Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Odyssey

In The Odyssey by Homer, both Odysseus and Telemakhos are both transformed and affected by the relationships that they have with the gods. Without the relationship they have with the gods, they would never have been able to overcome the adversity that was set in front of them.

Athena befriends Telemakhos and helps him get through a tough time in his life were he feels he need to live up to his fathers expectations and take action and control over his house. Athena encourages him and gives him the tools he needs to overcome the pressure and become his fathers’ son. Through his relationship with Athena he is transformed from a boy into a man.

Odysseus also has relationships with the gods that help him to shape who he becomes. In some instances he has negative relationships that he learns from. When he yells his name back to the Cyclopes he shows his hubris and in doing so leaves himself vulnerable to the wrath of Poseidon. Although Poseidon is not on Odysseus’ side, the interaction from him magnifies Odysseus’ mistake and teaches him not to be so prideful and that he needs to be humble. Odysseus also has a relationship with Athena where she is helping him to return home to his family and his life. Through her help and influence, Odysseus knows how to act and what to say in the situations he encounters.

The relationships that Odysseus and Telemakhos both have help them to grow and become a better version of themselves. They took and learned from the advise the gods gave them and the relationship they had formed.

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