odyssey essay
Many different things happen in the exciting epic, The Odyssey .In The Odyssey, reoccurring themes appear, character's roles change, and a homecoming for an epic hero is finally accomplished. Book 23 may be the one book in this poem that can be related the closest to the poem as a whole. First, in this book, we can see the relationship of a god/goddess and a human being as a reoccurring theme throughout Homers works. This god/human relationship is shown throughout the poem mainly through the actions of Athena, who is trying to assure that Odysseus receives the glorious homecoming that he deserves. Book 23 concludes Odysseus's twenty-year homecoming journey by uniting him with his beloved wife, Penelope. The homecoming that is looked forward to by so many throughout the poem is finalized by the romantic reunion of Odysseus and Penelope This reunion shows a cunning side of Penelope that is almost the same as her husband, Odysseus, shows numerous times throughout the epic. This cunningness by Penelope exhibits a different example of the role of women in the time of the Odyssey. The relationships between humans and gods are looked at numerous times in both the Iliad and the Odyssey. Gods in these poems hurt some humans and help othe
Also, the reason that Odysseus eventually received his homecoming is because of the admiration and love of the goddess, Athena. He, again, disguises himself for Penelope, his wife, in order to make sure that she has been loyal to him. The goddess, Athena, and Odysseus are two characters that are very similar to one another in their personalities. The relationship between Athena and Odysseus is shown in book 23. Both Athena and Odysseus use their intelligence to trick others in thinking that they are somebody else. This is done in order to gain the righteous homecoming in which he has been striving for. This chapter also reiterates the importance of man's relationship with the gods and goddesses. Athena helps Odysseus and his family a number of times throughout the epic in order to do so. She lies to the suitors because she still believes that her real husband, Odysseus, is still alive. Athena's help is described by the quote: "Now Dawn of the rosy fingers would have dawned on their weeping, had not the gray-eyed goddess Athena planned it otherwise. Penelope turns the tides on Odysseus also, assuring him trustworthy by using her own trickery. Her appreciation is seen in line 287 of book 8 when she "smiled on him, and stroked him with her hand" after he made up a long, detailed story to try and trick her.
Common topics in this essay:
Odysseus Athena,
Athena Odysseus,
Odyssey Odyssey,
Penelope Odysseus,
Penelope Odysseus-like,
Odyssey Gods,
Odysseus Penelope,
Polyphemos Cyclops,
XXIII241-246 Athena,
Odyssey Odysseus,
book 23,
athena odysseus,
throughout poem,
odysseus penelope,
husband odysseus,
athena helps,
goddess athena,
times throughout epic,
penelope odysseus,
helps odysseus,
assure odysseus,
athena helps odysseus,
relationship athena odysseus,
|
Acceptance Essays
