The Role Of Failure In Homer's Odyssey '

Often after we accomplish a task, we congratulate ourselves, receive a feeling of satisfaction, and move on in the knowledge that we made a difference. However, that difference is not always as long lasting as we expect, and what we though was a finished solution could just be repeating the mistakes of the past. This is one of the primary talking points David Damberger uses to explain his thoughts on accepting and admitting failure. Over the course of his presentation, Mr. Damberger presents his topic though emotion (Pathos), credibility (Ethos), and logic (Logos) to clearly and effectively engage his audience in the benefits of failure.

270, 280-283). The biggest loss that Odysseus felt during his time away from Ithaca was that of his men. He was devastated because his job was to protect them and in order to make sure their sacrifice was not for nothing, he knew he had to avenge them in some way. When Odysseus returns to Ithaca, he devises a plan to defeat the suitors and take back Ithaca. As he is killing the suitors, Odysseus yells with anger at the suitors for their actions because they “bled [his] house to death” by trying to ravish his serving women and wooing his wife and he proclaims that nothing will stop “[his hands] from slaughter” until “all [the] suitors had paid for all [their] crimes”(22.

Odysseus' hubris angers the gods and causes him many unnecessary setbacks on his trip back to Ithaca, leading to him having to endure more than ten harrowing years at sea. In the end, Odysseus finally puts aside his pride

“... Odysseus looked around him, narrow-eyed, for any others who had lain hidden while death’s black fury passed”(Homer 613).This expresses how much power and determination Odysseus use when it comes getting revenge on something important. The ordinary man would not remain standing in a world full of Gods, Goddesses, and Monsters. His connection with his crew members were valuable to him and from the men that died in different locations, he realized that he could not lose

Odysseus explains, “Our squadron sank” (10.145) due to his actions. Odysseus also led his crew to victory in the war, but many men die on the journey home. Odysseus’ impetuous interactions should have taught him to be more circumspect and go into everything with a plan, but they do not. After the Cyclops, Odysseus and his crew arrive at the Laestrygonian land where Odysseus once again

Dana Nguyen Ms. Newray ERWC, Period 5 August 28, 2015 Perez’s & Graff Articles Summaries In Perez’s article, Want To Get Into College? Learn to Fail [ Feb. 12, 2012], failure is the most significant, but hurtful step towards a successful life. If a person has never honestly dealt with failure, how can they possibly ever improve or move forward? It is important to learn and be able to solve problems in society, whether it is for academic or not.

In the article “Failure to Rescue” the author Atul Gawande argues that failure gives an individual a chance to rescue themselves from defeat and prosper. If a person fails they should not dwell on the past and become crippled by failure, they should continue to take risks because in order to see advancements, in anything, they must first take a chance. Gawande’s first altercation is failure is inevitable if we don’t take risks. He talks about eighty- seven year old Mrs. C who had neck surgery. The procedure went well, but resulted in an ulcer that ruptured in her chest, she had an eighty-per-cent fatality rate, but she defied the odds and survived to left the hospital in a week.

In The Odyssey, Odysseus’ journey is created by a cycle of self-created obstacles that are solved by quick witted thinking and ultimately reflect no real desire to learn from his errors or create any character development. Throughout the story, Odysseus expresses a strong desire to return home to Ithaca, however he is constantly thwarted by his own curious and boastful nature. For example, when

One bad decision that Odysseus was made when he decided to sail towards Scylla and Charybdis when he could have sailed the other option, “One ship alone, one deep-sea craft sailed clear,/ the Argo sung by the world, when heading home/ from Aeetes’ shores” (12. 76-78). This quote shows that there was one ship that sailed past the Clashing Rocks unharmed. Odysseus could have chosen to sail this path, but he didn’t. A real hero would have taken the route that wouldn’t have killed any of his crew like the route with Scylla and Charybdis did.

When Failure Leads to Success Focusing on at least three or as many as four characters in the Theogony and the Odyssey (and, in addition, if you wish, the movie Iphigenia), discuss how experiences of apparent failure, defeat, and great challenge lead to success, victory, and/or transformation. The Odyssey and the Theogony both describe several instances in which characters experience some sort of failure, defeat, and or challenge. Sometimes these negative experiences have led to success, victory and or transformation. As a result of Kronos’ failure, Zeus defeats and overthrows his father, in the Theogony.

In the epic story the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is returning from the Trojan war, and on his way home he finds many obstacles ahead of him. Odysseus is the ruler of Ithaca and he is trying to return home to his land. Many creatures try and stop him from achieving his goal of returning home, but he and his crew have to push through and get home. Odysseus portrays bravery and courage leading his crew through these tough challenges. Odysseus heroically leads his crew and himself through dangerous obstacles, but also foolishly endangers them during the journey home.

Although Odysseus proved to have guile on the Island of the Cyclops, he made crucial mistakes. Odysseus’ first mistake was taking his men into the Cyclops cave. This brought upon a dreadful chain of events, for even Odysseus knew. In fact he said “I knew some towering brute would be upon us soon-- all outward power, a wild man, ignorant of Civility” (Homer 8). This quote states how Odysseus had already predicted that the presentence of him and his men would come down on them; but his selfishness made the lives of his men expendable.

Odysseus must, then, extrapolate that his arrogance in shouting his name to Polyphemos has cursed him and crew, causing him to not see his family for twenty years, and ensuring much worse fate for his crew. If it wasn’t clear then, Teiresias lays it out for him, denial of yourself, [Odysseus] and restraint of his shipmates, who also let their overconfidence get the better of them, such as on Ismaros, is the only way to make it home and atone for his past actions. Teiresias’ words cause Odysseus to step back, and momentarily be freed from his righteousness and hubris, giving him the opportunity to understand his flaws from an uninhibited perspective. The pace of his life and adventures clouded his vision, and his emotion and ego further blinded him to his faults, but being presented with responsibility for his situation and a new perspective to analyze himself from opens his eyes to what he must do. This lesson is an enormous turning point for Odysseus, it is his revelation, and his chance to correct his

“See, I'd always told myself that because I meant no harm, anything that happened wasn't my fault. At that moment, though, I knew I was wrong. If I hadn't given the female my gun, the bird wouldn't have been shot. I was responsible even though I didn't pull the trigger.” ― J.R. Ward, Lover Eternal Everywhere Odysseus goes, his friends suffer for his decisions; a trail of carnage is left behind in practically every location visited, not the blood of enemies, but of friends killed by carelessness.

This nine-year conflict pitted the Greeks against the city of Troy, on the western coast of what is now Turkey. The Greeks had finally triumphed, but many would not live to enjoy it. Odysseus’s shipmates were blown far off course, and after a number of perils they reached a small wooded island, where they beached the vessels and gave thought to provisions. Odysseus had noticed a larger island nearby, from which came the sound of bleating goats. This was encouraging to his growling stomach, and he detailed a scouting party and led it to the far shore.