Completing a Journey
Its been twenty years since Odysseus has been able to go home to his kingdom and family, because Poseidon has a grudge toward him and would not let him leave. Currently his kingdom is slowly falling apart, and Athena, who always liked Odysseus, recognizes this and says that it is time for him to come back to his kingdom. At many points in his journey Odysseus could give up and not try to go home, however, Athena, is there by his side helping him almost every inch of the way. Although he can't always see her, she is there guiding him, helping him succeed. To help him, she gives him the wisdom, courage, and determination to complete the journey that she helped begin. By giving Odysseus knowledge about his situation she helps him to make a plan to return. She informs him by telling Hermes to deliver the message that after all of this time he is now able to go home: "order Odysseus home; let him depart "(The Odyssey,V. 35). However the gods don't want to just let him go home after all this time, they want to make it a challenge for him: "But let him have no company, gods or men,/only a raft that he must lash together" (V.36-37). Although she also has a route planned out for him he must find
One of the most important things that Athena gives to Odysseus is the courage to come home after twenty years, on a very challenging journey. Only being able to take a raft out to sea Odysseus becomes doubtful: "A raft, you say, to cross the Western Ocean,/rough water, and unknown? Seaworthy ships/ that glory in god's wind will never cross it" (V.185-187). Although there is doubt in his mind it is quickly replaced with courage: "if anyone has marked me out again/ for shipwreck, my though heart can undergo it" (V. 230-231). With this courage given he makes it to Skheria in one piece where he gets the courage to ask for help in a strange land. "Arete, admiral Rhexenor 's daughter, here is a man bruised by adversity, thrown/ upon your mercy and the king your husband's,/ begging indulgence of this company- But grant me passage to my father land (VII. 156-158;163). Odysseus has to be careful while asking for help because they might not have been fearful of the gods and let him return. However, they are and they help Odysseus return home. Once he arrives home after giving him the knowledge, she gives him the courage needed to fight and kill off his wife's suitors. Once Odysseus has the courage to begin something, he needs the determination to follow through with it, which Athena also gives him. On his way home he almost drowns: "A gust of wind , hitting a pile of chaff,/ will scatter all the parched stuff far and wide;/just so, when thi
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 984
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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