Odysseus 'The Odyssey'

Written about two thousand and seven hundred years earlier, the Odyssey is still influencing modern storytelling today. Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca and protagonist of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey was recognized as a great hero of his time. He was known for his defining qualities of superior strength and athleticism, sharp intellect, sensual ness, and a thirst for glory. These character traits are still being used to attribute modern day fictional heroes such as Neo, Captain Jack Sparrow, James Bond, and Spiderman. Accordingly, the heroic qualities of Odysseus can be still be seen in today's modern day fictional heroes.

In Robert Fitzgerald's translation of Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is viewed as heroic while making his journey from the Trojan War after the sack of the Troy, back to his homeland Ithaca. Throughout his expedition, his legacy of being a great warrior due to his strength, cleverness, and patience when dealing with individuals is praised by the people of Ithaka, people of Scheria, and Homer himself. For twenty years, Odysseus leaves behind his kingdom, including his wife, Penelope. Along with the sorrow from dealing with her husband's disappearance, Penelope faces coercion from Ithaka to marry one of the 108 suitors who have invaded the kingdom. Consequently, she must express characteristics of maturity in order to not succumb to the suitor’s

In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus endures an arduous voyage filled with countless dangers. Although he is praised by comrades and countrymen as a wise, heroic king, Odysseus does not actually live up to his name as he begins this trip back to Ithaka. Through his journey though, Odysseus corrects his reckless, undisciplined, and arrogant actions, learning responsibility, restraint, and humility in the process.

Homer’s “The Odyssey” takes place ten years after the events in “The Iliad”, to which the Odyssey is an indirect sequel, and the fall of Troy; even though the story is believed to have been composed some time during the eight century B.C.E. it is estimated to be set sometime between 1300 and 1000 B.C.E. in Mycenaean Greece during the Bronze age. In this novel all Greek heroes have returned home after the fall of Troy, except for Odysseus who after a three year journey has been held captive by the goddess Calypso, who has fallen in love with him, on her island, Ogygia. After the ten years have passed Odysseus is presumed dead, his wife Penelope is courted, and his estate is auctioned off by the Suitors, the young men of Ithaca who attempt to win Penelope’s favor and hand in marriage.

It can start a war or end one. Give you the strength of heroes or leave you powerless. It can be snared with a glance but no force can compel it to stay. Love. It was the downfall of Troy and the triumph of Odysseus. The dual nature of love in Greek myth as both destruction and salvation may have led to Plato’s unique conceptualization of love. In The Symposium he speaks of two Aphrodites: Common and Heavenly. The first has domain over physical attachments and is considered vulgar. The second, being divine is concerned with the soul, not the body. It is a heavenly love, a love of the mind, the spirit. It is also exclusively for same-sex partners. Although Plato’s conception of love may not have been the prevailing notion of the time, it is

During the episode on Polyphemus’ island, Odysseus needs to improve on using wisdom/logic. Odysseus takes his men into the cave and they very quickly get the idea that the Cyclops do not want them there. His men tried to turn him back, but they stayed despite the Cyclops obvious bad intentions and Odysseus acted as if he would be treated as a well-respected guest. Only after many of his men are devoured by Polyphemus does Odysseus start to formulate his plan. While in the cave, Odysseus says that Polyphemus “beat their brains out, splattering the floor” (Homer 194). Odysseus should have thought through the situation and tried to create an escape plan much faster. He needed to use his judgment and common sense to spare several of his best men’s lives instead of telling the Cyclops that “any gifts/ you give – as custom is to honor strangers”

The Odyssey conveys that the journey is far more important than the destination. Odysseus’s main goal is to reach home, and while going through his journey he’s having great learning experiences along the way. His greatest learning experiences are a result of the journey rather than the destination. While Odysseus is on his expedition, he is learning to conquer the resistance of temptation. The most important example that reveals the journey is more important than the destination is, “As soon as they tasted that honey-sweet fruit, they thought no more of coming back to us with news, but chose rather to stay there with the lotus-eating natives, and chew their lotus, and good-bye to home.

Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus is described as cunning. His thoughts are always working towards the best outcome for himself and like a good chess play, he always remains one move ahead. Odysseus’ cunning can be observed through his interactions with the nymph Calypso in Book Five and the Phaeacian Princess Nausicaa in Book Six. During these interactions, Odysseus flatters the females and evokes pity for his suffering in order for the situation to work to his advantage. He is not always honest, but his command of language allows him to win people over with his lies. Odysseus wishes to get home as quickly as possible and is willing to lie and flatter to complete the journey.

Does Odysseus’s journey back home worthy, leaving companions behind? As Odysseus comes back home from the battle of the Trojan War, he disguises as a beggar, which he thinks Penelope would not recognize and to see if anyone is still on his side. This seduces Penelope to run tests on Odysseus to see if it really is him. To see if Odysseus has returned, Penelope demonstrates her cleverness through three methods: an interrogation, a challenge, and a secret.

After successfully avoiding Charybdis, Odysseus and his men, famished and hoping to find nourishment, stop at the first island they see. The island is isolated, green, but not lush with trees, and flat. They dock their ship at an inlet and await Odysseus’ commanding orders.

After arriving on the island of the phaeacians, Odysseus is trying to prove to the court that he is odysseus by telling them of his life between leaving troy, and arriving on their island. It is in this part of the retelling that Odysseus and his men have been trapped by the cyclops Polyphêmos, a son of poseidon. There are other cyclopes in caves nearby. Polyphemos is a shepherd and goatherd, every morning he takes his flock out to graze and every night he brings them into his cave to be milked. Many of Odysseus’ problems stem from Poseidon being angry with him, and he is repeatedly angering him further.

Some civilizations perish into ashes, and others supersede the former and ascent to power. Ancient Greece is one such example, rising to the apex of its glory, and as history is depicted to repeat itself, the future was simultaneously on a quest to bring about its diminution. Although this cycle is inevitable, we are blessed by our biological programming to relay the chronicles of such civilizations through stories. Literature allows us to peek through the fabric of time and gain insight into the ideals a civilization was structured upon. Examining the Odyssey will allow us to view the values the Ancient Greeks were reliant on, and how those values and brought about the indomitable hero

With a voice “no louder than any suckling pup,” even Scylla exploits another of Odysseus’ human weaknesses: fear (Homer, Odyssey, p. 274, 12.94). To some sailors, the sound might draw them in if they are curious. She lurks in a cave, so the yelping might sound like an injured animal. By having this trait, Scylla is clearly trying

Odysseus is very honorable. He stakes his pride on the fact that he honors the rules between the guest and the host. Odysseus survives his travels by being calm and brave when necessary. Odysseus is not lucky, he thinks his situations through calmly and bravely without panicking.

If I were Alcinous and I had just heard Odysseus’ story, I think I would be nearly convinced to help him. I say nearly because, while I would believe that Odysseus had a strong desire to go home, I do not think that I would help him get home.