Fate is the development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power. Destiny is the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future. These definitions connect because you can’t control them. In The Odyssey, Odysseus couldn’t control where he was going, or his actions, which you will find out more about as you continue reading. 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 …show more content…
“She replies that they must first visit the land of the dead to hear a prophecy from the ghost of Tiresias” (Fitzgerald 387). This proves that Circe is providing Odysseus’ fate at the moment. One last example of fate and destiny in The Odyssey is when Odysseus visits Tiresias, he tells him his destiny as he heads back home. “Great captain, a fair wind and the honey lights of home are all you seek. But anguish lies ahead… One narrow strait may take you through his blows; denial of yourself… When you make landfall on Thrinacia first and quit the violet sea, dark on the land you’ll find the grazing lord of Helios… Avoid these kine, hold fast to your intent, and hard seafaring brings you all to Ithaca. But if you raid the beeves, I see destruction for ship and crew. Though you survive alone, bereft of all companions, lost for years, under strange sail shall you come home, to find your own house filled with trouble: insolent men eating your livestock as they court your lady… But after you dealt out death - in open combat or by stealth - to all the suitors, go overland by foot, and take an oar, until one day you come where men have lived… The spot
Wreck it Ralph V.S Odyssey Hero Journey In almost all films and pieces of literature a hero’s journey is portrayed. A hero’s journey is an archetype present in all cultures and time periods. In a hero’s journey there are four main parts; however, there could be more. The four main parts are separation, initiation, discovery, and lastly return.
, homecoming is another prominent theme in The Odyssey. Athena helps Odysseus all throughout his journey to his homecoming. Athena is watching Odysseus to help him when he needs it. She most often does this by disguising herself. Early in the epic poem, Athena disguises herself as a young girl that guides Odysseus to the palace in
When he finally returns home many suitors had taken over his palace and were fighting for his wife’s hand in marriage. Odysseus then has to depend on the gods to help him find a way to get his wife and palace back. In The Odyssey, Odysseus put a lot of trust into Circe when she told him to go to the Land of the Dead. She tells him that he has to go to the Land of the Dead and follow certain instructions in order to return home. “...
Zeus is the deliver of fate throughout the play. When Hyllus declares everything that has happened is Zeus’s doing, he is silicifying the theme that Zeus acts as fate in the eyes of the characters (Women of Trachis 1278). Throughout the play, the characters turn to Zeus to explain why everything is happening. Greeks seem to be comforted by the idea the gods are controlling their lives because it takes blame off of humans for tragic
Athena is a major character throughout the book of The Odyssey and is known as the goddess of wisdom and battle. Throughout the course of the book, it is evident that Athena has a weak spot for the main character, Odysseus. Odysseus is trying to return home after the Trojan War, as the other Greek hero’s have already done, however he faces multiple challenges a long the way. Fortunately, for Odysseus, Athena was there to guide him through a few of these troubling situations.
Can dishonesty be valuable if it was used to achieve desirable outcomes? Is lying considered justified if it was involved in a dangerous situation? It is not always bad to lie. As children, we were continuously taught to be honest. We have grown to be implanted with the fact that lying is unacceptable but admissible.
From the onset of the book, death is a recurring event, persistent throughout the entire poem. In many ways, the Odyssey is the story of the death of all of Odysseus’ friends and fellow fighters during their return home from conquering Troy. These deaths are particularly heartbreaking to Odysseus because, normally, one would expect that all dying would conclude with the end of the war against Troy. In this case, however, the anticipation of his return to his family at home became a series of tragedies. This sequence of events changes his view and molds Odysseus’ character in regard to his surviving friends and family.
For example, with her ability to see what is to come, Circe predicts “destruction for [Odysseus’] ship and crew” (Homer 12.104-105). Circe’s knowledge controls the choices that Odysseus makes in order to avoid his downfall which proves how he relies on her guidance and wisdom. Her prediction determines the fate of Odysseus’ men and impacts the course of events that happens afterwards. As well as her knowledge, Circe uses her appearance to seduce Odysseus and keep him on her island. Generally, Circe is perceived as “a dominant figure that tempts and empowers men” (Phillips).
Should destiny intend that he shall see his roof again among his family in his father land, far be that day, and dark the years between. Let him lose all companions, and return under strange sail to bitter days at home. " The theme of divine intervention is shown as Poseidon hinders Odysseus on his way to Ithaca by the curse, which made it years before Odysseus returns home whereas he would have returned in a matter of days, had Aeolus helped Odysseus again, but he didn't because he believed "their voyage has been cursed by the gods" (Homer 16). Homer demonstrates Athena's divine intervention through her providence towards Odysseus. Athena aids Odysseus multiple times throughout The Odyssey, an example of this is when she disguises Odysseus as a beggar in book 17 of The Odyssey to protect him from the suitors.
In the passage from Homer’s, Odyssey, Odysseus meets the ghost of the hero Achilles. Achilles describes himself to be “lost” as he confronted by “the Fates.” The rulers of fate, he exclaims
Odysseus’s journey to the underworld, better known as “The Odyssey Book XI”, explores archetypal characters such as the hero, the antagonist, and the sage. Our hero in this myth, firstly, is Odysseus. Most of the plotline follows him, because he is the hero. While in the underworld, Odysseus questions his own mortality after meeting the shades of the dead. They tell him about how horrible the afterlife is, and Odysseus begins to have second thoughts about his life as he knows he will, one day, become a forgotten shade.
The Life of Oedipus: Fate or Freewill? no matter what movie, play, or book you are following the story of, it is always apparent that there is a hero with fate or destiny; some controlled by a predetermined prophecy said by a higher spiritual power like gods. The best example to make would be to that of religion during the middle ages where people used the principle of Ockham's Razor to blame religion and Gods for random events, such as plagues, sudden deaths, famines or natural disasters. A story like Oedipus Rex makes you ponder whether or not fate can eventually be moralized into free will and how much control the Gods really have on a a individual. It was common to assume that once a God prophesied a person’s life, there would be absolutely no self-control and life would go exactly according to the prophecy.
Odysseus who has suffered many ills and wandered much Will return homeward and do vengeance. Or else already He is at home and breeds evil for all the suitor. (165) In some ways we clearly see that Odysseus was destined to fulfill a predetermined conclusion selectively chosen by the gods.
Fate is something that many people choose to think of as a path that they follow. In Greek mythology it was believed that there were goddesses that were the personifications of fate itself. Three sisters Clotho, Atropos, and Lachesis- or Nona, Morta, and Decuma- known as the Fates, the Moirai, or their Roman counterpart, the Parcae are a few of the most powerful and well respected goddesses in Greek mythology. The Fates are among the oldest goddesses in the history of greek mythology and play a huge role in balancing the natural order. The three sisters essentially control all mortal, and possibly god births and deaths along with one's destiny.
“The Odyssey”, written by Homer, is a book full of epic stories, tales, and myths, all revolving around the book’s namesake, Odysseus. There are many characters that go in and out of the story, coming and going as they are needed to advance the plot, such as Athena who seems to always appear when any one of the major characters is in need of godly help. The one character however who is always constant and is always an extremely important part of the story, is of course, Odysseus. Throughout the tale, Odysseus is put in many different situations that make it possible for the reader to see what kind of person and what characteristics he possesses. I chose Odysseus to analyze due to his adventurous personality and how intriguing it is.