Homers Odyssey is one of the Greek epics. It is also a sequel to Homers Iliad. In book 11, Odysseus speaks to numerous ghosts that give him revelations, advice and guidance. Most of these ghosts have an influence on Odysseuss fate. Throughout the book, Odysseus speaks to numerous ghosts including that of his own mother, Anticleia. These ghosts explain to Odysseus about the past while other give his hope and way forward for his future. Of the numerous ghosts in book 11, my favorite three include Elpenor, Tiresias and Anticleia.
The Ghosts of Elpenor, Tiresias and Anticleia
After Odysseus travels to the famous River of Ocean, he performs several sacrifices and pours libations as instructed by Circe. The first ghost to appear is Elpenor (Homer 157) . The ghost instructs Odysseus to ensure he goes back to the island of Circe and perform a proper burial for his body.
From this encounter, Odysseus understands something new and important. The ghost informs Odysseus that a decent burial was necessary as a sign of respect for those who had died (Homer 162) . He therefore learns the importance of a burial for someone who is deceased. After the conversation, Odysseus would go back to the island and give the body a proper burial as requested by the ghost (Homer 162) .
The second ghost to speak to is that of Tiresias, a prominent Theban prophet (Homer 163) . I find the ghost one of my favorite because of the hope and information he gives Odysseus. The ghost reveals to Odysseus that Poseidon was busy punishing and killing the Achaeans (Homer 163) .
According to the ghost, Poseidon was punishing them because they had blinded his own son by the name Polyphemus. The other thing about his conversation with this ghost is that he learns about his fate and future. The ghost foretells Odysseuss fate (Homer 164) . According to the ghost, Odysseus would go back home, succeed in reclaiming his own wife. The ghost assures Odysseus that he would reclaim the palace and make a successful journey to Poseidon.
Tiresias ghost tells Odysseus not to touch the children of the Sun especially after he makes his journey to Thrinacia. If he touches the flock he would face much hardship and even lose his entire crew during the journey (Homer 164) . The information is vital and gives Odysseus courage and hope as he faces his future. The ghost foretells the journey ahead of him and he is warned of the dangers that might fall on his way (Homer 165) .
The ghost of Odysseuss mother is my third favorite ghost. Odysseus speaks with Anticleia who informs him about the affairs and events taking place at Ithaca (Homer 165) . She also narrates to Odysseus how she died of pain and grief while she was waiting for his son (Homer 166) . From the encounter with his mothers ghost, Odysseus learns the love of a mother and the reason to treasure it.
Conclusion
Throughout book eleven, Odysseus speaks to numerous ghosts including that of his own mother. These ghosts explain to him about the past while other give his hope and way forward for his future. My favorite ghosts are those of Tiresias, Anticleia and Elpenor. Having spoken to the ghost of Tiresias, Odysseus is informed of his future and can go ahead with useful information about what to do and what to avoid. This would play a huge role towards his success as a great warrior.
Works Cited
Homer. Odyssey. New York: Classic Books, 2009. Print.
Homers Iliad and Odyssey remain powerful even today because they relate to the current issues. The main topics that have currently dominated the world are conflicts and politics. In the Iliad, for instance, the story focuses on the conflict between different groups with distinct interests. However, in regards to the Odyssey, it is mainly about politics and leadership. Therefore, in relating the two poems with the current situation, people are constantly fighting over leadership positions. In their quest for control of power, they pretend to have their followers interest, yet their wars are individual-based. Therefore, some stories remain for long because they revolve around the daily human experiences which vanish fast. If a story is based on a rare event, it will not appeal to the audience because they will easily lose interest. The Iliad and the Odyssey tell me that conflict is not evitable in a society with people of different interests. However, we should seek other sources of conflict resolution rather than war.
The gods in Homer are important because they direct what people are supposed to do. They act in violent ways when they are not appeased with the actions of humans. They play a role in ensuring that humans have no control over their surrounding and should be guided by a supreme being. The stories cannot exist if the gods are not in the picture. Although humans mainly conduct actions, their activities are directed by the gods. In short, the conflicts mainly revolve around what the gods want.
The Iliad and the Odyssey are anti-war poems, even though the actions in the stories are mainly conflict-oriented. They are anti-conflict because the aftermath of the fights is tragic, and every individual always engaged in losses. Both the antagonists and the protagonists lives end tragically. This, therefore, means that war is not the solution to every problem; at times, people should embrace other peaceful mechanisms in ensuring that an issue is resolved. The Iliad and the Odysseys results are a tragedy that imply that the story was against war by highlighting the consequences of it.
All through the Homers Odyssey, disguise has been adopted by different characters to complicate or facilitate their or another characters passage across the world. Some characters assume multiple disguises throughout the plot.
Athena, the goddess, for example, goes through no less than three transformations. It is not only the goddess who puts on a camouflage, though; Odysseus also pulls off the disguise power to progress his goals and objectives. Odysseus was the king of Ithaca at the time when Palamedes sent him to the Trojan War, which lasted for ten years.
The story begins when Odysseus with his crew journey back to Ithaca, his homeland, as a Trojan Wars valiant hero. He sets sail for Ithaca but in the face of fate wonders for a decade when his ships were instantly drifted to Thrace by a violent storm.
It was the beginning of an expedition. Throughout the The Odyssey, disguise helped the main character, Odysseus,develop through humility and understanding, which eventually led the character back to Ithaca. This journey was made with the aid of the goddess Athena, who disguised Odysseus.
