How would you handle a journey which seems never-ending? In Gillan Cross’s interpretation of The Odyssey, we notice several events that have had a domino effect upon each other. As the story went on we noticed how certain events categorize themselves into different parts of the Hero’s Journey (12 stages). Then as the story progresses we see archetypes that reinforce the idea that The Odyssey is a monomyth.
Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus goes through difficult obstacles and decisions. However, these events fit into the 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey. Also, it helps the reader understand the position Odysseus was in. We know he gets recruited to fight in the Trojan war alongside the other kings. Although Odysseus is clever and valuable he
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‘’With a heavy heart’’ (Cross 10). is an example of refusal of the call, although he refused he still ended up fighting in the Trojan war. Additionally, by attending the war, it will advance the story and reach the other stages. Another stage is entering the threshold, Odysseus leaves his home and enters the dangerous water and land controlled by the Gods. ‘’...Odysseus called his soldiers together and prepared a fleet of ships’’ (Cross 10). Again, Odysseus prepares for the Trojan war and is clueless about the events following it. While on his voyage he is not met with a welcoming response and then goes through the tests, allies, and enemies. Unfortunately, he angers the cyclops who calls Poseidon, his father, and Poseidon creates chaos and utter destruction for Odysseus. ‘’...calling out to the god Poseidon, who was his father’’ (Cross 45). In addition, now Odysseus must face the wrath of the God Poseidon along his voyage. He now dedicates himself to ruining all chances of Odysseus getting back to Ithaca. After several years of perseverance, Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca only to …show more content…
A variety of different archetypes play a significant role in The Odyssey. Initially, we see the ally role come into play when Aeolus gives Odysseus and his men a boost. He gives them wind that would take their ship back to Ithaca smoothly without any trouble. ‘’The gentle west wind that would take the ships home to Ithaca’’ (Cross 52). We can see Aeolus being an ally because he gives them a substance that could potentially take them back to Ithaca. However, this wind came with one request which was to not open the bag which Odysseus understood and did as he wanted. Whereas it was the men that decided to open the bag and disobey the orders. Additionally, they were sent back to Aeolus and he wasn’t so welcoming this time. ‘’I’m not going to help a man they hate’’ (Cross 55). Aeolus refused to help them again and once again prevented them from getting to Ithaca. It should be noted that Aeolus was one of the characters who changed archetypes, at first he was an ally but then became a threshold guardian. Almost following these events, the men met a woman named Circe. They were intrigued by her beauty and kindness as well as their starvation. Then, Circe invites them into her home for a meal. Compelled by their hunger the men do as she says and feast greedily. What they don’t know is that Circe has added a drug-like
Generally speaking, one can understand odysseys have to overcome obstacles so that he can get
The crew of Odysseus rebels multiple times throughout their journey to Ithaca by disregarding their commanding officer’s directions. King Aeolus gives Odysseus winds in an ox skin bag as a going-away gift to arrive back on Ithaca, but does not include the crewmates in the gift. Odysseus’ sailors become jealous of the favoritism shown by King Aeolus, so they open the ox bag and “all the winds burst out” while Odysseus is sleeping (Fagles 10.52). The crew does not like how Odysseus, a unilateral decision maker, receives more attention and gifts from the King, so they become resentful of their captain. Differently, Mark Watney’s crew trusts him and focuses on their new sole purpose: saving their fellow crewmember.
Odysseus was used to receiving hospitality back at his homeland, Ithaca, so when he arrived on the Cyclops’ island and did not receive the same treatment, he did not know how to react. But at the end of the day, Odysseus still manages to defeat Polyphemus, who is a god. But then Odysseus faced Poseidon’s wrath because he disrespected his family. Odysseus realized what his fate was going to be when he blinded the water god’s son: “A god may even send a great sea-monster, the kind that famous Amphitrite rears. I know Poseidon wants to do me harm'' (5.421-423).
