Theme Of Suffering In The Odyssey

In today’s pop culture, the saying, “No pain, no gain,” is commonly used as a phrase of motivation that encourages people to work harder and suffer for a greater reward. Despite the fact that the ancient tale of The Odyssey was written thousands of years ago, this modern concept can be recognized in it as Homer discusses suffering and the effects it has on his characters. One way Homer’s epic speaks to this theme is the way he portrays Odysseus’ journey, which shows how suffering affects everyone and connects the superior to the inferior, allowing everyone to have the hope that no one suffers alone and that they can overcome it. Additionally, Odysseus’ choices and decisions highlight humanity’s belief that suffering is an ingrained part of

Therefore, The Odyssey by Homer discusses the theme of suffering, and how its constant presence in life, forces people to evolve into better, heroic versions of themselves through the challenge of overcoming it.

Throughout Odysseus’ journey, it is shown that everyone suffers, including the gods, which demonstrates how the mutual struggle of overcoming suffering, connects the powerful and powerless. Because Odysseus is the hero in this epic, it is a given that he must face a set of trials that will cause him anguish in order to complete the Hero’s Journey. However, the fact that on his journey, Odysseus encounters gods, goddesses, and even the dead suffering, shows how all characters, regardless of status, experience suffering. When Odysseus meets the great Achilles of Troy, and discovers he is unhappy and suffering in the Underworld, when he says, “Better, I say, to break sod as a farm hand/ for some poor country man, on iron rations,/ than lord it over all the exhausted dead”, Odysseus here is then able to realize

Throughout this epic, there are countless examples where characters are undergoing suffering, and measures are taken to avoid or deny it, out of fear of unknown or pain that suffering can bring. One example of this is when Odysseus’ men open the bag of Aiolos’ winds out of curiosity and jealousy that blows them back to Aiolia, after being so close to Ithaca. In this spur of the moment anguish, Odysseus says “Roused up, despairing in my gloom, I thought:/ ‘Should I go overside for a quick finish/ or clench my teeth and stay among the living?’” (5. 56-58). Here in this quote, Odysseus’ is utterly crushed about this recent development to the point where he contemplates suicide out of fear of of having to face more pain and disappointment. Thus this exhibits how its human nature to flee rather than fight when facing suffering, because Odysseus’ initial reaction here was to jump ship rather than to continue to bear his burden. However, the reader later learns that Odysseus overcomes this suffering through sheer determination of wanting to go home, the hope he has of an opportunity to see his beloved Penelope again, and the understanding that he has too much to lose, which suggests the power of willpower. Because Odysseus is able to overcome the odds and fight for what he believes in, shows how Homer presents a