Odysseus faces many challenges and tragedies during this adventure. During his travel back home, he was put to trial on different occasions by the monstrosity that nearly destroyed him. His intelligence and sly behavior made him pull through the various dangerous situations he met.
Ultimately, he succeeded in getting back home, and this, he owes to Athena, the goddess, who always supported him throughout his travel. Athena incessantly favored Odysseus, as witnessed in The Odyssey, when Zeus, on Athenas behalf, had ordered him to release from the island of Calypso where he had been held captive for seven years.
Unfortunately, Poseidon noticed him floating in the waters and was compelled to make him drown, had it not been for goddess Ino who saved him. Later, Odysseus reached Phaecia city, where he encountered Athena camouflaged as king Alcinous daughter. The following excerpt supports that, indeed, the goddess Athena disguised Odysseus to help him. (Homer and Johnston 111).
Straight to his house, the clear-eyed Pallas went, full of plans for great Odysseus journey home. She made her way to the gaily painted room where a young girl lay asleep: Nausicaa, the daughter of generous King Alcinous. The goddess drifted through like a breath of fresh air in face and form like the shimpan Dymas daughter. Disguised, the bright-eyed goddess chided& (117).
Athena also had to pour a sea fog around Odysseus to protect him, and then she assumed the shape of a little girl and showed him the way to the palace (Homer and Johnston 111-112). Athena again used this tactic when Odysseus had safely reached his homeland. The goddess did not want the people to notice his return until he had taken revenge upon the suitors of his wife.
Zeus daughter Athena had made it a foggy day, so that people might not know of his arrival, and that she might tell him everything without either his wife or his fellow citizens and friends recognizing him until he had taken his revenge upon the wicked suitors(185).
Back in his homeland way before the Trojan War, Odysseus was a king. He had a wife and a son whom he had left an infant when he had to leave for Troy. Being transformed into a stranger, Odysseus had managed to convince Alcinous to bring him back to his homeland. He had to put away his pride to get the much-needed help in reaching home.
And there Odysseus stood, gazing at all this bounty, a man who had borne so much&Once, he had had his fill of marveling it all. (141). Athena disguised Odysseus as a beggar to get revenge against the suitors. With this, he had to cast away again his pride (Homer and Johnston 148). Athena explains to him:
First, I will transform you-no one must know you. I will shrivel the supple skin on your lithe limbs, strip the russet curls from your head, and deck you out in rags youd hate to see some other mortals wear; Ill dim the fire in your eyes, so shinning once& (253)
Once again, Odysseus displays much loss of pride when he comes across a goat herder who mocks and kicks him but was capable of rationalizing the situation. That signaled maturity in his part has been a man of inordinate self-esteem. Later on, he was able to put aside his identity and egoism even when in concealment (Homer and Johnston 235).
The use of disguise in The Odyssey was helpful as it allowed Odysseus to survey his palace and identify those who had remained loyal and those who had not. Emmaus was one of such great men who displayed loyalty to his king even in his long absence.
This is noted when he says: Not even my parents at home, where I was born and bred. I miss them less than I do him& (354). He displays further loyalty by showing a feeling of disgust toward the suitors, which moves Odysseus.
Another example of loyalty is shown by his dog, Argos, who was merely a puppy at the time when Odysseus left and was at the point of an old dog. The dog recognized his old master, wagged his tail then died. The fact that his wife, Penelope, did not remarry despite the many suitors who courted her, shows a great height of loyalty.
Other loyal people were his son Telemachus, and Eurykleia, his old nurse. The opposite case is with the suitors and, more especially, Antinous, who rudely hurled a chair at him when in disguise had announced that Odysseus would return (Homer and Johnston 367-389).
Boiling over Antinous gave him a scathing look and let fly. Now, you will not get out the hall unscarred; I swear not after such a filthy string of insults! With that, he seized the stool and hurtled it-Square in the back it struck Odysseus& (369).
Eventually, Odysseus successfully vanquished the suitors and was able to reclaim his castle.
Upon bringing back Odysseus adventures from his battle with the monsters though his landing home to his reclaiming the palace, it is noted that his wit and guise aided him to put through his hardships, of course, with the help of Athena who revealed it to him after he had landed in Ithaca. Sure enough, the role of disguise helped Odysseus character develop through humility and understanding, which eventually led the character back to Ithaca, with the aid of the goddess Athena.
Odysseus journey was much of a self-discovery. It served as a realization of what it takes to be a leader, thus, enhanced his maturity. In conclusion, the importance of disguise in the Odyssey was not only that of practical purposes (to help Odysseus on his journey back home to Ithaca), it also psychologically impacted Odysseus for the better, which helped him complete his hero-cycle.
Works Cited
Homer. Odyssey. Trans. Ian C. Johnston. New York: Richer Resources Publications, 2007. Print.
The Odyssey was written at a time when men played a key role in society. During this period of civilization, men controlled society. Women, on the other hand, were identified to hold inferior positions in the community compared to men. Women had no opportunity to comment on the daily activities of the society. It was left for men to dictate what was to be done, and women would follow.
However, according to Greek society, women were valued but were not given responsibility roles and could not make decisions. It is on this point that Homer puts women into roles that had not been expected in society. This paper discusses several roles women could take in the Ancient Greek society, as shown in The Odyssey.
Seduction
The significant role of women in the story is seduction. This can be seen in the episode when Odysseus and his men come to Circes Island and get attracted by the goddesss enchanting voice.
Although the goddess was rather dangerous and treacherous, Odysseus and his men lost their prudence and could not resist her when she invited them into the house for a feast. The story shows that the voice of the goddess was sweet and lovely. It attracted men to visit her in her house.
