ipl-logo

Lack Of Free Will In Homer's Odyssey

606 Words3 Pages

For those who fail to adhere to any form of a decree by the Gods, experiencing heightened free will comes at the cost of suffering some form of punishment. Having adequately warned them of perchance of crossing roads with a dangerous fate, Odysseus had reminded his crew-mates to not harm the Cattle of the Sun; however, his starved crew eventually disregards the prophecies of the Gods and the insistences of Odysseus. Although the crew exercises a form of free-will by choosing to do as they wish, starvation compels their subsequent action, not the Gods. In doing so, they trigger the wrath of Helios and Zeus. Homer highlights the severity of disobeying a divine mandate and develops a destructive and punitive tone with the use of utterly obliterative …show more content…

In this case, the misgivings following the escape of the cyclops-inhabited island were the wrath of Poseidon. And while enduring the punishment of one god, Odysseus admits to a lack of free will, “hardly landlocked of…free will,” then reasons, “I…have angered one of the… gods,” and interrogates a nearby immortal, “which one of you blocks my way” (Homer 2006: 148). However, critics might point out that Odysseus was not a definitively pious hero considering his infidelity, excessive cruelty, and tensions with Poseidon, and Odysseus only sought divine intervention in dangerous situations. Where he lacks in piety, Odysseus makes up for in favorable traits–heroic characteristics that appeal to others in his society as well as a number of Gods including Athena, “[Odysseus is] far the best at tactics…and I am famous…for wisdom” (Homer 2006: 389). And with what diminished piety and favorability among the Gods Odysseus has at the end of his journey, he still admits to losing free will when the Gods

Show More
Related

  • The Identity-Forming Hardships Of The Israelites And Odysseus

    1807 Words  | 8 Pages

    In the book chronicling his trip to Hades, Odysseus undergoes many changes from how he views his family to how he views his past actions. Among these, the most notable change in the identity of Odysseus is perhaps the change that would be most difficult for him to enact: to use his power to curb the wild power of him and his crew so they all return home safely (Od. 11: 117-119). This is not the only change experienced by Odysseus in this visit, as he both renews a desire for his family and faithful wife as well as develops a newfound appreciation for his life outside of the land of the dead. Following receiving advice from Tiresias as well as his overall changed perspective, Odysseus exhibits a major change in action and identity following this point. Though he may have exhibited an inability to control his crew during his sleeping state on the island of Thrinica, up until that point he had interacted with his circumstances in a much more humbled manner.

    Read More

  • Physical Journeys In Homer's Odyssey

    1030 Words  | 5 Pages

    So we moved out, sad in the vast offing, having our precious lives, but not our friends” (Homer 479-484). In other words, now that they had to leave with a curse on them it gave them time to think about everything that had occurred. Analyzing this, It was a bittersweet moment for them because although they finally escaped with their “precious lives,” their crewmates and close friends were lost because of their arrogance. Moreover, this moment provided an opportunity for Odysseus to go through self-reflection and think about the choices, both good and bad, that he made. He should've realized the fact that most of them could’ve been saved if he hadn’t put his pride in the way of everything.

    Read More

  • Disrespecting The Gods In Homer's Odyssey

    1204 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Homer’s Odyssey, gods and other supernatural beings dominated every aspect of mortal life. All living things and phenomena that occur in the world can be traced back to the gods. Seeing as how gods are responsible for the lives of mortals and the state of the natural world, performing deeds that anger the gods would prove to be disastrous while performing deeds that please the gods would prove to be beneficial. Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War was took ten years due to angering gods like Poseidon and Helios. However, it was through Athena’s aid that he was able to make it back home.

    Read More

  • Humility In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

    846 Words  | 4 Pages

    Odysseus has grown from the man he was before, as now he finds comfort and safety in obeying the gods when in the past he did not consider their wishes. Odysseus has only returned due to Athena and he has recognized that and his compliance is founded in his appreciation and respect for her. Odysseus is now a hero due to the obedience he now has to the gods, founded in a sense of humility. Through Odysseus’ experiences on his journey, he learns the value of obedience and dangers of arrogance and ultimately, become a hero through the lessons learned.

    Read More

  • Impulsiveness In The Odyssey

    856 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the beginning of the book Odysseus is impulsive and arrogant. After Odysseus blinds and defeats the Cyclops, he cannot contain himself. Out of pure impulsiveness and the inability to be humble, Odysseus yells out to the Cyclops, “If any man on the face of the earth should ask you/ who blinded you, shamed you do so–say Odysseus,/raider of cities, he gouged out your eye,/Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca!” (Homer 9.556-562). Odysseus is so impulsive he has to scream out his name to the gods and the Cyclops.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Suffering In Homer's Odyssey

    1141 Words  | 5 Pages

    For example, Odysseus taunted Polyphemus and incited the wrath of Polyphemus and Poseidon, which led to the deaths of all his crewmembers. That was incredibly unwise, and not worthy of a leader who is responsible for the protection protect of his men. However, Odysseus learns his lesson, and realizes that he needed to grow through his horrifying experience of the earlier deaths. By the time Odysseus finally returns to his home, he not only has a burning desire to avenge his family by killing the suitors, but he also attained a greater understanding for the suffering of others. Even after Odysseus had satisfied his desire for revenge by killing the suitors, he refuses to gloat, and made sure

