Homer's Odyssey: Vengeance And Justice

662 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The odyssey of homer essay

Huyen Nguyen Ms. Wilson English 213, Blk 1 November 24, 2015 Odyssey Response Paper #2 Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged. In the Odyssey, by Homer, vengeance and justice go hand in hand in rationalizing one's actions. Poseidon covers his need for vengeance on Odysseus by stating justice must be served for his son, Polyphemus, whom Odysseus blinds. Odysseus also has a need for personal vengeance on the suitors for taking over his home; however, Odysseus justifies his actions by requiring justice for his home and wife instead of for himself. Justice in the ancient Greek system covers the desire for personal vengeance. Poseidon, as a father, has to protect his son, although …show more content…

The key word in this quote is “grudge”. In the context of the …show more content…

While Odysseus was gone, the suitors came and disrespected the home of Odysseus with showing little hospitality. Hospitality in ancient Greece is a large principle of the culture and not being good guest is one wrong. Odysseus states, “‘So Hard beset! An end like Agamemnon’s might very likely have been mine, a bad end, bleeding to death in my own hall. You forestalled it goddess, by telling me how the land lies. Wave me a way to pay them back!’” (Homer, 242). Odysseus believes that he could have ended up similar to Agamemnon and have gotten killed on his return home; however, Odysseus plans to prevent this outcome by returning with a need for personal revenge. He states, “Wave me a way to pay them back!” which proves that he wants revenge, not just justice. Telemachus realizes his father’s desire for revenge and states, “ I fear we pay in salt blood for your vengeance. Odysseus then replies, “Look on, hold down your ander. You may even please with them, by heaven! in gentle terms to quit their horseplay-not that they will heed you, rash as they are, facing day of wrath,” (Homer 298). Odysseus response is how he is justifying his actions. He tells Telemachus that he believes that the suitors are irresponsible and playing around, which is why they must take action. He believes they should pay for the wrong they have caused within the palace,

Show More
Related

  • Justice System in Ancient Greece as Portrayed in Homer's Odyssey

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    An incident of justice is seen in book nine, when The Cyclops traps Odysseus and his men in a cave and eats a few of his men. When Cyclops when out with his sheep, Odysseus, came up with a plan to escape from captivity. When Cyclops returned from herding his sheep; Odysseus gave him wine saying “I brought it here to make you a fine libation” (9.391). Cyclops drank the wine and got drunk and as a result of his drunkenness Odysseus was able to carry out his revenge by blinding the Cyclops to retaliate the death of some of his crew members. Odysseus then mocks him, “Cyclops ¬– if any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so –say Odysseus” (9.558-560). This action shows that Odysseus is a just a man; he doesn’t let his people die without avenging their death. On the hand we see Odysseus as a prey of justice as he suffers Poseidon’s retribution for blinding his son, Cyclops. Cyclops prays to his father “Hear me –Poseidon, god of the sea-blue man who rocks the earth!”(9.585-586). He asked his father to punish Odysseus not to reach his home, or if he is to reach his home it should take a while. Poseidon’s listens to the prayer and de...

    Read More

  • Themes of the Odyssey

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the Odyssey there are many themes that Homer uses to portray different people and events. To name a few, there are the themes of Betrayal and Revenge,Greed and Glutony, Hospitality, Role of the Gods and Wealth (the amount of money one had determined the status he held in the greek society, and this explains Odysseus's love for plunder).

    Read More

  • Revenge In The Odyssey

    683 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Greeks, as portrayed by Homer, are a very vengeful people. Throughout The Odyssey, a theme of vengeance is dominant. These displays of retribution come from different entities for fairly different reasons. So why is revenge such a factor in The Odyssey? Fear and the overwhelming feeling of payback are two answers. Homer gives numerous examples of how certain characters demonstrate their power in a fury of rage. He writes of the payback Zeus gives to those who break the rules, of Poseidon’s hatred towards Odysseus, and of Odysseus’s revenge to those who have dishonored his home.

    Read More

  • Socratic Preparation Work: Socratic Seminar Preparation Work

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    The bloody revenge of the suitors, not all of who deserved their gruesome deaths, is only justifiable because Odysseus is portrayed as such an remarkable epic hero who has slaughtered many men in his lifetime, and now that he is at his lowest point, he has to prove to his family, the suitors, Athena, and himself that he is still godlike in combat. Prior to killing the suitors, Odysseus calls himself very weak and incapable of killing the suitors, followed by saying he would rather be killed now than have to face them. Queen Penelope decides that she will choose a husband based on who...