Men desired to be with Circe, which allowed the goddess to take advantage of their weakness to keep them under her subjection (Homer 211). She was able to trick the men, and through magical power, she was able to turn them into swine. From this information, Circe has been used to portray the power of women in manipulating men. Men fell for the sweet and lovely voice of the monster.
Women, in this epic, play seductive roles, where men are attracted by the singing of a monster which seduces them to admire the goddess (Homer line 221). The singing seduced men to admire the goddess and made them forget about the danger that lay ahead of them.
It shows the power of women in influencing men. Although men are shown to be strong in society, a little persuasion from a woman can make him change his mind. The goddess was able to trick men because of her lovely and sweet singing.
Odysseus makes the goddess swear that he did not have an evil intention against him. This reflects how an appeal by a woman can make a man lose his dominance in society. Although Odysseus had been warned of the seductive intentions of the goddess on the island, he still fell for her. He remained on the island for a year, forgetting about his home coming.
Therefore, the goddess seduced him to stay on the island and forget that his wife was waiting for him back home. Lack of desire for his wife, which would have made him go back home, was created by the goddess through her seductive ways. She influenced Odysseys disregard for his family back home. This is a clear indication that women are portrayed as seductive creatures in The Odyssey.
In the history of human civilization, women were shown as weak vessels in society. Decision making was left to men. Women were not given any responsibility in society. However, the author gives them roles that manipulate men, hence portraying them as seductive. It makes society open its eyes to see the power of women in society. Their sexuality is a power of influence that denies even the mightiest of men his dominance.
The story indicates that Odyssey lived with Kalypso on her island for seven years. According to Homer (line153), the persona indicates that the nymph was no longer pleasing to him. It suggests that Odyssey had spent enough time with the goddess and did not want her anymore. The story indicates that when Odyssey wanted to return home, the goddess convinced him to stay with her.
The process of being convinced by Kalypso shows seductress roles of women in the story. Women having control over men with the power of their sexuality describes a change of the guard in society. Those who were seen as weak and inferior have turned into powerful and superior characters in the story. Another item of seduction is shown through Penelope, who has been identified as a faithful woman to her husband (Homer 109).
Her husband is seen having affairs with other women. However, Penelope waits for her husband, even when other suitors are asking for her hand in marriage. She shows her manipulative skills when she tricks men who want to marry her in several incidents knowing well that she was not ready to marry any of them.
Power
As has been mentioned above, Ancient Greece was a patriarchal society where men ruled, and women obeyed. However, Homer shows that when there is no man, a woman can become a master who is taking care of a household or even a country and a master of peoples lives. Thus, Homer shows how powerful it can be under certain circumstances.
Penelope loses her master, and she has to become a master of the land until her son, a man, is mature enough to become the master. Circe, the bewitching queen of Aeaea, is ruling an entire island, and she is even able to rule some supernatural forces (Homer 212).
Of course, she is not a mortal woman as she is a nymph and is beyond the laws of human society. Finally, it is possible to mention the most powerful female character, Athena, daughter of Zeus whose shield is thunder tireless one (Homer 148). She helps mortals and, of course, she is a daughter of the mightiest god.
Clearly, Homer shows that women could exercise authority and be powerful in the absence of a man. Importantly, the woman has to be privileged to exercise authority. Thus, Penelope is a righteous wife. Athena and Circe are goddesses.
Insidiousness and Trouble-Making
An example of a woman who is not privileged and, hence, cannot be in power is Clytemnestra. The woman betrayed her husband and killed him. Of course, this woman could not possibly exercise any authority. Homer presents Clytemnestra as a denied voice (McDermott 2).
This woman has no right to rule or even speak as she has a stigma. She dared to break the rules of the patriarchal world, and she is regarded as a trouble-maker in The Odyssey. She reveals another behavioral pattern which is very different from that of a righteous wife, Penelope. Clytemnestra serves to show another kind of a female in Greek society.
Of course, it is impossible to omit Helen in this list of trouble-makers. Though Helen is a central character in the epic, Homer uses this female character to show what grief and suffering can be caused by a woman, What armies of us died for the sake of Helen (Homer 263).
Of course, Helen is also a kind of antipode to Penelope as the latter is always faithful and trying to bring peace while the former is the reason for the horrible war. Again, this can be regarded as an example of the way the woman was treated in the society of that time. For Ancient Greeks, women were often a cause of some trouble and, hence, they were seen as inferior. Women were to be controlled to keep them away from dangerous situations.
Loyal Partner
It is also important to mention that the characters of Helen and Penelope are also different in terms of their loyalty. Penelope is loyal to her husband in all respects while Helen ran away with another man. Penelope is a faithful partner who can be trusted and who can support her husband and their child. Odyssey is afraid of possible infidelity of Penelope, but it is clear that he believes in her chastity.
She hates her suitors and is worn with pain and sobbing, / further spells of grief and storms of tears (Homer 150). Therefore, loyalty is an assigned quality any righteous woman has to possess, according to Homer and the rest of the Ancient Greek society.
Everybody is bound to shed tears of grief while listening about the loyal wifes way when her husbands died abroad (Homer 305). Van Oenen claims that this quality is developing throughout the entire story, and each event makes Penelope stronger and more loyal (222). Ancient Greeks valued this quality above all the rest.
Devotion
Notably, Penelope loves and respects her husband. She calls him her lionhearted husband and a great man whose fame resounds through Hellas / right to the depths of Argos (Homer 88). There is only one human being she loves apart from Odyssey. This person is their son. Of course, the woman is meant to be devoted to her husband and her son.
