No Peace For Odysseus Essay - 1141 Words

No piece of peace in the world of men The Odyssey, written by Homer, is an epic of the great adventures of Odysseus. It tells of the challenging travels form leaving his home to serve in the Trojan War, to his well-deserved return to Ithaca. Odysseus known as â€Å"the man of many wiles† endured many challenging tasks as he traveled in search of his once home. Leaving behind his wife Penelope and son Telemachus, he was forced to leave. Around the sixteenth year Odysseus was gone, many believed that their once great leader was left for dead on an unknown country or was never to return to the land of Ithaca once again. Soon the suitors of over a hundred filled the halls of Odysseus’s palace, trying to marry his beautiful wife Penelope. When†¦show more content†¦One of the major things the gods stress is the relationship between guest and host. On the adventure in search of his long lost father, Odysseus, Telemachus was a guest in the house of King Menelaus. Menel aus gave Telemachus and the son of Nestor both a place to stay, food, and bath, and many gifts.â€Å"†¦ shared to the full hospitality/ of others. Now unhitch their horses: lead /our quests into the house, to share our feast† (IV.45- 47). If this code or rule were kept than, man would be able to live in peace. Beggars as well, are also part of the gods’ laws. If a beggar were to come to a house, begging for food, money, or clothing, the owners would be obligated to help the beggar. Zeus, the ruler of all gods watches out for the beggars and knows if they are turned away. During the great Trojan War, the Greeks led a victory against Troy after ten years of continuous battle. However throughout the war they were given much help from the gods, and they gave nothing to them in return. The Greeks were punished at sea for not sacrificing to the gods. If man at the time were able to sacrifice to the gods for the great assists, and listened to the gods, than man would be able to live peacefully. As the human race, man does not think of others, more than he may think of himself. Man in their mind, comes first before anyone else does. They are reluctant to realize that the entire world is filled with a race of selfishShow MoreRelatedOdysseus : The Characteristics Of A Homeric Hero1720 Words   |  7 Pagesqualities (483). Odysseus fulfills all of the requirements for an epic hero and more. He demonstrates his ability to be an articulate speaker, and his poise aids him on his journey. His endless curiosity has gotten him into dilemmas, while his superb displays of strength and cunningness have helped both him and his crew escape danger. His arrogance sets him back, but his loyalty is what drives him forward on his long and treacherous expedition. In the first few lines of The Odyssey, Odysseus describes himselfRead MoreSimilarities Between The Odyssey and The Aeneid824 Words   |  3 Pagesstory called The Odyssey about a great legendary hero named Odysseus. After the Greeks, then came the Romans who ruled Greece for centuries. The Romans during their time were known to have practiced and used many of the Greeks cultures and theories. There was a Roman named Virgil who wrote about the beginning of the Romans. He created a story called The Aeneid; this story was about a Trojan who escaped a losing war to find a new home and peace. Even though these two stories may be hard to understandRead MoreOdysseus, a Heros Journey913 Words   |  4 PagesHero’s Journey:       The Odyssey by Homer is the story of Odysseus, a very brave, strong and smart Greek mythic hero who embarks on an epic journey.   His journey fulfills all the requisites of a Hero’s Journey.   Odysseus’ Journey takes him through various mental stages which will be outlined in bold.    Odysseus’ ordinary world is that of the island of Ithaca where he lives with his beloved wife.   When he was looking for a bride, Odysseus visited Sparta where he met Menelaus who was to wed HelenRead MoreThe Role of The Gods in The Lives of Men Essay1098 Words   |  5 Pagesboth Odysseus and his son, Telemachus. Athena has an extraordinarily close relationship with Odysseus. She is Odysseus’s guardian. Athena directs Odysseus and Telemachus both physically and mentally throughout their many life changing adventures. In the beginning of the Odyssey, Odysseus is being held by Kalypso on her island. Athena begs her father, Zeus, to send Hermes to make Kalypso release Odysseus so that he may return home to Ithaka. Athena says, â€Å"†¦my own heart is broken for Odysseus, theRead MoreWomen Of The Odyssey And Lysistrata Essay1328 Words   |  6 Pagesa different type of factor to the story. As Odysseus returns home to his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus from fighting in the Trojan War he is faced with many obstacles that he must get through to get home to Ithaca. One of the obstacles he must face is lust. There are two occurrences in that happen, which is in Book X on the Island of Circe. Then in Book XII on Island of Ogygia, which is where Calypso’s and her women live. In Book X when Odysseus and his men land on Circe’s Island they hearRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of The Odyssey 1328 Words   |  6 Pages Warfare. Rejection. Trickery. Peace. One word stands out and doesn’t belong in Homer’s story The Odyssey; peace. Odysseus went through 20 years of being kept from his wife and son. He fought men and monsters, was rejected by wooers in his own city and people tried to tricking him during his journey back home. He didn’t find peace on his journey. He was always lamenting over missing his home and family. When he finally did make it home he hid his true identity as a beggar while he planned his revengeRead MoreThe Odyssey, by Homer Essay1150 Words   |  5 PagesAlthough women occupied an entirely different position in society compared to men, there were three significant women in Homer’s Odyssey who held a certain sphere of influence and power, more specifically their power in peace weaving. One of these women was the wife of Odysseus, Penelope. Penelope is a woman of many virtues, and through her longing for her husband and views about remarrying she presents to the readers a woman with not just beauty and intelligence, but also loyalty and passionRead MoreSymbolism Of Odysseus s Bow, The Cattle Of Helios, And Odysseus And Penelope s Bed1173 Words   |  5 Pagesbow, the cattle of Helios, Argus, Penelope’s Shroud, and Odysseus and Penelope’s bed. One example of symbolism is Odysseus’s bow during Penelope’s challenge. Only Odysseus has the strength to string the bow. This symbolizes how only Odysseus is capable of being Penelope’s husband and to be king of Ithaca. None of the suitors came close to doing what only Odysseus can do, and this is more than just string a bow. There is only one Odysseus and only he is anywhere close to being Penelope’s husbandRead More Divine Intervention: Athenas Role in The Odyssey Essay1593 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopment within the father Odysseus and his son Telemakhos as well as guiding Penelope as a beautiful mother waiting for the return of her husband. In The Odyssey, Athena has an extensive and caring relationship with Odysseus. At the beginning of the poem, Athena pleads with her father Zeus to allow her to help Odysseus so he can go home to his family, saying, But my own heart is broken for Odysseus. Later in the poem she again implores her father for help regarding Odysseus. When he is on theRead MoreOdysseuss Appearance in The Odyssey and the Iliad1416 Words   |  6 Pagesgoing to argue that Odysseus is a smart, versatile, and cunning character that shows a different type of masculinity than is portrayed by other characters. The first text that gives Odysseus a major role is the Iliad. When Agamemnon suggests to his men that they sail home they do not hesitate in agreeing and stream out to their ships. Odysseus steps in, restrains them and brings them back to the assembly (Homer, Iliad 2.55-225). Odysseus can be seen here as a keeper of peace and order. He does