Odysseus: Not a Self-Made Hero
Divine intervention is a major component in heroic narratives. The Odyssey presented many examples of the gods intervening in the lives and fates of the story's mortals. Odysseus was portrayed as the hero in The Odyssey, but I seek to show that Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, was the central force in the story. Athena had close bonds with Odysseus and other characters, and guided both father and son through obstacles that might have prevented Odysseus from returning to Ithaca. Without Athena's intervention, The Odyssey could have been very different. In the first assembly of the gods, Athena mentioned Odysseus' exile on Calypso's island. She was very concerned about his fate, and the gods devised a way to return him home. It was her concern that instigated his eventual return to Ithaca. The gods had control over his fate, not him. Athena asked the assembly, "If now the blessed gods indeed would end the wanderings of Odysseus, let us send the keen-eyed Hermes to Calypso's isle" (1.111). I believe that if Hermes had not been sent by the gods, due to Athena's concern, Odysseus would not have seen Ithaca again. It was not in his power to escape; his gods held that power. Athena seemed to set off many chain reactions that he
Odysseus might not have even made it to shore, and would have drowned at sea without Athena's aid. It was with her intervention that the suitors kept missing the mark. She played a key part in the struggle of the return home. It was her influence that initially began to prepare Ithaca for his return. to bring before the suitors in Odysseus' house his bow and gray axheads" (21. Had she not given strong advice to Telemachus, he would have been unprepared for his father's return and the stand against the suitors. It could be said that Odysseus earned this noble fortune, but it could also be said that Odysseus had Athena to look out for him, and was therefore led down a path created for him. "Then from above, close to the roof, Athena held high her aegis, sign of death for mortals. Odysseus didn't stop at that; she had to warn him again of the possibility of provoking a god's wrath. "Within his heart she'd set resolve and strength and memories more intense- more bent upon his father- than before" (1. That particular divine intervention left many repercussions in Odysseus' favor. Athena seemed to take responsibility for Odysseus.
Common topics in this essay:
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Odysseus Telemachus,
Odysseus Odysseus,
Odysseus Mentor,
,
Western Literature,
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Hermes Calypso's,
Skidmore Odysseus,
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divine intervention,
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planning athena,
due athena's,
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return home,
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Acceptance Essays
