Man Is Nothing Without The Gods In The Odyssey

Poseidon, god of the sea, believes Odysseus should suffer throughout his journey because of his hubris, also known as, excessive pride. In the beginning of The Odyssey, Odysseus claims he conquers Troy by himself and he does not need the gods anymore. This makes Poseidon furious, knowing he is the one who answers Odysseus’ request for help during the Trojan War. He curses Odysseus, letting him know he is nothing without the gods. In “The Cyclops” episode, Polyphemus cries to Poseidon, “ ‘O hear me, lord … grant that Odysseus, raider of cities,

Gods played a great role back in ancient civilizations and still do so to a certain extent, just not as intensely. Today, we have many different gods and religions, but for the most part, they are not nearly as serious as they were back in the days of Odysseus. Gods were believed by all to run the whole show and could end lives if they chose. Whatever humans did had to reflect on what the Gods would think of it since it was they who controlled the thin line between life and death of every living soul. The relationships between men and Gods are shown as a serious topic in the Odyssey for several reasons and are also shown through several examples. Athena is shown to be the most kind and helpful Goddess for Odysseus and this is shown by her doing all in her power to help him get back home to his family as

Odysseus arrogantly does not think of the safety of his men and does not listen to them, only caring to annoy the Cyclops and to take the credit for blinding him. This shows his pride and his only care, to expand his legacy. By doing so, Poseidon curses his journey and makes it tougher for him to return

The gods play an important part in Odysseus’ journey home, bringing him closer and farther from his homeland. They constantly intervene in the lives of the many characters in The Odyssey. Though Odysseus is a hero, the gods control his life. It is as if he were the main character in a video game and the gods are fighting over who controls his life. Personal responsibility is overshadowed by the gods’ eagerness to grab the controller.

The victory of Odysseus and his son Telemakhos over the suitors is credited to Odysseus’s cleverness and cunning nature. Yet Odysseus would not have made it home, and Telemakhos wouldn’t have become confident, more mature, and better at speaking his mind if it wasn’t for the intervention of a higher power. The gods and goddess in The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, provided disguise, strength, and advice. Without their hand in the matter Odysseus would have not made it home and Telemakhos would not have matured or learned of his father and Greek customs. Odysseus faces many challenges that he wouldn’t have overcome if it wasn’t for the help of the gods.

Thus, Poseidon creates many hardships that Odysseus will have to encounter on his journey home. Another example is when Odysseus and his crew go to Helios’ island.

The king was so impressed with his skill he sent Odysseus home with a new crew to replace all the men he lost to Poseidon's sea monsters, along with treasure to take home. Poseidon is enraged at the fact that his own people help such a man, he punishes the Phaeacians for helping Odysseus. Poseidon claimed to the Phaeacians “...thou god of the dark clouds, but I ever dread and avoid the wrath. But now I am minded to smite the fairship of the Phaeacians as she come back his convoy on the misty deep, that hereafter they may desist and to fling a great mountain about their city.” (Book 13-14)

In his essay , "The Obstacles to Odysseus' Return," Charles H. Taylor, Jr. points out that "of all the Olympians, [Poseidon] is the most immersed in the elements. Although he attends gatherings on Olympus, his sphere of action is the Mediterranean waters and his home is deep in the Aegean Sea." As the "god of the violent sea," "the earth-shaker," and "the earth holder," Poseidon is only superficially detached from the natural environment by his designation as an Olympian deity. Thus, Odysseus' struggle is really one for maintaining individual existence against the sea, against the external forces of the natural world. In order to arrive home, to maintain his identity as a hero, as well as to simply remain alive in the world of men, Odysseus must overcome the obstacles set forth by Poseidon, by the sea itself. To Odysseus, the sea is the elemental barrier through which he must physically and mentally pass in order to restore himself to his home, his family, and his identity. Odysseus must use his physical efforts to

One might argue that Odysseus is fortunate to have gods and goddesses involved in his life. Aeolus gives Odysseus the bag of winds to help him get home (231-232). Calypso rescues him after his men have died and restores him to health (171). Most importantly, Athena asks Zeus to help him (94) and protects him by changing his appearance (355). This is evidence that suggests Odysseus is fortunate to have gods’ and goddesses’ help.

But now he lies away on an island suffering strong pains in the palace of nymph Calypso, and she detains him by constraint , and he cannot make his way to his country…” (12-15, 88). Therefore, Athena inaugurated Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca, although she also contributed along the way. For example, book twenty-two depicts how Athena, with the appearance of the Mentor, commiserates Odysseus.

The Gods fail to deny this either, “From [the Gods] alone, come all their miseries”, but they attempt to dodge some of the alleged accountability by claiming, “[mortals’]…reckless ways compound their pains” (Homer 2006: 75). Heroic and venerable characters like Odysseus and Telemachus set a tone for their society that piety is valuable because of the social utility gained from not only being pious but also the result of being revered with glory. However, critics may arouse arguments surrounding the effects of a contrasting relationship that handles delayed divine intervention. It is blatant that mortals become helpless without the assistance of their Gods: Both Phaedra and Hippolytus succumb to death as a result of Aphrodite and Poseidon, leaving Theseus–a heroic and glorified individual alive; meanwhile, in The Odyssey, Telemachus, Odysseus, and Penelope remain alive by the distinct nature of Athena’s more consistent involvement. In fact, pious mortals, like Phaedra and Hippolytus, who eventually die seem to demonstrate that without divine intervention, piety and glory are

In Homer’s The Odyssey Odysseus is on his way home from the Trojan war. When he does something to make the sea god Poseidon mad. Poseidon makes waves to move them off course. He and his crew must fight and survive his way through a bunch of monsters.

    The characters of Homer’s The Odyssey struggled with the ineffable reality of the world, therefore they created gods that could carry the burden of their hopeless quest for understanding. The characters created by Homer, because of their intelligence, were finally

In various encounters throughout the book, Athena, the goddess of wisdom influences the lives of Odysseus’s family in order to improve their fate due to her favoritism for the persistent mariner attempting to return home and respect of his cleverness. Her preference to Odysseus is seen in the beginning of Book 1 stating to her father, Zeus that she is concerned of the whereabouts of Odysseus and pleads for support to deliver him

The Odyssey details Odysseus’ arduous return to his homeland. Ten years have passed since the end of the Trojan war and Odysseus, the “most cursed man alive”, has been missing and presumed dead by many. (10.79). Throughout the novel, gods play a significant role in the fate of Odysseus and other characters. The extent of the gods’ role though is not unqualified, contrary to Telemachus’ suggestion that, “Zeus is to blame./He deals to each and every/ laborer on this earth whatever doom he pleases” (1.401-403). While Zeus does have this power, his description of how humans meet their fate is more accurately depicted throughout the novel. As he aptly points out, “from us alone, the say, come all their miseries, yes,/ but they themselves, with their own reckless ways,/ compound their pain beyond their proper share” (1.38-52). While the gods do doom certain mortals, many of these mortals exacerbate their ill fate by making rash decisions and ignoring the gods’ warnings. The gods are also not always disrupting mortals lives; they often aid mortals in need. In fact, mortals who effectively court the favor of the gods often benefit greatly. While the gods’ powers are unquestionable, no one god’s power is insurmountable. Gods can be outsmarted and their wrath escaped. The Odyssey, in congruence with Zeus’ statement, ultimately, portrays human freedom as existent, but limited.