FREE ESSAY ON THE ODYSSEY

THE ODYSSEY

The Odyssey
The great muses are called upon by Homer to tell the great adventure of Odysseus in his
travel back to his home. Prayers are given to the Greek Gods and muses by Homer in order
to proceed this story. The Greeks life revolved around the gods in a matter of fashion as
we presently revolve around Christianity. The depiction of the roles the gods played in
the Odyssey is both presented in good and evil. The Greeks portrayed their gods as
powerful and merciful. However in the Odyssey the gods play a role in a savior like Jesus
Christ and the tormentor like Satan. With the present role in the story of Odyssey the
gods can be seen as a key role in Odysseus life. 
Odysseus alone cannot have escaped the treacherous Trojan War without the aid of the
gods. However can it be reconcile that the gods were truly the ones who controlled our
lives? In Odysseus's case the gods played a vital role. Throughout the entire story
Athena was the crutch Odysseus and his family leaned on in the time of aid. Through the
treacherous paths Odysseus traveled it was hope of seeing Penelope and his son Telemachus
that brought him strength and wisdom. With the loves one left behind Odysseus fearlessly
face the gods and tramples over their challenges. Without the help of Athena and her
wisdom and devotion to Odysseus his challenges would be help with no boundaries. With
Athena on Odysseus side, he was able to return home without any harms done to him or his
family. With the gods in favor of Odysseus return all he had to fight was the challenges
Poseidon threw at him. With the water being the only road back to his home this challenge
was fare more difficult then the Trojan War itself.
With the guidance of Athena Odysseus was safely returned to Ithica. Even though Athena
played a key role in Odysseus life she was still unable to protect him from the
challenges he faced with Poseidon, Calypso, and Helios. The gods can be seen as
Odysseus's sub-conscience. Athena being Odysseus's wisdom, Helios the jealousy hidden in
our curiosity, Calypso the temptation we face, and Poseidon the challenges in life we
face everyday. These main Gods played a key role in Odysseus's life. Poseidon tormented
blinded Polyphemus. Poseidon would have never tormented Odysseus if only he kept his
boastful self-quiet. A lesson in life learned by Odysseus to keep him self- humble at all
times. Odysseus faced other challenges that slowed his journey towards home seem longer.
Calypso who kept Odysseus on her island for seven years offered him the impossible.
Odysseus with his wife in mind declined the gift for a passage towards home. With
temptation and challenges that blockaded Odysseus journey home. However Odysseus and his
deceased crew could of made it home safely if it wasn't for the curiosity and jealousy of
the crew to open the bag of wind and their evil temptation to kill and eat Helios cows.
The gods playing minor roles it was human nature that brought the crewmembers to their
doom and slowed Odysseus down from returning home. Homer portrayed human nature with the
gods and goddesses. We are our own enemy. We are the ones who lay the path in our life
and destination. However there are bumps in the word that slow us down and break us down.
With hope we resist temptation and fight evil off. The gods in the Odyssey portrayed the
good and evil in human nature. Odysseus being the hero of the Odyssey resisted and
learned valuable lessons in life on his adventure back home.