He taunts a big powerful beast with a very powerful parent. That is not the only time that Odysseus' pride takes over but his time there is a harm done to him. "'Hear me, Poseidon, sustainer of the Earth, god of the sable locks. If I am yours indeed and you claim me as your son, grant that Odysseus, sacker of cities and son of Laertes, may never reach his home in Ithaca. But if he is destined to see his friends again, to come once more to his own house and reach his native land, let him come late, in wretched plight, having lost all his comrades, in a foreign ship, and let him find trouble in his home.”'
Odysseus also has trouble because the god Poseidon is angry with him for killing and blinding his son. Poseidon trys to kill Odysseus but Athena protects him. This only makes Odysseus more motivated to fight
Imagine being apart from your family for over ten years, fighting for your life in a war, and in the many battles and problems you will face on your way home from war. Would you be able to fight a cyclops, pass a dangerous whirlpool and have to face the fact that your crew betrayed you? In the novel The Odyssey written by Homer, Odysseus must do all of these things and more. He has been away from his wife, son and many other family members for over ten years now, fighting for his life on his journey home after fighting in the Trojan war.
In the epic story the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is returning from the Trojan war, and on his way home he finds many obstacles ahead of him. Odysseus is the ruler of Ithaca and he is trying to return home to his land. Many creatures try and stop him from achieving his goal of returning home, but he and his crew have to push through and get home. Odysseus portrays bravery and courage leading his crew through these tough challenges. Odysseus heroically leads his crew and himself through dangerous obstacles, but also foolishly endangers them during the journey home.
After blinding the cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus can not stand the thought of no one ever knowing his accomplishment, so he jeers at the cyclops and tells him that Odysseus of Ithaca is who blinded him. Obviously, Polyphemus is enraged, and since Odysseus had just basically given him his address, the cyclops prays to Poseidon, wishing that Odysseus never returns home. For the rest of the time Odysseus is at sea, he is dogged by Poseidon, as the surly god sends storm after storm to harry Odysseus and prevent his safe return home.
He could have just left them, I mean, it’s only a couple of men right? He has so many more in his command. But no, Odysseus helps his crew to make sure that all of them can have the chance to get home, implying his benevolence once
Although Odysseus was able to return home to Ithaca alive, his journey home was a failure because he still failed to save his men and his ships due to
For Odysseus, the call is when Helen, wife of Menelaus gets kidnapped and indulges in an affair with Paris, Prince of Troy. To get his wife back, Menelaus gets Agamemnon to form an army to set sail for Troy “Agamemnon raised an army and set sail for Troy” (Schmoop.com). Odysseus is called to the war and he initially refuses because he wanted to be with his wife Penelope and newborn son, Telemachus. To get out of it, he fakes insanity. The king is calling him to adventure by shaking up the situation and like the Heroes Journey states, he refuses the call by faking insanity.
In The Odyssey Homer makes Odysseus’ journey to his beloved Ithaca excruciating. Odysseus encounters many friends and foes throughout his journey and has to be a leader throughout his experiences. As an example, he encounters Polyphemus and Poseidon, both of whom make his journey mentally and physically painful. Odysseus faces countless scenarios in which he has to save multiple people in those situations. He also encounters the suitors, who are a group of men that try to marry Penelope, when he returns to reclaim his home.
The Odyssey by Homer is a book that involves the Journey of Odysseus and his men and the Obstacles they come across. The Odyssey portrays many themes including vengeance, hospitality, courage, bravery and more. Odysseus experiences some good and bad during his journey. He comes across people who help him, but also comes across creatures who hold him back. Odysseus is an Epic hero because of his quick thinking skills, bravery, and confidence for himself and his men.
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.
However, Zeus saw the two sides of the gods’ feelings towards Odysseus. “‘Great Odysseus/ who excels all men in wisdom... it’s the Earth-Shaker, Poseidon, unappeased,/ forever fuming against him..’” (1.78-83). Zeus created an equilibrium so that Poseidon could take out his anger on Odysseus through punishment, and Athena receives the duty of making sure Odysseus gets home to Ithaca.