...of the Iliad and Odyssey against the Aeneid for the citizen readers. Here, we found that the value of empathy is crucial in one’s life because it shapes us to become more rational and mindful citizen. Within our argument, we will justify the significance of both Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad as well as Virgil’s Aeneid for the citizen readers to create a supportive community. Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey exemplify the lack of empathy in the protagonists’ attribute which is different to Virgil’s hero that show more mercy in making decision. Many Trojans in Iliad died in Achilles hand with no mercy even being given advice on not to do so by his own mother (9.423-28,21.123-29). Even after killing Hector, he abuses the corpse by fastening it to the back of his chariot, and drags him around Patroklos's burial mound (24.17-20). On top of that, in Odyssey, Odysseus also illustrates the behavior of lack of empathy during the bloodshed happens in the hall where he killed the suitors mercilessly. Odysseus killed Antinous, who is the leader of the suitors by firing up an arrow straight to his throat (22.437). Even though Eurymachus already offered Odysseus to...
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...Webster Dictionary defines an odyssey as a series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone. Both O' Brother Where Art Thou?and Homer's Odyssey have characters who go on epic journeys in a search for their home. With help from their friends, both characters make the perilous journey home, but not without costs. Both heroes must face many villains and challenges along the way. Although Everett and Odysseus have their differences, both are just men who want to return to their families. Everett and Odysseus are trying to get back to their homes before their wives can remarry. Everett convinces Pete and Delmar to escape the chain gang with him in search for treasure, in order to get his wife Penny back. Even though there...
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...Both the Odyssey and the Aeneid describe the journeys of the two Greek heroes –Odysseus and Aeneas, as they struggle towards their goal through the crises and deadly situations caused by the wrath of the gods upon them. In the Odyssey, we see that Poseidon (god of the sea/earth shaker) has a grudge against Odysseus while Athena, god of wisdom, aids him throughout his journey. Similarly in the Aeneid, we see that goddess Juno dislikes Aeneas as he is destined to destroy the city of Carthage loved by Juno during his mission to find a new land- Rome, whereas Aeneas’ mother Venus aids him. In these epics, many points of similarity and differences arise such as the characters of the heroes, how their journeys are delayed by women obsessed with love, what they are destined for and how they achieve the final goal in the end of the epic. The very first similarity we see in both the epics is that Virgil starts his poem in the same way Homer does, that is they both refer to Muses to sing about the epic heroes of Greek mythology- Odysseus and Aeneas. Virgil again refers to Muses for the second time in book six of the Aeneid. Another similarity is the assembly of gods in Olympus described by both Virgil and Homer. As seen in the Odyssey, Odysseus’ character is clever and smart one. He is a learner and later becomes self controlling. His ‘never give up’ attitude shows that he can go through any situation to get what he wants. Also, his character is full of twists and turns. While in the Aeneid...
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...In Homer's the odyssey there is a character named Odysseus. Odysseus goes on an amazing journey and along his way he goes through many things that mold him into an epic hero. Odysseus also proves his heroism through his behavior. During the story Odysseus often presents us with his great intelligence, his superhuman strength, and also his great leadership and bravery. However though Odysseus does not always act like a hero and does immoral things but when the time is right, the true heroic side of him will come out and we will see how heroic Odysseus really is. Odysseus is a true epic hero and has the the personal characteristics to prove it. Throughout the Odyssey Odysseus presents us with examples of his superhuman strength. That is characteristic...
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...Pacifistic Poetry: The Odyssey and The Aeneid as Anti-War Stories Ancient Roman and Greek cultures are revered in modern times for their inventive battle tactics. However, a close examination of important texts from this time shows that people of these ancient cultures may have not held their own military prowess into the same regard. Both Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid depict the consequences of war as irreversible, long-lasting, and incredibly violent, creating an underlying anti-war message. The Odyssey takes place after the Trojan War, a battle which has separated the eponymous character from his homeland for ten years. The disappearance of Odysseus during this time has caused incredible sorrow and suffering for those around him....