    Read More

  • The Odyssey

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    Homer’s poem The Odyssey depicts the tendency of people to ignore the consequences of their actions. Odysseus punished Penelope’s suitors without thinking of consequences that he would have to endure. He did not acknowledge the consequences because that would prevent him from doing what he wants to do. Odysseus wanted to kill the suitors; they ate away at his fortune. Finding consequences for murdering the suitors would force Odysseus to realize what he is about to do is not a good idea. Odysseus chose to ignore the consequences and killed the suitors anyway. Odysseus had absolutely no reason to kill the suitors; they had the right to stay in his home because Penelope made them feel welcome, Penelope and Telemachus both told them that Odysseus was dead, and although Telemachus told them to leave, he did not have the right to do so.

    Read More

  • Odysseus' Desire For Glory in The Odyssey, Homer

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    Odysseus displays his desire for glory through his careless actions during his encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus. The desire for glory Odysseus displays is shown through the words he speaks to Polyphemus. He is a clever character but makes rash decisions that affect the outcome of his original goals and intentions. While Odysseus is trapped inside of the cave of the Cyclops, he begins to taunt Polyphemus. “I called back to the Cyclops, stinging taunts: So, Cyclops, no weak coward it was whose crew you bent to devour three in your vaulted cave—with your brute voice! Filthy crimes came down on your own head, you shameless cannibal” (Fagles, 226). Odysseus was insulting the Cyclops, and those insults caused the rage of the monster to boil over. The Cyclops was already angry with Odysseus blinding him, and was even more demoralized and angry when Odysseus began to taunt him. As Odysseus goes on with his insults and as his anger rises, he says, “Cyclops—if any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed—say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye, La...

    Read More

  • The Role Of Home In The Odyssey

    561 Words  | 2 Pages

    Odysseus quickly learns who he can actually trust and who he can’t.If it had not been for greed Odysseus and his men would of returned home.

    Read More

  • Odyssey, Learning About Himself

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    With the Odyssey, Odysseus learned a big lesson in humility. The greatest example of this is in the last five books or so within the story. He has to dress, act, and live like a beggar in order to regain everything he had lost. While he was a beggar, the suitors treated him horribly. Antinous, leader of the suitors, was the worst of them all. He was the first to mistreat Odysseus and planned to kill Telemachus. He was also the one that would abuse him physically and verbally for some time to come. Also, if that weren’t enough, he planned a boxing match for Odysseus to be in to watch him get beat up. All this was happening and the other suitors were most likely following their leader in whatever he was doing. Odysseus had to control himself the whole time this was happening. If he had lost his temper, the suitors would have killed him, his son, and most likely taken over the kingdom. That didn’t happen though. Odysseus learned self-control and humility. He may not be perfect at it, but going through all the humility made him a better man. Along the same topic, he was a king going through this humility. It would be one thing for a peasant to go through it, but a king? This made it even harder for Odysseus. He had rank above all the suitors and could rightly kick them out of his kingdom. Instead he waits for the right time and kills them all. The “pre-journey” Odysseus would of thought of himself invincible and probably would have died trying to get his kingdom back.

    Read More

  • Dishonesty In The Odyssey Essay

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    For seven years, Odysseus is held captive by the goddess Calypso. The young goddess “desired me and detained me in her hall. But in my heart, I never gave consent” (Homer 372). This quote suggests that although Calypso may have believed she was loved by Odysseus, he never really cared for her. If Odysseus would have stayed faithful to his wife, Calypso would have killed him. Thus, he is able to protect himself by lying to her. Another point in the epic where Odysseus' dishonesty impacts his success is with the suitors. After arriving at his homeland, Odysseus disguises himself to protect himself from being harmed: “Odysseus enters his home as a beggar, and the suitors mock and abuse him” (Homer 402). When Odysseus appears to be a beggar, the suitors think nothing of him. They disrespect him, his family, and his home. Had they know Odysseus was back, they would have treated him much differently. Because of the way they acted towards him, it can be suggested that they would be willing to do anything to take control of his kingdom. He is then able to find out more about them and their motives without getting

    Read More

  • The Maturity Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    841 Words  | 2 Pages

    Humbly, he is “on the ground, in the ashes by the fire”(VII,190). He does not intrude into to their home and forcibly take gifts as he did on the Cyclops island. He accepts the care given to him from the Phaeacians and does not ask for more than he is given. Odysseus takes accountability of his actions when King Alcinous blames his daughter for bringing stranger into their home, Odysseus tells King Alcinous to not take “fault with a flawless daughter now, not for my sake, please”(VII,342-343). He is grateful for her help in giving him hospitality. After King Alcinous assures Odysseus he will get home, Odysseus prays,“May the king fulfill his promise one and all! Then his fame would ring through the fertile earth and never die”(VII,380-382). He is appreciative of the help so Odysseus calls to Zeus for good things for Alcinous. Not thinking of himself and wishing positive impacts on others is a sign of maturity.