    Read More

  • Odysseus Lessons In Homer's Odyssey

    909 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are many lessons Odysseus and is men learn on their journey home in the Odyssey. Unfortunately, only Odysseus makes it home and the rest of men are dead because of their foolish actions. In the Thrinacia and The Cattle of the Sun episode of the Odyssey Odysseus’s men once again disobey him and cost them their lives. The men and Odysseus learn valuable lessons throughout their epic journey, but in the episode the most important lessons they learn are; temptation can lead to death, being obedient can save your life, and trust your instincts. If Odysseus’s men would have been more obedient to their leader Odysseus perhaps all of them would have made it back home alive.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Crew In The Odyssey

    1764 Words  | 8 Pages

    In the book called The Odyssey by Homer, it mainly follows the story of a king of a village called Ithaca, hundreds of years ago-This man, is named Odysseus. Odysseus goes through many adventures after the victory of the Trojan War. However, this is where Odysseus, is not being as strong as a great war hero and a king as he should be. Although Odysseus was seen as a very strong person, physically and mentally, he lacks the appreciation and the care of his crew throughout the trials and didn’t think through many of his actions thoroughly and how they would affect not only his crew but people around him.

    Read More

  • Temptation In The Odyssey Analysis

    704 Words  | 3 Pages

    TS1 (Thesis): In The Odyssey, Homer depicts Odysseus’ real foe as the theme of temptation with displays of hubris and lustrous goddesses, which portrays the importance of being vigilant to not submit to temptation. ST1: Homer depicts that Odysseus is determined to get home, but Odysseus succumbs to temptation when he leads his crew into the cyclops lair, eats the cyclops’ food, and demands for a gift, resulting in a protracted journey home. 1: Homer displays Odysseus as recklessly brave when he requests, “we’re at your knees, in hopes of… a guest-gift”(9.300) from the cyclops. 2: It is apparent that Odysseus has given into the temptation to be arrogant when he declares for the cyclops to give them, “a guest-gift,” after Odysseus and his men have broken into the cyclops lair, showing even further Odysseus’ isn’t vigilant to

    Read More

  • Divine Intervention In The Odyssey Essay

    384 Words  | 2 Pages

    Poseidon, Apollo, Athena, Zeus, and Hermes are all Greek Gods that appear in the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer. These gods all play a significant role in The Odyssey by both helping and hindering Odysseus on his 10-year journey home. Homer illustrates the theme of divine intervention in The Odyssey using Poseidon’s wrath, Athena’s providence, and Hermes’ guidance. Poseidon is one of the main gods that appears throughout The Odyssey, Homer shows Poseidon's divine intervention through his wrath on Odysseus during his journey home.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Character Development Essay

    591 Words  | 3 Pages

    Just as Achilles is confronted in the Iliad with the problem of balancing his honor with his pride, Odysseus repeatedly faces situations in which self-restraint and humility must check bravado and glory-seeking. In his early adventures, he fails these tests, as when he taunts Polyphemus, inflaming Poseidon. As the epic progresses, Odysseus becomes increasingly capable of judging when it is wise to reveal himself and when it is appropriate to rejoice in his

    Read More

  • The Flawed Character Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    432 Words  | 2 Pages

    The main character Odysseus in the Odyssey written by Homer is generally thought to be a great hero; however, he shows more traits of a quite flawed character on closer inspection. Around the beginning of Odysseus’ journey home after the war, Odysseus decides to take a detour to the home of a cyclops deciding to not listen to his men’s suggestions to leave while they still could; consequently, it does not end well: “Ah, how sound that was, Yet I refused. I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer no pretty sight it turned out, for my friend” (9.130-132). This thought by Odysseus shows that he realized his decision to go to the mysterious island wasn’t the most rational one and that his men’s pleas to leave were the better option, but he decides to be stubborn and place his curiosity before his men’s safety resulting in a non-heroic

    Read More

  • The Credibility Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    567 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even Hades had turned against him! Hades, of all the gods! While Poseidon could concede that Odysseus was sharper than the average mortal, he was arrogant and impertinent, to him in particular. Who had ensured his journey to Troy would be smooth? Had stopped him from being thrown overboard when the waves were rocky?

    Read More

  • Morality In The Odyssey

    1314 Words  | 6 Pages

    However, Zeus saw the two sides of the gods’ feelings towards Odysseus. “‘Great Odysseus/ who excels all men in wisdom... it’s the Earth-Shaker, Poseidon, unappeased,/ forever fuming against him..’” (1.78-83). Zeus created an equilibrium so that Poseidon could take out his anger on Odysseus through punishment, and Athena receives the duty of making sure Odysseus gets home to Ithaca.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Reciprocity In The Odyssey

    1190 Words  | 5 Pages

    Odysseus suffered the consequence of being away from his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope for 20 years. Odysseus was told by Athena and other gods, what to do during his journey. All of them told Odysseus that he couldn’t tell his men because they’d suffer a consequence. Odysseus listened to Athena and the gods because he only thought about himself and didn 't think about what his crew would say or do. When Odysseus and his crew passed by the mainland where the Cyclops lived, they were only going to stay for two days, but then out of curiosity, Odysseus wanted to see what kind of beast the Cyclops was which made them almost die.

    Read More

More about Lack Of Free Will In Homer's Odyssey

Open Document