Religion is a large part of modern life. It influences our belief system and values, as well as shapes who we are as human beings. However, most individuals decide upon and follow a belief system on a voluntary basis. Imagine not only being forced to follow a belief system, but having this system dominate your every action. This is the case for classic epic heroes, such as Oedipus, Odysseus, and Aeneas. This conflict inspires the theme of fate vs. free will in each of these classic epics. Although these characters have free will, they are not permitted to use it as an attempt to avoid what is inevitably destined for them. Therefore, each author establishes an interconnected relationship between fate and free will, which ultimately impacts the journey of each character. Homer’s The Odyssey depicts the story of Odysseus as he travels home following the Trojan War. Trouble frequently arises throughout his journey as the meddling of the gods often hinders his progress. Almost every action Odysseus takes is influenced by the gods in some way. This creates conflict between the function of fate and free will in Odysseus’ decision making. Thus, it is questioned whether Odysseus’ destiny is acquired through his own free will or through the actions of the gods. The audience is first introduced to Odysseus on Calypso’s island after the god Poseidon caused his ship to wreck on the coast, leaving him abandoned on the island. The audience quickly learns of Poseidon’s animosity towards
Fate and destiny are very important parts in The Odyssey. Many gods and goddesses find their fate and destiny through the choices they make. For example, in Book 9, the Cyclopes predicts Odysseus’ destiny. “...Grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home… Should destiny intend that he shall see his roof again among his family and his father
In one of the episodes, Odysseus encountered Polyphemus: a Cyclops who held Odysseus and his men captive. Despite the wishes of his crew, Odysseus did not kill the Cyclops; Odysseus knew that if the Cyclops were to die, the men would not be able to move the boulder blocking the exit. Instead of killing Polyphemus, Odysseus blinded him by driving a sharpened staff into his eye. Blinded, Polyphemus sat by the exit blocking any passage; the men were faced with another issue: how would they slip away? Odysseus knew that in order to escape he needed to devise a carefully thought out plan, so he “drew on all [his] wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man [would] for dear life, until a trick came–and it pleased [him]” (Homer 993).
People and their actions are what determines their future. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus starts out with numerous ships and men. However, the only one who ends up surviving the multitude of obstacles is himself. The reason for this outcome is supported in the transition paragraph at the end of Book 12, which says “Odysseus tries to persuade his men to bypass Thrinacia, the island of the sun god, Helios, but they insist on landing.”
I believe that these man were given a sense of false free will and were never really in control over their one destiny. They are just the Fates puppets while they mastered them as they wished. Odysseus was a man of great power who convinced Achilles to join the war when Thetis hid him disguised as a women but not only did he do this but he also sailed on a journey that made him take 10 years to come back to his beloved wife, Penelope. With the aid of the goddess Athena he sailed back to Ithaca but he infuriated Poseidon which made him have many obstacles that would lead to 10 years of wondering. In this tale we have Zeus knowing that odysseus was destined to suffer and have a difficult time going back home but nevertheless, at the end of the journey he was going to return home regardless of what happened in the journey.
Greed and folly double the suffering of in the lot of man. (I, 48-51) Although it may appear that the gods unfairly play games with the lives of mortals, most if not all of the problems that Odysseus encounters stem from his own actions and humanity. In fact, when the immortals interfere with Odysseus’ quest, it is more often to help than to hinder.
Odysseus always believes fate shall guide him but also believes it is fate he can change by his own free will. Once they escaped the cave by poking the Cyclops’ eye with a burning stick they set sail once again to
Though it may seem strange, a poem that is almost 3,000 years old symbolizes the obstacles I will soon face in my life. This epic poem is The Odyssey by Homer. Many believe that the obstacles in this story are not to be taken literally, but that they provide deeper messages or morals. The Odyssey is a perfect allegory for life. When a reader looks at the story at the surface, it seems that it is simply about a Greek man, Odysseus, trying to return home land of Ithaca while he must fight monsters and avoid magical dangers.
The Odyssey is an age old classic read around the world. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the story of the wayward Odysseus. The story follows the protagonist as he makes his way back home, dealing with man-eating Cyclopes, a vengeful god, and a possessive nymph. During the story, the reader sees many sides of Odysseus as he dealt with his tribulations, such the cunning and witful side, but also the pompous and indulgent side. To begin with, Odysseus is trapped on an island with the nymph, Calypso.
Odyssey Argumentative Essay The Odyssey is an epic by Homer. It is a story about Odysseus journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War. All the Greek heroes had returned home after the Trojan War except for Odysseus who was an important hero in Ithaca. Odysseus was absent in his son’s life and Telemachus decided that, it was time to find his father and bring him back home to his wife Penelope.
The Odyssey by Homer is an exemplary story that teaches life lessons to those going on a journey for themselves. It illustrates how the challenges and obstacles one may face can help someone become a better leader. The Odyssey highlights one man, Odysseus, a man filled with excessive pride, experiencing the wrath of the god Poseidon. He expects to arrive at his home, Ithaca, safely to reunite with his wife, Penelope, but unfortunately faces many temptations and setbacks. Due to the challenges he faces, it prevents him from arriving home as early as he thought he would.
He goes from island to island to seek help in getting home. To make matters worse Poseidon has turned again Odysseus for blinding a cyclops, who was Poseidon's son. In this book Odysseus od on Calypso’s island. Calypso is a nymph who has been helping Odysseus on her island for quite a long time.
The responsibility for this suffering is caused by a mixture of both human actions, along with the intervention of the gods. The plotline depends heavily upon the idea of suffering, due to the separation between characters. The suffering through separation throughout the story plays a critical role in the development of the characters, and for the advancement of the storyline. Between Odysseus and Penelope and Calypso and Odysseus, the pressure of each character’s situation tests their mental strength, while highlighting their intense sorrow felt while being separated from one another. After Odysseus had defeated Troy, he ended up on an island with the beautiful goddess Calypso.
Homer delivers very universal themes, such as loyalty is respected, but the epic also provides meaningful themes that are not as recognizable. The Odyssey is very focused on leadership and courage, as it centers on a hero's journey. There are many parts in the epic where Homer explains the actions of an admirable leader. In the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplifies the true meaning of being a leader through courage in the face of danger, which is shown by Circe, the Sirens, and the suitors. One might wonder why it takes Odysseus ten years to return to his homeland after he has achieved victory for Ithaca in the Trojan War.
Surya Govindaswaami Vidya Madavan English A HL 3 May 2016 The Influence of Divine Intervention on the Portrayal of Fate and Free Will in The Odyssey by Homer The Odyssey is not only considered one of the most prolific mythological epics of all time, but one of the greatest texts written by man. It recounts the arduous journey of the war hero Odysseus, in which he faced a multitude of adversities and obstacles that he had to overcome, as well as numerous challenges upon his arrival.
The Odyssey by Homer tells the story of Odysseus’ drawn-out, treacherous journey through the dark and unknown seas to Ithaca. After successfully defeating the Trojans in the Trojan War, Odysseus faces various obstacles, which test his worthiness in society. Odysseus is the iconic epic hero because he exemplifies all of the characteristics of that archetype. An epic hero is a figure in society that is idolized because of their admirable traits and ability to spark hope within the hopeless. The concept of epic heroism is incredibly significant because of its eternal life and its survival through ancient times to modern popular culture.