    Read More

  • Telemachus: A Character Analysis

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    The reader first finds the character of Telemachus sitting among the suitors in his father’s palace. This seemingly unimportant detail yields information regarding his temperament. The suitors, whom Homer portrays as malicious usurpers, continue to take advantage of Telemachus’ hospitality. Instead of defending his home, his mother, and his belongings from these men, Telemachus numbers among them. This lack of assertiveness displays his frailty and his helplessness given the overwhelming circumstances. At this point, Athena, disguised as Odysseus’ old friend Mentes, visits Telemachus in order to “inspire his heart with courage” (I.105). The two share a meal and engage in a lengthy conversation. The goddess discusses how Telemachus should handle the troublesome suitors and suggests a journey to try to ascertain the whereabouts of Odysseus. The conversation appears to immediately galvanize the young man’s resolve. In fact, immediately after her departure, he summons the courage to confront the suitors, demanding that they are to leave his house at once. The assertiveness that Telemachus displays in this instance is a dramatic departure from ...

    Read More

  • Learning Temperance in Homer’s Odyssey

    1517 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ry for him to learn the virtue of temperance. If he is not able to moderate his impulses towards revenge, feasting, and lovely goddesses, then he shall always be doomed to roam upon the wine dark seas. Obviously he does learn this, since he does return to Ithaka without being smitten down by the gods, but he returns a different Odysseus. The new Odysseus realizes that there is more to living than a feast of roast meats and wine each night before the flawless bed of love of a lovely goddess. The new Odysseus wipes a salt tear from his cheek at the sight of an old hound that lays neglected (17.394).

    Read More

  • The Odyssey: A Tale of Redemption

    2140 Words  | 5 Pages

    The epic poem called The Odyssey, which was written by the poet Homer, is one of the many classical stories from Ancient Greek culture. It tells the story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his journey back home from the war with Troy, which had occurred in Homer’s other epic Greek poem, The Illiad. Odysseus faces many trials and quests in his journey home and to take back his kingdom from the suitors, such as meeting the witch Circe, blinding a Cyclops named Polyphemus, dealing with Poseidon, and staying with the goddess Calypso. The poem has many themes that are relevant to it. One such theme is the factor of redemption. Redemption is usually a typical subject in any kind of religion, like the Greek religion and Christian religion. The story of Odysseus has an underlying message of him receiving redemption from the Greek gods. The Odyssey is a tale of redemption because it deals with Odysseus being forgiven by the gods after having to go through many trials and wrongs to rightfully claim back his wife and the throne of Ithaca.

    Read More

  • Hospitality In The Odyssey Essay

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    While in Pylos, he stays with Nestor and Menelaos. They welcome him as a friend. This is how the ancient Greeks believed all people should act when a stranger graced their doorstep.. Nestor, an old friend of Odysseus, gives Telemachus information regarding Odysseus. When Telemachus then travels on to Sparta, he receives a warm welcome from the king and queen and learns that his father, Odysseus, is still alive. This gives Telemachus hope. Another example later in the story that finally results in Odysseus’ arrival home is the generosity and hospitality that the Phaeacians extend to him. After Odysseus tells the Phaeacians his story they sympathize with him and show him kindness. He is washed and given a new ship to continue sailing

    Read More

  • The Role of the Gods in the Odyssey

    1194 Words  | 3 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... In Homer’s Odyssey, both Odysseus and his son Telemachus embark on long, difficult journeys; Odysseus trying to return from Troy to his home in Ithaca, escaping Calypso and the island of Ogygia, and Telemachus from Ithaca to Pylos and Sparta in search of his lost father. While The Odyssey tells of the courage both men demonstrate during their respective travels, their quests are the results of the intentions and desires of gods. Odysseus is trapped in exile on Ogygia by the will of Poseidon, whose anger Odysseus attracts when he blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, and by the love of Calypso, who wishes to make Odysseus her husband.

    Read More

More about Homer's Odyssey: Vengeance And Justice

Open Document