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...Bailey Ormond Friday, October 6th “Disguise Is Necessary” 1 In The Odyssey of Homer, disguise plays an influential role in the development of the plot and Odysseus’ return to Ithaca. In Book 1 of The Odyssey, Athena uses disguise to influence Telemachus. Athena comes to Ithaca disguised as Mentes, an old friend of Odysseus. Mentes convinces Telemachus to go search for his long lost father (1:271-279).1 Athena’s use of disguise in the opening book puts faith in Telemachus that his father may still be alive; this is very important for the development of the plot because Telemachus was on the cusp of giving up hope that Odysseus would never return home. The departure of Telemachus also reveals the character of the suitors as they plan to murder him upon his return to Ithaca. The suitors have already been characterized as greedy and disrespectful but their plot to kill Telemachus is evidence of how despicable they truly are. In Book 6, Athena uses disguise to persuade Nausicaa. Athena visits Nausicaa while she is asleep disguised as “the daughter of Dymas, famed for seafaring, a girl of the same age in whom her fancy delighted” (6: 22-23). Using this disguise Athena urges Nausicaa to wash clothes the following day (6: 25-31). Without Athena stirring Nausicaa in her sleep, her and Odysseus would not have been acquainted. Athena also persuades her to have a favorable opinion of Odysseus by making him appear more handsome and favorable than he actually is (6: 223-231). Athena’s use...
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...case of the Homer’s epic The Odyssey translated by Robert Fitzgerald, we see these two ideas clashing on a canvas filled with mystical creatures and legendary challenges. Odysseus wants to maintain the honor of his family and yet some might argue that that his actions are motivated by revenge. His actions, abrupt as they may have been, were motivated by a keen sense of justice and desire...
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...surmount. Heroes are everywhere. Odysseus is the hero of the “Odyssey” by a blind poet, Homer. Odysseus fights in Trojan War for 10 years and it took him another decade for him to get home. He had to pass many hardships to get to his homeland Ithaca. The three main stages in Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey” that exemplified in Homer’s The Odyssey are the crossing of the first threshold,the road of trials, and freedom to live. For example, Joseph Campbell describes that the crossing of the first threshold is the hero which is Odysseus who is accompanied by the guide which is Athena, the goddess of wisdom goes beyond the boundaries of his or his everyday, enter the wilderness, and has the first encounter with...
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...Odysseus’ Journey: A Path to Redemption In Homer's The Odyssey, the protagonist Odysseus sets off on a 10 year journey to reclaim his throne as king of Ithaca after the Trojan War. Throughout his journey, Odysseus constantly struggles with temptation. Odysseus faces the challenge of overcoming his weaknesses to obtain redemption from the gods. Odysseus' chances of returning home are compromised by his flaws and those of his crew; however, Odysseus possesses the necessary virtues and qualities needed to reclaim his throne. One flaw that dooms Odysseus is hubris. When Odysseus and his crew become trapped in the Cyclops’s cave, Odysseus uses his intelligence and cleverness to escape. After the escape, Odysseus brags and reveals his real name to Polyphemus, yelling from his ship “…if any man…should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so—say Odysseus…he gouged out your eye” (Homer 9.558). Polyphemus is enraged and curses Odysseus' name to Poseidon, praying that his father will delay Odysseus’ return. Poseidon curses Odysseus and his men by causing storms and winds to prevent him and his crew from returning home. If Odysseus didn’t let his pride influence him in this instance, he may have returned to Ithaca earlier and saved the lives of many of his men. Another example of Odysseus’ pride compromising the success of the journey was when the crew was facing the Sirens. The Sirens are dangerous sea enchantresses that lead sailors to their deaths through song. Instead of putting...
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...Deception is an act or statement intended to make someone believe something that is not true. “The Odyssey” is a book full of deception, which includes lies and disguises. In Homer’s “The Odyssey”, using disguises help to show an untrue identity helps the characters accomplish their plans. An example of this is when Odysseus lies to Polyphemos about his name. Also, when Athena lies to Telemakhos to hide her identity at the beginning of the book, and when she helps to disguise Odysseus as beggar. Without the use of deception, “The Odyssey” wouldn’t be the adventurous and complicated epic it is. On his adventure home, Odysseus sailed upon the land of The Kyklops. The Kyklops’ were giants. Among them, he came in contact with Polyphemos. Polyphemos shows kindness to Odysseus at first, but soon turns violent. He devours two of Odysseus’ men instantly, and then keeps the rest captive in his cave for future meals. Odysseus wants to kill Polyphemos right then, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to escape because only Polyphemus can open the door. The next day, Polyphemos leaves the cave. Odysseus finds a wooden staff in the cave and hardens it in the fire. When he returns, Odysseus uses wine that he brought from the ship to...