Apparently, in Ancient Greece, it was a norm for a woman to live for a man, to be absorbed by the world of her beloved. Thus, even when Penelope has to remarry to save her son from a horrible death, she can make this sacrifice as she does not belong to herself.
She is ready to get married as she says, Whatever glow I had died long ago (Homer 381). She does not care about herself as she is concerned with her sons future. Hence, in The Odyssey, it is postulated that the woman has to live her husbands life and be ready to make sacrifices.
Women have been shown as objects of beauty that use manipulation and trickery to get what they want from men and society. The author portrays them as making use of their intelligence and female strength to achieve their desired goals. It is indeed true that the author of The Odyssey depicts all female characters in the epic as seductive creatures in society.
At the same time, the author reveals other roles assigned to women in Ancient Greek society. Thus, the woman can be a powerful leader if she is a righteous and privileged female, of course. It is also shown that the woman has to be loyal and devoted to her man. Otherwise, a woman is regarded as a trouble-maker who is to be controlled and even oppressed.
Works Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. New York, NY: Penguin, 1997. Print.
McDermott, J.R. Transgendering Clytemnestra. The McGill Journal of Classical Studies 2.1 (2002): 1-8. Print.
Van Oenen, Gijs. Fabrications of Self: Identity Formation in the Odyssey. Cultural Values 5.2 (2001): 221-244. Print.
The Odyssey is the story of an old man (Odysseus) returning home and a young man (Telemachus) venturing out in search of himself. Telemachus, throughout the story, considered the heroic Odysseus as his model.
Throughout the story, there is a constant struggle of the growing Telemachus to imitate the actions of his father and then eventually become like him that he comes to an end of his journey. In the beginning of the poem, Homer does not give any indication to the readers that Telemachus will eventually go on a journey like his father.
Telemachuss headway towards this goal actually shows how difficult were the goals and ventures of Odysseus. The text of The Odyssey presents a single framed narration of the hero, Odysseys, and the journey of a child, Telemachus, into manhood. This essay will demonstrate the comparisons and contrasts the tale draws between the two central characters of father and son.
There are distinct similarities between the character of Odysseus and Telemachus. The resemblance are so close that in one account Penelope had to reverse the procedure in identifying the true identity of her visitor as Odysseus.
In Odysseus 4, Helens description of Telemachus actually shows the close physical resemblance between the two characters. However, as a character in the book, Telemachus is often found to move under the shadow of his fathers heroic feats.
Odysseus is hailed a hero for his heroic adventures and conquests in the battle of Troy. Telemachus too tries to emulate his father, and like him, goes out on a voyage, but fails to attain full respect like his father. Therefore, a continuous struggle is observed in the text wherein there is continuous comparison between the two characters.
The writer, the readers, does it and even by Telemachus himself who felt that, he could never match up to his fathers valor. In Odyssey 2, the episode in which Telemachus leaves a sword in unlocked room that helped the suitors to possess arms to combat the former.
Odysseus, though had made mistakes, could not be expected of making such a careless mistake. Eurymachus states that Telemachus could never muster the courage and conviction to face the threats of the suitors. In another instance, Leocritus points out that Telemachus may not venture out in a journey even after continues encouragement from his elders.
Homers epic poem portrays the character of Telemachus as a son who takes change of situation due to an absent father. Only till the father returns to take back the reigns. Therefore, to a great extent the character of Telemachus and his adventures hs been belittled in the text. However, Telemachus does show a sense of pride in his family and blood when he says that he will not shame his family.
Odysseus is critical of Telemachus when they reunite after the formers return to Ithaca. Telemachus expresses his doubt on their reunion if the man who had transgressed from a beggar to the state of a hero could really be his father, to which Odysseus answers with impatience that had he not been the real father he would not have returned to Ithaca after twenty years of toiling.
In general, the characters of telemachus and Odysseus reflects on that of an obedient son tied by his duties and a gentle father happy to reunite with his family.
The poem stresses on equality and a cordial relation between Telemachus and Odysseus. However, it cannot be overlooked that the poem is more about Odysseus, who fought at Troy, and his grand heroic adventures and that of a mediocre son who lived a mundane life in the island of Ithaca encompassed by his family duties.
In most cases, forces that are completely beyond our control define the course that our life takes. This makes predestined fate and divine interventions responsible for nearly everything that happens in a mans life. By looking at history, one is able to realize that most of Ancient Greek believed in the power of fate and the existence of forces that were beyond mans control.
By analyzing most Greek literature, one is able to realize that there is usually an unseen hand that clearly controls peoples destiny. According to this mythology, the gods are responsible for engineering our fate and directing our lives in direction that we would not have taken by following our free will.
Although there is much literature written on this subject, Sophocles Oedipus and Homers Odyssey are classic examples that demonstrate how fate and divine intervention can dictate the course of our lives. In both plays, there is strong evidence, which proves that events in both Oedipus and Odysseus lives are engineered by forces that are beyond their control. (Homer 209)
In fact, it is interesting to note that fate and free will are interconnected in such a way that it is almost impossible to differentiate between the two. This is because while the gods are obviously responsible for choosing the path that ones life is to take, it still takes the free will of the involved person to follow that path.
This is evident in Homers Odyssey where for close to eight years Odysseus is held captive by a force beyond his control. In fact, these unseen forces were responsible for his initial capture and they held him captive for almost ten years. When the same forces decided that it was time for Odysseus to return to his own country, they released him and notified Kalypso of this fact. (Homer 265)
When Odysseus was about to leave, Kalypso tried to coax him to stay but instead he chose the latter. This can be seen when Kalypso tells him, You should stay here, and guard this house, and be immortal (Homer 267) Instead of heeding this advice, Odysseus decides to leave for his home country and back to hi people.
