Essay Example on Gods' Roles in Homer's The Odyssey: Exploring Odysseus' Journey Home

It can be established that gods played a significant number of roles in the book entitled, "The Odyssey" by Homer. The book is among the two major ancient poems that were composed by the Greek writer, Homer. Believed to have been composed at the end of 8th Century BC, the book mainly exhausts on the story of a Greek Hero referred to as Odysseus (Gazis & George, 8). He was the king of Island known as Ithaca. There is the exposition of his story as he travelled home following the end of Trojan War, undertaken in Troy, where he emerged the winner. It took him ten years to reach his home in Ithaca, which was also after the ten year Trojan War, hence cumulatively staying for twenty years away from home. During such a long absence, it was assumed that he had died, making a dozen of 108 suitors to desperately look for his wife's hand, Penelope's, in marriage. In the end, following his return home and killing all the suitors, it can be established that various gods had played a number of roles enabling him to achieve various activities, such as getting freed from the curse of god Poseidon. The gods played key roles in Odysseus's life throughout the story include Athena, Zeus, Calypso, and Circe. Thus, in the paper, there is the presentation of the essential roles of gods in the book.

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First, gods mediate on behalf of a person. Such can be observed in the case of Odysseus the king, where his protector, the goddess Athena, asked Zeus, the king of all gods to finally allow him to return home. Such a return would be facilitated by Zeus once Odysseus's enemy, the god of the sea Poseidon was away from Mount Olympus to accept the sacrifice in Ethiopia. It can be observed that Odysseus had failed to return home following the curse of Poseidon. Odysseus had blinded Poseidon's son, Polyphemus, the cyclops (Gazis & George, 32). The act of his son getting blinded by Odysseus made Poseidon curse him in such a way that he could not be able to return home in the Island of Ithaca. Since goddess Athena was tasked with the protection of Odysseus, she had the responsibility of having the curse bestowed on him to be paralyzed the Zeus, the good of all gods. In the end, through a series of help by god Circe, Odysseus could finally make it home where he reunited with his family and had his possessions back, including his wife and properties. It happened only with the intervention of goddess Athena.

Besides, gods have the responsibility of reminding a person to perform a crucial responsibility. Such can be observed in the case of the goddess Athena and Telechamus, Odysseus's son. It happened that following the end of Trojan war, Odysseus had stayed away for a long time, a situation that made the family members believe that he was dead, hence also acting as the opportunity for Penelope's suitors to stay in their house as they tried to implore her to marry one of them (Gazis & George, 16). In the process, Athena, who was disguised as Mentes the Taphian Chieftain, approached Telemachus. She wanted to seek any information about the whereabouts of his father, alongside any news about him. Such made him to travel to the Greek mainland, accompanied by Athena, where they could meet such warriors as Nestor who lived in Pylos after Trojan War. He was trying to collect any news about his father as instructed by the goddess Athena. In the end, Telemachus, while talking with Menelaus, is informed that his she was unable to come with his father Odysseus but will return (Gazis & George, 36). Also, Menelaus informs him that she was informed by god Proteus of Odysseus being a captive under Calypso, hence enabling him to grasp some details of his father's fate. Therefore, it can be concluded that gods remind a person of his role.

Moreover, the gods help a person. Such can also be observed in the case of goddess Athena as well as Telemachus. It happened that while Odysseus had been away from home for nearly twenty years, a group of suitors had been staying in his house while attempting to seduce Penelope, his wife. They were also close to taking over the home. The concern made the goddess Athena to prompt Telemachus to search for any news on his father's whereabouts in the mainland Greece, including Pylos and Sparta were the warriors who had taken part in Trojan War (Gazis & George, 14). To facilitate the travel by Telemachus, Athena looked for a ship and crew for him. The prince, Telemachus, would then have the capacity to travel in search of his father's news. Also, Athena helps Odysseus on his way to King Alcinous. It happens that while on his way, Odysseus met a young girl who was Athena in disguise. She could then offer to guide him to the house of the king and shrouded him using a protective mist (Gazis & George, 34). Athena was aware of the mistreatment that Phaeacians were likely to be meted on Odysseus. The protective mist shroud around him by Athena would make Phaeacians from mistreating him. In the end, Odysseus would walk safely to the king's court. Thus, it can be concluded that gods help a person.

Furthermore, gods have the role of transferring messages from gods to people. In such a case, they are used by the god of gods to convey particular messages to people, thus acting as messengers. Such can be observed in the case of the god Hermes and Zeus, the god of all gods. It happened that after the Trojan War, Odysseus could escape the cannibalistic Polyphemus, Poseidon's son, to Phaeacians after blinding him (Gazis & George, 28). It made Odysseus not to return home following his seven years captivity of Calypso in the Island of Ogygia. Odysseus had longed for his return home. Such could prompt Athena, his protector, to implore Zeus to facilitate his freedom and subsequently a travel back home. As a response, Zeus could communicate to Calypso to release him. The message of his release by Zeus was conveyed to Calypso by Hermes. He was sent by the god of all gods. In turn, Calypso obeyed the order by allowing Odysseus to build a raft and giving him food, drink, and clothing. Thus, the Hermes had been used by Zeus to transfer the message of Odysseus's release to Calypso.

