Odysseus's Fate Analysis

crew eats from the sacred cattle of the sun. He his spared as Zeus strikes down his crew in a righteous fury; however, Odysseus is cast adrift until he lands upon the isle of the Nymph Calypso, who refuses to let him go until Zeus takes pity on the weary king and orders his release. Odysseus tirelessly pursues his journey, yet he does not control his fate as he is not above immortal pettiness. It is only when he shows himself truly humble to the gods and to man that he is allowed to return home.
Odysseus begs for hospitality in the most wretched of states and, as a result, is further humbled by his tormented journey home. Poseidon still has not forgiven Odysseus for his actions and destroys his raft from Calypso’s island. Odysseus finds himself nude and helpless upon the island of Phaeacia. Once he gathers his strength, Odysseus covers himself with leaves and begs the Princess Nausicaa for pity and council. Odysseus, a man of great glory, wealth and power, is forced to take on the role of the downtrodden and beg for …show more content…
Odysseus begins his journey as the traditional epic hero, harboring both brains, brawn and overwhelming egoism. The aftermath of war is marked with grief; it reveals that peace cannot harbor the pride and arrogance of war and that actions once deemed heroic are nothing more than the ruthless slaughter of men. Odysseus’ return to Ithaca, though marked by peril and misfortune, ultimately leads to Odysseus’ all-encompassing change of heart and, subsequently, his eventual peace. His suffering has been an act of divine retribution not to eliminate him but rather to cleanse his character and humble his nature. The desire for glory and fame within needless conflict only breeds infamy in men, the wiser man eventually chooses