The Odyssey is an epic poem, which revolves around Odysseus and his journey home from the war at Troy. Throughout his travels he is met with many obstacles and adventures. There are times when he thinks he will never make it home. But through perseverance, faith, maturation and heroics, he manages to survive and reach his homeland of Ithaca as a changed man. In The Odyssey, Odysseus, the main character must journey from Troy to his homeland of Ithaca. Throughout this journey he learns many lessons, faces obstacles testing his physical and mental strength and grows from an arrogant, self-centered hero into a humble, respectful survivor. With the help of the Gods he is finally able to return to Ithaca as an honorable man. In Book VI of the Odyssey, Odysseus wakes on the shore of Phaecia. The Goddess Athena has sent the beautiful Nausicaa a dream instructing her to wash clothes in preparation for an upcoming marriage. Athena makes Nausicaa brave and Odysseus handsome bringing them together in order to assist Odysseus to the house of the king. In this particular book the Gods assist Odysseus and he manages to come closer to getting home. Athena helps him out over and over again in Book VI. Everything seems to be done to help Odysseus and so he is lucky to have the Gods behind him. ?but the grey-eyed Goddess Athena made her tarry, so Odysseus might behold her beauty and win her guidance to the town? (175).
Here Odysseus is actually being led where he needs to go by Athena indirectly. All the places with lush greenery and the resting-place of Odysseus has even been made by Athena. ?The sun was going down when they went by Athena?s grove? (181).
The Essay on Leadership qualities of Odysseus throughout the book
Throughout the Odyssey, the lead character, Odysseus, is presented as the ideal Greek leader. He demonstrates this through the treatment of his men and how he deals with problems that are presented to him. Because the Odyssey was first a spoken myth, it took on the shape of the society in which it was told. Including that society’s moral and ethical values, as well as its desires in the ...
The manipulation by the Gods appears to lead t a common goal, the survival of Odysseus and the assistance of getting him home. The gods may not be able to stop fate but they help Odysseus learn to use their guidance to his advantage for his survival.
In Book VIII, King Alkinoos calls an assembly asking the Phaeacians to help Odysseus. During this meeting there is competition to entertain Odysseus. After being insulted by one of the Phaeacians, ??The reason being, as I see it, friend, you never learned a sport, and have no skill in any of the contests of fighting men? (185).
With that, Odysseus throws a discus farther than anyone ever has. ?Anyone else for an edge for competition try me now? (186) This proves Odysseus has a problem with his pride. Although this pride does help him throughout his journey, he uses it here as a vice to show others his greatness. His arrogance really shows through here. By insulting his abilities, Phaeacians insulted his manhood and he defended it to the highest degree. In Book IX, Odysseus encounters the Kyklops and uses his cunningness and bravery to escape. Here we see a new side of Odysseus. First he vividly narrates his love for his home in this book. ?I shall not see on earth a place more dear? (198).
?Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his parents (198)? Odysseus seems able to survive by using all his energy to find his way home. He uses this energy in his plot to get away from the Kyklops. His plan is both brave and ingenious. He tells the Kyklops his name is Nohbdy. Then after being blinded, Odysseus and his men are able to escape. The Kyklops yells to his friends, ?Nohbdy, Nohbdy tricked me, Nohbdy?s ruined me? (207)! With this, he gets no help and Odysseus is free. However again his pride gets the best of him for as they are escaping he yells, ?If ever a mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell them Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye? (210).
This again proves to hurt Odysseus and makes his journey more difficult. His foolishness proves to be a thorn in his side throughout The Odyssey. By revealing his name he sets himself up for the angry God Poseidon. In Book X, foolishness again causes Odysseus trouble. As his Odyssey seems almost over and the men are close to Ithaca, a sack of wind given to Odysseus by Aeolus is unleashed. This blows their ship all the way back to where they started. Odysseus then ends up with Kirke, daughter of the Sun. Kirke turns all the crewmates into pigs and lures Odysseus into her bed. Odysseus ?s vice here seems to be his manhood as he ends up sleeping with Kirke for one year until she promises to help him get home. ?O Kirke now you must keep your promise, it is time. Help me make sail for home? (224).
The Essay on Milton's Paradise Lost And His Justification Of The Ways Of God To Man
When John Milton decided to write, he knew from the start he wanted his creation to be that of an epic. Paradise Lost is just that. It is Milton’s own take on the biblical story of Satan’s fall from grace as well as man’s fall. Milton was not only armed with an extensive knowledge on the Bible, but in everything a man of his time could learn. With his wisdom he emersed himself ...
Kirke tells Odysseus the path to take home and so he is off for another adventure, surviving with the mere thought of eventually returning to his distant home. ?Homeward you think we must be sailing to our own land; no, elsewhere is the voyage Kirke has laid upon? (227).
Odysseus seems to be learning from his mistakes. His virtue is to understand his destiny, fulfill it and eventually get where he needs to be. He learns that boasting can bring people against him as was seen with the Kyklops. He is also using his ability to accept help from the Gods to his advantage. In Book XI, Odysseus sails to the edge of the world and he eventually encounters the blind sear who warns him about the dangers for his journey home. ? But anguish lies ahead; the God who thunders on the land prepares it, not to be shaken from the track, implacable, in rancor for the son whose eye you blinded? (230).
He then visits with the dearly departed who cause him to flee to his ship in anguish only with greater hopes of returning home. ?I whirled then, made for the ship? (246).
Odysseus uses his vices and virtues a survivor to overcome his obstacles and to make it home. On his Odyssey, he receives help from the Gods but they also at times hinder his progress. His arrogance at times works against him and his manhood almost destroys his chances of seeing his homeland but through strength and the wisdom of experience, he manages to make it. He must learn from these vices and virtues and for this he is able to survive the journey.