Although this is the case, it is clear that Odysseus is merely following the path that the gods have preordained for him. This is seen at the beginning when the god Zeus claims, all mans afflictions come from us, we hear. (Homer 210) This clearly shows that Odysseus was merely following a path that had already been established by divine intervention.
Apart from the detainment of Odysseus by the gods, the play contains many other scenes where the hand of fate is evident. An example is where Athena goes to Ithaka to meet Odysseus son. This meeting is called to rally the support of the community to reject Penelopes suitors. Since the disappearance of Odysseus, Penelope has remained chaste but at one point, she gives in and makes herself available to other men. It is surprising that all this happens just as Odysseus is beginning to find his way back home.
In order to buy time, the gods cause Athena to rally the support of the community to ensure that Penelope is not married before the arrival of her husband. It is clear that had it not been for the interference of the gods, the suitors would have succeeded and Odysseus would never have gotten home in time owing to the turbulent condition at sea. One can therefore confidently conclude that the hand of fate was responsible for all the happenings in the life of Odysseus. (Homer 340)
In fact, this same hand of fate is witnessed in Sophocles Oedipus where divine intervention is responsible for Oedipus destiny. Just like Odysseus in the Odyssey, Oedipus has the free will to follow the course that the gods have predestined for him.
Since his birth, Oedipus is destined to kill his father and become the husband of his mother. No matter the path that he chooses, this oracle delivered by Apollo has to be fulfilled. Although the gods have ruled Oedipus past, he has the free will to dictate what happens in Thebes and his future by extension. (Sophocles 37)
From the opening of the play, it is evident that Oedipus took deliberate steps that led to his downfall. Once the plague appeared in Thebes, Oedipus could have chosen to ignore it but he instead chose to send Creon to consult the oracle at Delphi. When he learned of Apollos prophecy, he could have chosen to investigate the matter in a quiet manner but instead he cursed the murderer who was indeed himself.
This can be seen in the following text by Sophocles, Upon the murderer I invoke this curse- whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many- may he wear out his life in misery or doom! If with my knowledge he lives at my hearth, I pray that I myself may feel my curse. (Sophocles 45)
In order for the Greeks to identify with Oedipus, Sophocles presented him in such a way that gave him some human flaws, which were meant to equate him with the rest of the human race. For Oedipus, these flaws were his inflated ego, arrogance, an apparent disregard for the gods and an almost obsessive quest for truth.
Upon learning that he was indeed the killer of king Laius, Oedipus became enraged and claimed that the old oracle had lied. By fleeing from Corinth, Oedipus was actually trying to outrun the proclamation of the gods. Once Jocasta learned that indeed the old prophecy had been fulfilled, she tried to beg Oedipus not to pursue the matter but to let it rest. However, his only reply was, I will not be persuaded to let chance of finding out the whole thing clearly. (Sophocles 50)
It is at this point that the truth is bared before him and he goes ahead to curse the fate in his life. In order to show the responsibility of the gods, Oedipus claimed, It was Apollo, friends, Apollo, that brought this bitter bitterness, my sorrows to completion. (Sophocles 51) This clearly shows that it was divine intervention and not an act of free will that was responsible for what happened to Oedipus.
By looking at the two plays, it is evident that no man can elude the fate that the gods have preordained for him. However, everyone is given an option of choosing how to handle the second chance that life proffers. In the Odyssey, Odysseus reunites with his wife and forgives her for allowing other men to court her.
On the other hand, Oedipus also chooses to accept the fate that the gods have for his life and decides to resolve it using his own ideology and standards. He gives himself a punishment befitting his crime and decides not to blame the gods for anything that has happened to him. The analysis of these two plays clearly proves to us that fate not character is responsible for the course that peoples lives take.
Works Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fiztgerald. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: the Western tradition. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. 1999. 209-514. Print.
Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Trans. David Grene. University of Chicago Press, 2010. 36-52. Print.
Homers Odyssey is one of the Greek epics. It is also a sequel to Homers Iliad. In book 11, Odysseus speaks to numerous ghosts that give him revelations, advice and guidance. Most of these ghosts have an influence on Odysseuss fate. Throughout the book, Odysseus speaks to numerous ghosts including that of his own mother, Anticleia. These ghosts explain to Odysseus about the past while other give his hope and way forward for his future. Of the numerous ghosts in book 11, my favorite three include Elpenor, Tiresias and Anticleia.
The Ghosts of Elpenor, Tiresias and Anticleia
After Odysseus travels to the famous River of Ocean, he performs several sacrifices and pours libations as instructed by Circe. The first ghost to appear is Elpenor (Homer 157) . The ghost instructs Odysseus to ensure he goes back to the island of Circe and perform a proper burial for his body.
From this encounter, Odysseus understands something new and important. The ghost informs Odysseus that a decent burial was necessary as a sign of respect for those who had died (Homer 162) . He therefore learns the importance of a burial for someone who is deceased. After the conversation, Odysseus would go back to the island and give the body a proper burial as requested by the ghost (Homer 162) .
The second ghost to speak to is that of Tiresias, a prominent Theban prophet (Homer 163) . I find the ghost one of my favorite because of the hope and information he gives Odysseus. The ghost reveals to Odysseus that Poseidon was busy punishing and killing the Achaeans (Homer 163) .