Furthermore, Gods provide a solution to a person under a given problem. Such can be observed in the case of Odysseus and his protector goddess Athena. It happened that Odysseus had been released by Calypso from the Island of Ogygia, on the instructions from Zeus (Bloom & Harold, 14). However, on his way home from the Island, his raft was destroyed by Poseidon. It is because Poseidon was safeguarding the rules existing in the land of Phaeacians that strangers were not to be helped. It had been violated by both Calypso and Odysseus. Successfully, Odysseus could swim safely to the shore of the Island of Phaeacians where he was exhausted and naked, and fell asleep while hiding in a pile of leaves (Gazis & George, 32). Athena, goddess of wisdom, could then instruct the young Nausicaa in a dream to go to the seashore with her maids to wash clothes. Such provided an opportunity for Odysseus to be helped out of his woes. He could ask her for help. Nausicaa encouraged him to seek hospitality from her parents: Alcinous and Arete. On doing so, Odysseus is welcomed where Alcinous could also promise to provide a ship for him to sail to his country. He could also stay there for days while taking part in discus throw with Euryalus (Bloom & Harold, 22). Thus, to secure him refuge in the home of Alcinous and Arete, it can be observed that Athena sent Nausicaa to the seashore where they could meet with Odysseus. There is also an instant where the god Hermes warned Odysseus on the witches possessed by Circe. It happened that Odysseus and his crew had sailed to the Island of Aeaea where the witch goddess known as Circe lived. Odysseus and his crew had sailed to the Island following the disruption of their journey to the Island of Ithaca by storms in the sea. The witch goddess Circe could bewitch turn of Odysseus's men to swine after feeding them with drugged wine and cheese. The god Hermes could step in and provide Odyssey with herbs referred to as moly to protect him from the witches of Circe. In the end, Odysseus could force Circe, now powerless; to change his men back to human forms, which was successfully done. From the two incidences cased above, it can be concluded that gods provide one with a solution to some problems faced by a human.

Also, gods control the forces of nature to the benefit of man. Such can be observed in the case of Odysseus and Aeolus. It happens that king Aeolus had been endowed with the winds by the gods. The winds would be used to influence a given desire to also achieve a give set of goals. The use of such winds could apply to Odysseus. Odysseus and his crew had escaped Polyphemus and stayed with the king, who was on his way to help them return home safely (Bloom & Harold, 16). The king gave Odysseus a leather bag that contained all the winds to help them sail home. The bag however, did not contain the west winds. The leather bag with the winds was a gift from the king. Indeed, the winds would have enabled Odysseus and his crew to sail safely to Ithaca had it not been for the curious member of the crew who opened the bag, letting the wind out that then formed a storm and disrupted their journey. He thought that it contained gold (Gazis & George, 24). However, they had travelled safely, and Ithaca was on sight. Since wind is a force of nature, it can be concluded that gods control the working of some forces of nature to the benefit of the intended partakers.

Moreover, gods guide people in performing certain activities for success to be realized. Such can be observed in the case of Odysseus and Circe. It happens that Odysseus and his men hand landed in the Island of Aeaea where the witch goddess Circe lived. Thus, it reached a time when Odysseus wanted to cross over a sea to the western end of the world. He would then conduct some sacrifices to the dead. Before the travel, Circe gave them the instructions to ensure that they were successful in their journey (Gazis & George, 24). Indeed, Odysseus and his men crossed successfully and sacrificed o the dead, including Elpenor: one of is men who had died in Aeaea, Anticlea: his mother who had died while grieving during Odysseus's prolonged absence, Agamemnon who had been murdered and Achilles: one of the heroes in Trojan War (Bloom & Harold, 18). Also, Circe guided him on the remaining parts of his journey home where he was the only person to reach the Island of Ithaca successfully. Therefore, it can be concluded that gods guided Odysseus and his men on success journeys across the sea.

However, it can be argued that gods in the book "The Odyssey" were not important as they caused some adverse events to occur. Such include when god Poseidon cursed the entire crew of Odysseus who perished in the ocean and could not reach Ithaca and god Circe who turned half of Odysseus's men to swine (Bloom & Harold, 28). Also, one can be tempted to allege that the gods could not singly enable the events that transpired in the book to occur without the presence of characters. However, it is evident that some of the adverse acts of gods are minimal compared to the crucial roles they played in the lives of characters and the development of the book. Also, the characters could not achieve much without the help of gods, hence their optimal importance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be established that gods, in the book "The Odyssey" by Homer, play a crucial role. They include the roles of intervening to other gods on behalf of people, helping and reminding people of their responsibilities, conveying messages from chief gods to people, acting as controllers of natural forces such as wind to the benefit of people concerned, providing some solutions to people, and also guiding...