Odyssey

Throughout Homer's Odyssey, many characters need help or help from one another all through this epic. This is, however, particularly glimpsed through the interactions of the goddess Athena and the large Odysseus. Athena's help and nurturing for Odysseus is most expected due to the fact that there are numerous similar characteristics between them; from their character and their traits, to their simple morals and what they stand for.

The connection between Athena and Odysseus has been examined in numerous distinct manors. Some select to portray Athena as a mother number towards Odysseus, because of the way she nurtures and carries him. Others outlook Odysseus and Athena's connection more as a marriage; although I seem this is too much of a stretch because of the need of carrying clues and no true familiarity between the two all through the epic. Iimage the connection between Odysseus and Athena as more of a very powerful friendship or very close siblings; A relationship where each individual relies on the other as they strengthen and augment all through the poem. The inquiry does still live, although, if Athena bodily appears before Odysseus, or if she is easily an enigma of his imagination. Whether this is factual or not, I seem it has no genuine relevance. This would not change their connection at all, because they have such a powerful bond. In book thirteen, it is even more apparent of how Athena conceives of Odysseus when she states, “Whoever gets around you must be pointed and guileful as a serpent; even a god might bow to you in ways of dissimulation.” Here we find that not only does Athena adore Odysseus, but she furthermore thinks of him as an equal, a god amidst gods. This is why they are adept to concern to each other so well and why Athena constantly offers him her help. Iaccept as true that Athena sees herself in Odysseus; her wisdom, her cunning, and her will and strength. In book three, which I read online since it is left out from Norton's Anthology, we learn that Athena pleads to her father Zeus to let her aid Odysseus through his quest; she even exclaims in this book that “my heart is broken for him.”

Throughout each book, Athena's role seems to become greater and greater, playing a larger role from the first book until the last. The significance of Athena interfering in Odysseus' life is ...