According to the ghost, Poseidon was punishing them because they had blinded his own son by the name Polyphemus. The other thing about his conversation with this ghost is that he learns about his fate and future. The ghost foretells Odysseuss fate (Homer 164) . According to the ghost, Odysseus would go back home, succeed in reclaiming his own wife. The ghost assures Odysseus that he would reclaim the palace and make a successful journey to Poseidon.
Tiresias ghost tells Odysseus not to touch the children of the Sun especially after he makes his journey to Thrinacia. If he touches the flock he would face much hardship and even lose his entire crew during the journey (Homer 164) . The information is vital and gives Odysseus courage and hope as he faces his future. The ghost foretells the journey ahead of him and he is warned of the dangers that might fall on his way (Homer 165) .
The ghost of Odysseuss mother is my third favorite ghost. Odysseus speaks with Anticleia who informs him about the affairs and events taking place at Ithaca (Homer 165) . She also narrates to Odysseus how she died of pain and grief while she was waiting for his son (Homer 166) . From the encounter with his mothers ghost, Odysseus learns the love of a mother and the reason to treasure it.
Conclusion
Throughout book eleven, Odysseus speaks to numerous ghosts including that of his own mother. These ghosts explain to him about the past while other give his hope and way forward for his future. My favorite ghosts are those of Tiresias, Anticleia and Elpenor. Having spoken to the ghost of Tiresias, Odysseus is informed of his future and can go ahead with useful information about what to do and what to avoid. This would play a huge role towards his success as a great warrior.
Works Cited
Homer. Odyssey. New York: Classic Books, 2009. Print.
Homers Iliad and Odyssey remain powerful even today because they relate to the current issues. The main topics that have currently dominated the world are conflicts and politics. In the Iliad, for instance, the story focuses on the conflict between different groups with distinct interests. However, in regards to the Odyssey, it is mainly about politics and leadership. Therefore, in relating the two poems with the current situation, people are constantly fighting over leadership positions. In their quest for control of power, they pretend to have their followers interest, yet their wars are individual-based. Therefore, some stories remain for long because they revolve around the daily human experiences which vanish fast. If a story is based on a rare event, it will not appeal to the audience because they will easily lose interest. The Iliad and the Odyssey tell me that conflict is not evitable in a society with people of different interests. However, we should seek other sources of conflict resolution rather than war.
The gods in Homer are important because they direct what people are supposed to do. They act in violent ways when they are not appeased with the actions of humans. They play a role in ensuring that humans have no control over their surrounding and should be guided by a supreme being. The stories cannot exist if the gods are not in the picture. Although humans mainly conduct actions, their activities are directed by the gods. In short, the conflicts mainly revolve around what the gods want.
The Iliad and the Odyssey are anti-war poems, even though the actions in the stories are mainly conflict-oriented. They are anti-conflict because the aftermath of the fights is tragic, and every individual always engaged in losses. Both the antagonists and the protagonists lives end tragically. This, therefore, means that war is not the solution to every problem; at times, people should embrace other peaceful mechanisms in ensuring that an issue is resolved. The Iliad and the Odysseys results are a tragedy that imply that the story was against war by highlighting the consequences of it.
All through the Homers Odyssey, disguise has been adopted by different characters to complicate or facilitate their or another characters passage across the world. Some characters assume multiple disguises throughout the plot.
Athena, the goddess, for example, goes through no less than three transformations. It is not only the goddess who puts on a camouflage, though; Odysseus also pulls off the disguise power to progress his goals and objectives. Odysseus was the king of Ithaca at the time when Palamedes sent him to the Trojan War, which lasted for ten years.
The story begins when Odysseus with his crew journey back to Ithaca, his homeland, as a Trojan Wars valiant hero. He sets sail for Ithaca but in the face of fate wonders for a decade when his ships were instantly drifted to Thrace by a violent storm.
It was the beginning of an expedition. Throughout the The Odyssey, disguise helped the main character, Odysseus,develop through humility and understanding, which eventually led the character back to Ithaca. This journey was made with the aid of the goddess Athena, who disguised Odysseus.
Odysseus faces many challenges and tragedies during this adventure. During his travel back home, he was put to trial on different occasions by the monstrosity that nearly destroyed him. His intelligence and sly behavior made him pull through the various dangerous situations he met.
Ultimately, he succeeded in getting back home, and this, he owes to Athena, the goddess, who always supported him throughout his travel. Athena incessantly favored Odysseus, as witnessed in The Odyssey, when Zeus, on Athenas behalf, had ordered him to release from the island of Calypso where he had been held captive for seven years.
Unfortunately, Poseidon noticed him floating in the waters and was compelled to make him drown, had it not been for goddess Ino who saved him. Later, Odysseus reached Phaecia city, where he encountered Athena camouflaged as king Alcinous daughter. The following excerpt supports that, indeed, the goddess Athena disguised Odysseus to help him. (Homer and Johnston 111).
Straight to his house, the clear-eyed Pallas went, full of plans for great Odysseus journey home. She made her way to the gaily painted room where a young girl lay asleep: Nausicaa, the daughter of generous King Alcinous. The goddess drifted through like a breath of fresh air in face and form like the shimpan Dymas daughter. Disguised, the bright-eyed goddess chided& (117).
Athena also had to pour a sea fog around Odysseus to protect him, and then she assumed the shape of a little girl and showed him the way to the palace (Homer and Johnston 111-112). Athena again used this tactic when Odysseus had safely reached his homeland. The goddess did not want the people to notice his return until he had taken revenge upon the suitors of his wife.
