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Fate Exposed In Homer's The Odyssey

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Homer’s The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic which chronicles the trials and tribulations of the crafty Odysseus as he journeys from the stallion-land of Troy to far-off Ithaca, spurred by the wrath and mercy of the gods. Upon reaching native soil, Odysseus must confront his final test; vanquishing the treacherous suitors which plague his palace. As with most classical Greek literature, The Odyssey has a deep foundation in mythology and within these religious aspects lies the motif of Xenia, a sacred code which governed the reciprocal relationship between host and guest. These overarching themes act as the linchpin of the narrative while providing valuable insight into Homeric society, in contrast with contemporary social principles.
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One prominent religious concept is Odysseus’ destiny to “bear a world of pain” and “subject [himself] to the cruel abuse of men”. Fate is the entity which seals Achaean defeat at Troy, strands Odysseus for ten torturous years and only then allows him to return to his beloved homeland. Mythological figures, however, could manipulate the path of mortals to this otherwise inevitable destiny. In The Odyssey these polar opposites of divine intervention are embodied by the tormentor and the temptress. Odysseus’ resilience in the face of Poseidon’s ferocious winds, the rocky crags of Scylla and Charybdis and Zeus who marshals the thunderheads emphasises his devotion to Oikos, his family, property and household. Interludes of temptation including the land of the Lotus-Eaters, the goddess Circe and the nymph Calypso contrast with these ordeals and further assert our protagonist’s desire to remain an active hero in the mortal world. Xenia is another literary device used by Homer to demonstrate Odysseus’ triumph over Hubris. This flaw is most pronounced when our protagonist encounters Polyphemus, a direct result of exploiting Xenia. As the Achaeans are escaping by ship Odysseus taunts the

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