseus, Zeus reveals Odysseus ' fate, "on the twentieth day he will make his landfall, fertile, Scheria, the land of Phaeacians" (5.37-39) and ultimately determines Odysseus "shall see his loved ones, reach his high-roofed house, his native land at last" (5.45-46). Henceforth, we as the reader know whatever Zeus wills, it will happen. His declaration to Calypso to release Odysseus states the power and authority Zeus has over his people. Fate is altered by Zeus and will. Wilson responds to fate as "fate is not the will of the poet, but the poetic tradition" given that Homer gave Zeus the abilities of omnipotence and omnipresence (151). Therefore one can make an argument to why Ino (Leucothea), a minor sea goddess would come to the aid of Odysseus during Poseidon 's wrath at sea. Is Ino 's pity for Odysseus and her position to be at the right time, a coincidence? Yet again, the answer can be sought in Homer indirectly being Zeus to set up this scene to portray Odysseus heroically resulting in bringing the readers to their astonishment of his