Zeus daughter Athena had made it a foggy day, so that people might not know of his arrival, and that she might tell him everything without either his wife or his fellow citizens and friends recognizing him until he had taken his revenge upon the wicked suitors(185).
Back in his homeland way before the Trojan War, Odysseus was a king. He had a wife and a son whom he had left an infant when he had to leave for Troy. Being transformed into a stranger, Odysseus had managed to convince Alcinous to bring him back to his homeland. He had to put away his pride to get the much-needed help in reaching home.
And there Odysseus stood, gazing at all this bounty, a man who had borne so much&Once, he had had his fill of marveling it all. (141). Athena disguised Odysseus as a beggar to get revenge against the suitors. With this, he had to cast away again his pride (Homer and Johnston 148). Athena explains to him:
First, I will transform you-no one must know you. I will shrivel the supple skin on your lithe limbs, strip the russet curls from your head, and deck you out in rags youd hate to see some other mortals wear; Ill dim the fire in your eyes, so shinning once& (253)
Once again, Odysseus displays much loss of pride when he comes across a goat herder who mocks and kicks him but was capable of rationalizing the situation. That signaled maturity in his part has been a man of inordinate self-esteem. Later on, he was able to put aside his identity and egoism even when in concealment (Homer and Johnston 235).
The use of disguise in The Odyssey was helpful as it allowed Odysseus to survey his palace and identify those who had remained loyal and those who had not. Emmaus was one of such great men who displayed loyalty to his king even in his long absence.
This is noted when he says: Not even my parents at home, where I was born and bred. I miss them less than I do him& (354). He displays further loyalty by showing a feeling of disgust toward the suitors, which moves Odysseus.
Another example of loyalty is shown by his dog, Argos, who was merely a puppy at the time when Odysseus left and was at the point of an old dog. The dog recognized his old master, wagged his tail then died. The fact that his wife, Penelope, did not remarry despite the many suitors who courted her, shows a great height of loyalty.
Other loyal people were his son Telemachus, and Eurykleia, his old nurse. The opposite case is with the suitors and, more especially, Antinous, who rudely hurled a chair at him when in disguise had announced that Odysseus would return (Homer and Johnston 367-389).
Boiling over Antinous gave him a scathing look and let fly. Now, you will not get out the hall unscarred; I swear not after such a filthy string of insults! With that, he seized the stool and hurtled it-Square in the back it struck Odysseus& (369).
Eventually, Odysseus successfully vanquished the suitors and was able to reclaim his castle.
Upon bringing back Odysseus adventures from his battle with the monsters though his landing home to his reclaiming the palace, it is noted that his wit and guise aided him to put through his hardships, of course, with the help of Athena who revealed it to him after he had landed in Ithaca. Sure enough, the role of disguise helped Odysseus character develop through humility and understanding, which eventually led the character back to Ithaca, with the aid of the goddess Athena.
Odysseus journey was much of a self-discovery. It served as a realization of what it takes to be a leader, thus, enhanced his maturity. In conclusion, the importance of disguise in the Odyssey was not only that of practical purposes (to help Odysseus on his journey back home to Ithaca), it also psychologically impacted Odysseus for the better, which helped him complete his hero-cycle.
Works Cited
Homer. Odyssey. Trans. Ian C. Johnston. New York: Richer Resources Publications, 2007. Print.
The Odyssey was written at a time when men played a key role in society. During this period of civilization, men controlled society. Women, on the other hand, were identified to hold inferior positions in the community compared to men. Women had no opportunity to comment on the daily activities of the society. It was left for men to dictate what was to be done, and women would follow.
However, according to Greek society, women were valued but were not given responsibility roles and could not make decisions. It is on this point that Homer puts women into roles that had not been expected in society. This paper discusses several roles women could take in the Ancient Greek society, as shown in The Odyssey.
Seduction
The significant role of women in the story is seduction. This can be seen in the episode when Odysseus and his men come to Circes Island and get attracted by the goddesss enchanting voice.
Although the goddess was rather dangerous and treacherous, Odysseus and his men lost their prudence and could not resist her when she invited them into the house for a feast. The story shows that the voice of the goddess was sweet and lovely. It attracted men to visit her in her house.
Men desired to be with Circe, which allowed the goddess to take advantage of their weakness to keep them under her subjection (Homer 211). She was able to trick the men, and through magical power, she was able to turn them into swine. From this information, Circe has been used to portray the power of women in manipulating men. Men fell for the sweet and lovely voice of the monster.
Women, in this epic, play seductive roles, where men are attracted by the singing of a monster which seduces them to admire the goddess (Homer line 221). The singing seduced men to admire the goddess and made them forget about the danger that lay ahead of them.
It shows the power of women in influencing men. Although men are shown to be strong in society, a little persuasion from a woman can make him change his mind. The goddess was able to trick men because of her lovely and sweet singing.
Odysseus makes the goddess swear that he did not have an evil intention against him. This reflects how an appeal by a woman can make a man lose his dominance in society. Although Odysseus had been warned of the seductive intentions of the goddess on the island, he still fell for her. He remained on the island for a year, forgetting about his home coming.
Therefore, the goddess seduced him to stay on the island and forget that his wife was waiting for him back home. Lack of desire for his wife, which would have made him go back home, was created by the goddess through her seductive ways. She influenced Odysseys disregard for his family back home. This is a clear indication that women are portrayed as seductive creatures in The Odyssey.