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...The pain of parting is nothing like the satisfaction of meeting again. In Homer’s epic The Odyssey, Penelope waits twenty long years for the return of Odysseus as the suitors plague her home and struggle to marry her. By devising a contest, with a two-fold plan, she ensures the safety of her home and husband. With each challenge Penelope faces, she continues to demonstrate her mêtis. The emotional pain Penelope feels from being separated from her husband, and being plagued by suitors, forces her to use her mêtis. There are many ways Penelope is forced to rely on her mêtis in the absence of Odysseus. By using her mêtis and great weaving talents, Penelope tricks the suitors. Before Book One of The Odyssey, Penelope devises a plan to keep the...
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...direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination”, in reference to completing journeys. These words are relevant to Homer’s epic The Odyssey, and Kira Salak’s travel memoir The Cruelest Journey, where they both adapted to grueling situations during strenuous journeys. In Homer's piece, the protagonist Odysseus, embarked on a 10 year journey to his home and family in Ithaca, upon arrival he faces challenges to reclaim his family and kingdom. Likewise, In Salak’s memoir The Cruelest Journey, she reveals her arduous trip along the Niger River. Proving abilities to themselves, fulfilling a goal, and proving others wrong helped drive Odysseus and Salak...
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...Demonstrations of Family Loyalty In ancient Greek societies where a woman’s most important role is that of caring for the home and family, the extent of a woman’s loyalty to her family is worthy of exploration. In Homer’s The Odyssey, Penelope is the wife of Odysseus, whose long absence from home tests her loyalty to him. In comparison to Penelope, Antigone from Sophocles’ Antigone is tested in family loyalty when a law forbids her to bury her brother. Jocasta from Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, similarly to Penelope, is tested when her husband’s innocence in a murder case is called into question. While Antigone displays more action in her demonstration of family loyalty, Penelope exhibits the ideal way of showing loyalty to one’s family as her willpower and careful strategies are more successful than that of Antigone and Jocasta. Women in most ancient Greek societies had few rights compared to men, and were submissive to their male superiors, but both Penelope and Antigone’s actions in defense of the loved ones contradict this custom. Penelope is more passive in her actions, telling her eager suitors, “‘Young men, my suitors… go slowly… until I can finish off this web… This is a shroud for old lord Laertes, for that day when the deadly fate… will take him down’”...
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...Homer’s epic The Odyssey, the young, arrogant athlete, Broadsea, challenges Odysseus to sports. The scene shows the overall themes of respect for elders and Xenia, and Odysseus’ values of being a Greek warrior. Broadsea starts by insulting Odysseus by implying he is too old for the games and should “try [his] hand at the contests” (Homer 8: 167-168). Broadsea shows a lack of respect for elders which is a major Greek value. Odysseus knows that Broadsea is a “reckless fool”, therefore he fires back at Broadsea by telling him he will compete and win in all the games (Homer 8: 192). Typically Xenia and respect for elders go hand in hand, for example in Greece if someone came to one’s house and needed to stay the night one would let them in no...
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...Kendra Perkins Matt Fox Eng 112 14 December 2011 The Odyssey: Comparison of Genders in Greek Mythology The Odyssey by Homer may be seen by many as a heroic story of a man on his journey home; however, there is an underlying story of the trials in the roles of men and women and the relationships between them. Men and women are portrayed differently in Greece, as in other societies. Men are considered to be the more powerful of the two and are responsible for the protection of their home. Women, on the other hand, are thought to care for the children and are also responsible for the supervision of both the interior and exterior of the home while the men are away. As a man, Odysseus showed great leadership in the war at Troy and was considered the hero at the Trojan War. His wife Penelope, on the other hand, exemplified the role of a woman and leadership in her daily duties of caring for the home and all of their possessions within. In her attempts to do so, she was overcome by suitors and was unable to stop them from partaking of all of their meat and drinks. This essay will explain the underlying roles of men and women in ancient Greece as well as modern day. The beginning of the novel takes place in Ithaka at the home of Odysseus. Suitors have overrun his home in the pursuit of marrying his “widow” Penelope. Telemakhos, son of Odysseus, felt it was a shame that these men would come into their home and eat and drink their house empty. Athena, daughter of Zeus, came to Telemakhos...
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