Theme Of Growth In The Odyssey

Upon Odysseus arrival to Ithaca, Athena hides his identity to help him defeat the suitors. She turns him into a very old beggar to conceal his identity from everyone, most importantly the suitors. Odysseus reveals himself to his son Telemachus, cowherd and the swine herd. The nurse Eurycleia recognizes him because of a scar he got years ago by a boar’s white tusk. Penelope doesn’t recognize Odysseus at first sight because of the disguise. She starts to put things together that Odysseus could be the beggar right in front of her when she tells him her dreams and he answers “Dear woman,” quick Odysseus answered, “Twist it however you like, your dream can only mean one thing. Odysseus told you himself – he’ll make it come to pass. Destruction is

When creating a story, many great minds will use a pattern to enthrall readers and shape them into a hero. Established by Joseph Campbell, The Hero 's Journey is the iconic template many utilize to plan their imaginative tale. The Hero’s Journey is the cycle in which the protagonist ventures into an unknown world where he or she will go through a series of adventures and learn moral lessons. Heroes in ancient myths such as Homer 's epic poem, The Odyssey follows this formula since the protagonist, Odysseus, faces hardships throughout different regions that ultimately change his once arrogant character. Throughout Homer 's monomyth, Odysseus undergoes challenges that teach him the importance of humility.

Few people are so lucky as to have a life changing revelation that allows them to self correct and obtain a deeper view of himself. However, this is exactly what happens to Odysseus, in The Odyssey. In The Odyssey by Robert Fitzgerald, Odysseus’s epiphany yields him a new perspective, allowing him to beat the odds and reach Ithaka. It is only by looking through a new lens that Odysseus is able to grasp his faults and overcome his arrogance driven recklessness.

In particular, prior to his encounter with Circe, he was offered an intriguing feast, but “ yet his mind remains on his captive men”( Homer 180 Summary). Regardless of his position, showing care for his men’ assurance proved that his obligation comes first before anything else. In Odysseus’ journey as a hero, this episode is stage six where he was tested of his capabilities. Correspondingly, when his devotees are in despair, Odysseus asks, “ have we never in danger before this?” to them( Homer 191 l. 54). He reminds them of their experiences and provides their courage and confidence back. Odysseus manages his men’ inconvenience feelings; he follows through his responsibility as a leader. On the contrary, after showing an outstanding act of leadership, by the same token, Odysseus display a hubris and the incorrigible side of him that legitimize him deficient. When departing the land of the Cyclopes, he yelled back “ how do you like the beating..you damned cannibal” to Polyphemus ( Homer 171 ll. 340-341). This impetuous movement was the cause of his curse ; if Odysseus left the island without a word, he wouldn’t have the curse. The curse of losing all of his men. Although this may be true, his outbreak from the dilemma that he bought demonstrates guidance. To enumerate, Odysseus projected a machination, “ so three sheep could convey each man”( Homer 170 l. 289). The scheme was to hide under the

Odysseus came home to find suitors who were trying to marry his wife when he was away at war for 20 years. They have ruined his home and made it into a place of their own, all they wanted was the fame and power that Odysseus had and did not care to respect Penelope and Telemachus. When Odysseus finally revealed himself in the epic, he was able to get his revenge against the suitors. It has been long awaited but was able to kill them all including the fact that justice was served after all those years of their disrespect.

In the story, Odysseus quotes Circe, remembering her warning to him of the sirens, the six-headed, twelve-legged dog Scylla, and the massive whirlpool of Charybdis. She tells Odysseus to put wax over his men’s ears so that they do not hear the sirens, and gives Odysseus the option of doing the same or having his men tie him to the mast of the ship. She also advised him to steer clear of Charybdis and row past Scylla, where he would ultimately lose a few men. On their journey, they rode past the sirens with minimal troubles and no losses, and Odysseus elected to be tied to the mast. They then continued on to Scylla, terrified of what was yet to come, although Odysseus did not warn them of the six men that were devoured. After the losses, the men ended up on the island of Helios, where the cattle roamed.

In Book Nine, Odysseus and his men are trapped by the giant Cyclops in his cave. In this situation, the men face several problems. One problem is how unmoved, and unpitying the Cyclops is. Odysseus told the Cyclops about being blown off course and Zeus’s spite towards them. To this, the cyclops gave a blasphemous response. However, Odysseus was ready with a lie to build sympathy and told him that Poseidon was the one who wrecked their ship and forced them to be beached . The Cyclops did not pity them or gave a response, instead he grabbed two of Odysseus’s companions, beat their brains out, and ate them. Another problem is that after they are imprisoned by this savage and colossal cyclops, they realize that they do not have the strength necessary