In the history of human civilization, women were shown as weak vessels in society. Decision making was left to men. Women were not given any responsibility in society. However, the author gives them roles that manipulate men, hence portraying them as seductive. It makes society open its eyes to see the power of women in society. Their sexuality is a power of influence that denies even the mightiest of men his dominance.
The story indicates that Odyssey lived with Kalypso on her island for seven years. According to Homer (line153), the persona indicates that the nymph was no longer pleasing to him. It suggests that Odyssey had spent enough time with the goddess and did not want her anymore. The story indicates that when Odyssey wanted to return home, the goddess convinced him to stay with her.
The process of being convinced by Kalypso shows seductress roles of women in the story. Women having control over men with the power of their sexuality describes a change of the guard in society. Those who were seen as weak and inferior have turned into powerful and superior characters in the story. Another item of seduction is shown through Penelope, who has been identified as a faithful woman to her husband (Homer 109).
Her husband is seen having affairs with other women. However, Penelope waits for her husband, even when other suitors are asking for her hand in marriage. She shows her manipulative skills when she tricks men who want to marry her in several incidents knowing well that she was not ready to marry any of them.
Power
As has been mentioned above, Ancient Greece was a patriarchal society where men ruled, and women obeyed. However, Homer shows that when there is no man, a woman can become a master who is taking care of a household or even a country and a master of peoples lives. Thus, Homer shows how powerful it can be under certain circumstances.
Penelope loses her master, and she has to become a master of the land until her son, a man, is mature enough to become the master. Circe, the bewitching queen of Aeaea, is ruling an entire island, and she is even able to rule some supernatural forces (Homer 212).
Of course, she is not a mortal woman as she is a nymph and is beyond the laws of human society. Finally, it is possible to mention the most powerful female character, Athena, daughter of Zeus whose shield is thunder tireless one (Homer 148). She helps mortals and, of course, she is a daughter of the mightiest god.
Clearly, Homer shows that women could exercise authority and be powerful in the absence of a man. Importantly, the woman has to be privileged to exercise authority. Thus, Penelope is a righteous wife. Athena and Circe are goddesses.
Insidiousness and Trouble-Making
An example of a woman who is not privileged and, hence, cannot be in power is Clytemnestra. The woman betrayed her husband and killed him. Of course, this woman could not possibly exercise any authority. Homer presents Clytemnestra as a denied voice (McDermott 2).
This woman has no right to rule or even speak as she has a stigma. She dared to break the rules of the patriarchal world, and she is regarded as a trouble-maker in The Odyssey. She reveals another behavioral pattern which is very different from that of a righteous wife, Penelope. Clytemnestra serves to show another kind of a female in Greek society.
Of course, it is impossible to omit Helen in this list of trouble-makers. Though Helen is a central character in the epic, Homer uses this female character to show what grief and suffering can be caused by a woman, What armies of us died for the sake of Helen (Homer 263).
Of course, Helen is also a kind of antipode to Penelope as the latter is always faithful and trying to bring peace while the former is the reason for the horrible war. Again, this can be regarded as an example of the way the woman was treated in the society of that time. For Ancient Greeks, women were often a cause of some trouble and, hence, they were seen as inferior. Women were to be controlled to keep them away from dangerous situations.
Loyal Partner
It is also important to mention that the characters of Helen and Penelope are also different in terms of their loyalty. Penelope is loyal to her husband in all respects while Helen ran away with another man. Penelope is a faithful partner who can be trusted and who can support her husband and their child. Odyssey is afraid of possible infidelity of Penelope, but it is clear that he believes in her chastity.
She hates her suitors and is worn with pain and sobbing, / further spells of grief and storms of tears (Homer 150). Therefore, loyalty is an assigned quality any righteous woman has to possess, according to Homer and the rest of the Ancient Greek society.
Everybody is bound to shed tears of grief while listening about the loyal wifes way when her husbands died abroad (Homer 305). Van Oenen claims that this quality is developing throughout the entire story, and each event makes Penelope stronger and more loyal (222). Ancient Greeks valued this quality above all the rest.
Devotion
Notably, Penelope loves and respects her husband. She calls him her lionhearted husband and a great man whose fame resounds through Hellas / right to the depths of Argos (Homer 88). There is only one human being she loves apart from Odyssey. This person is their son. Of course, the woman is meant to be devoted to her husband and her son.
Apparently, in Ancient Greece, it was a norm for a woman to live for a man, to be absorbed by the world of her beloved. Thus, even when Penelope has to remarry to save her son from a horrible death, she can make this sacrifice as she does not belong to herself.
She is ready to get married as she says, Whatever glow I had died long ago (Homer 381). She does not care about herself as she is concerned with her sons future. Hence, in The Odyssey, it is postulated that the woman has to live her husbands life and be ready to make sacrifices.
Women have been shown as objects of beauty that use manipulation and trickery to get what they want from men and society. The author portrays them as making use of their intelligence and female strength to achieve their desired goals. It is indeed true that the author of The Odyssey depicts all female characters in the epic as seductive creatures in society.
At the same time, the author reveals other roles assigned to women in Ancient Greek society. Thus, the woman can be a powerful leader if she is a righteous and privileged female, of course. It is also shown that the woman has to be loyal and devoted to her man. Otherwise, a woman is regarded as a trouble-maker who is to be controlled and even oppressed.
Works Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. New York, NY: Penguin, 1997. Print.
McDermott, J.R. Transgendering Clytemnestra. The McGill Journal of Classical Studies 2.1 (2002): 1-8. Print.
Van Oenen, Gijs. Fabrications of Self: Identity Formation in the Odyssey. Cultural Values 5.2 (2001): 221-244. Print.