There are multiple motifs and themes in the book The Odyssey. This book, written by Homer, is an epic. In this epic, Odysseus’ demonstration of leadership and skill proved that resilience and not giving up eventually leads to success. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus trying to go home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. His leadership helps him and his crew eventually return home to their families. Throughout the book he also demonstrates skill. This helps him fight his way through the many obstacles he faces trying to get home. Resilience is another very important thing that Odysseus displays across the entirety of the book. This is important because it is what keeps Odysseus going on his journey home. All of this joint demonstrates that not

As The Odyssey begins Homer places Odysseus on a tiring and progressing journey to find humility after nine years of self-serving pride and glory in the Trojan War. While Homer focused much of The Iliad on how one ought to achieve excellence, he turns this point around and attempts to convey the message of the results of letting your pride get the best of you. Throughout Odysseus’ many trials, he learns to find hope in his darkest times and stay humble even when he seems to deserve it all.

His men are starving and surrounded by Helio’s cattle, with very little options, Odysseus must do something to prevent that. A quote that backs up that comment is “You’ve gone through everything, listen to what I say. All deaths are hateful to us, mortal wretches, but famine is the most pitiful, the worst end that a man can come to” (947). As it states, knowing that his men were famished and near death, Odysseus prays to Zeus for his understanding. This shows what extremes Odysseus will go through to keep his men and himself alive. In addition, he shows compassion for his men. Odysseus even wants to sacrifice the noblest of the cattle to the gods as well as build a costly temple for the Lord of Noon to appease the gods. As displayed, the epic states “Come, we’ll cut the noblest cattle for sacrifice to the gods who own the sky; and once at home, in the old country of Ithaca, if even that day comes- we’ll build a costly temple and adorn it with every beauty for the Lord of Noons.” (947). Overall, this quote shows the reader that Odysseus will do anything to ensure his crewmates get home safely. Furthermore, Odysseus tried his hardest to complete his mission and bring his men back

Naturally, he has much to be proud of: his sexy and loyal wife, his bravery, and his victorious battles from the Trojan War and beyond. However, his arrogance creates a weakness in his character that negatively impacts himself and the people around him. The evolution in Odysseus’s personality turns him from an arrogant flaunter to a humble man, and demonstrates that the strifes he encounters during his journey home is not simply new experiences, but also his beginning of a profound revelation. Starting from the middle of the mountain, Odysseus’s new transformation will allow him to soar to the top with eagle

From Odysseus’ time with Calypso in Ogygia up until the moment he takes back his home and wife from the suitors in Ithaca, the struggles he faces help answer what makes for a good life. Homer uses Odysseus’ journey throughout “The Odyssey” to identify four aspects of a good life: mortality, honor, hospitality, and experiences. Homer reveals that mortality is necessary for a good life when Odysseus denies the opportunity for immortality that Calypso offers, he shows the significance of honor in his description of Odysseus’ bravery in the Trojan war and the consequent respect that Odysseus’ crew has for him, Homer reinforces the importance of hospitality in each city Odysseus travels to, and he conveys that experiences, good or bad, define a good life.

Ruled by emotions, our overpowering heart makes us human. For Odysseus, he was ruled by the emotion of arrogance on his journey home after his Trojan War victory. Arrogance is a matter of the mind; the mind deceives humans into thinking that they are greater than the bigger picture of life. By believing himself above the gods, Odysseus spends ten years to reach his wife Penelope and son Telemachus, all while encountering characters of challenge and temptation. In Odysseus’ story, the secondary characters symbolize the traits of human experience, such as greed, lust, love, and hope that will serve to teach Odysseus of his humanity.

One lesson that applies to both The Odyssey and today is you have to stay on track and not let distractions keep you from your goals, Odysseus learns this all throughout the book. A few examples would be when the Lotus Eaters were trying to lure in him and his men to eat the lotus plant. He stayed on track by getting the men he could off the island and not falling into the Lotus Eater’s trap (897). Another example would be when he was in Circe’s Hall when she tried to make the men forget about going home. He showed how he stayed on track and not getting distracted when he tried getting as many men as he could out of the trap and eating a plant to help him not turn into an animal (918). This could apply to people today with a wide range of

The Odyssey begins as Odysseus leaves an island he was trapped on for 10 years to go back to his hometown, Ithaca. However, we do not know if he will make it back, as it is highly probable that he will die. The Odyssey is a Greek Epic involving some of their ancient Gods. On the way to Ithaca Odysseus faces many challenges while his wife deals with challenges of her own at their house. Suitors have taken over Odysseus’s home, and are all trying to marry Odysseus’s wife, Penelope. However, some characters in the epic display many great qualities. In The Odyssey by Homer, loyalty, courage, and trickery are displayed throughout the book in a positive manner, showing that they are the Greek’s cultural values.