Destiny, Fate and Free Will in Homer's Odyssey
analytical Essay
1370 words
Fate and Free Will in Homer's Odyssey
When we look at Greek Mythology we often run into the gods of that era. Sometimes they are merely backdrops to the human element of the story but in stories such as The Odyssey the gods play a prominent if not vital role to the central themes of the story.
Fate has a place in the Greek world but its place is not the same as it is in other scenarios or worlds. It is important to understand the word before we discuss it. Fate as far as Greek mythology goes is not just fate. By most standards fate means that things occur for an unknown reason that no one has any control over. However, in the world of Greek Mythology fate does not just happen. The gods engineer fate and they interfere to make things happen that might not otherwise have happened. Since the players do not always know of the gods' involvement, things may actually appear to be fate but in reality be engineered happenings.
Free will on the other hand is not engineered. It speaks to the concept of having full authority over one's aspirations and ultimate direction. The key there is "ultimate." The gods can make up the plan and choose the path, but the people had to walk it. Therefore, fate and free will are not mutually exclusive and they both go on throughout The Odyssey.
In The Odyssey life is one's own responsibility; instead of leaving all things up to fate, the characters had a significant influence upon his or her own existence.
In The Odyssey the gods are responsible for controlling many aspects of where the story goes, but the people still have to choose to go. The gods in The Odyssey are who held Odysseus captive for over eight years. They were responsible for his capture in the first place and then refused to let him go for almost a decade. When they finally decided he should be allowed to find his way home they made it known to his captor Kalypso. However Odysseus still had to choose to leave. Kalypso tried to keep him by offering immortality. "You would stay here, and guard this house, and be immortal" (Homer 267). Odysseus could have stayed but he chose to go. Some say that the gods knew Odysseus would not stay and that is why they decided to let him go.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the gods in the odyssey control many aspects of the story, but the people still have to choose to go.
- Analyzes how free will and fate are represented in the odyssey. the suitors on ithaka behaved poorly throughout the story, but the gods chose to sit back and allow the people to make their choices.
- Explains that in greek mythology, the gods play a prominent if not vital role to the central themes of the odyssey. fate and free will are not mutually exclusive.
- Analyzes how zeus' statement shows that the people are responsible for themselves and have the ability to make their own choices.
- Analyzes how the odyssey represents free will in that it gave choices to the gods but more importantly the people made their own choices.
- Analyzes homer's "the odyssey" in the constant reader, the norton anthology of world masterpieces: the western tradition.
Related
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- Fate In Greek Mythologyanalytical essayLooking at Greek Mythology we tend to encounter the gods of that time. Sometimes they work in the background of the human part of the story, but in epics like The Odyssey the gods play a very large if not central role in the main developments of the story.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that in greek mythology, the gods play a large if not central role in the main developments of the story.
- Explains that free will is the idea of having complete control over one's actions and decisions. the odyssey demonstrates that your life is your own responsibility.
- Explains that the gods held odysseus imprisoned for eight years and refused to free him. calypso tried to make him stay by offering eternal life, but he refused.
- Analyzes how the gods intervened in the story of athena, telemachus, and odysseus.
- Analyzes how athena sentenced the suitors on ithaca to death by odysseus' hand, based on their choices.
- Analyzes how homer's epics are wonderful places to see the relationship between free will and fate. free will is experienced throughout the odyssey and makes the story more exciting and unpredictable.
- Explains that homer's conception of fate was published in the classical journal 42.8 (1947): 477-85. solomon, robert c.
- Analyzes strong, c. a., "fate and free will." the journal of philosophy psychology and scientific methods, vol. 15, no. 1 (1918): 5-9.
835 wordsRead More - The Endless Journey In Homer's The Odysseyanalytical essayDavid Kiley Mr. Beyreis English 9 November 30, 2017 The Endless Journey Imagine returning home from both a mentally and physically demanding battle, only to realize the most challenging task yet is to face the task of fitting in with the ordinary. A soldier can never truly return home to join a society. One can return from battle in their physical state, though both their mentality and perspective of the world cannot be restored to what once was. The scars and numerous hardships associated with war change a person beyond their appearing attributes, profoundly affecting the mind and soul; a previous life is never the same when an individual returns as a drastically different character.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the effects of conflict in the odyssey, written by homer and translated by stanley lombardo, demonstrate how an individual can be greatly distanced from their once familiar society.
- Analyzes how odysseus does not fully realize when he returns home, nor recognize many of his people. he condemns the phaeacians for unknowingly carrying him home.
- Analyzes how odysseus, in his war-torn state, is deeply separated from the peace felt by civilians. the phaeacians are uncivilized relative to other cultures.
- Analyzes how the atrocities of war continue to burden and torment the lives of those attempting to escape in search of their former lives.
- Analyzes how odysseus' journey to hades sheds light on the differing views of life from those who were subjected to the savagery of war and those not.
- Explains that the journey back from war is also a metaphysical journey within the individual. odysseus restores virtue and honor in his character, defeating all those who differ in their actions.
1015 wordsRead More - Fate And Free Will In Oedipus The Kinganalytical essayIn Sophocles ' Oedipus the King, the themes of fate and free will are very strong throughout the play. Only one, however, brought about Oedipus ' downfall and death. Both points could be argued to great effect. In ancient Greece, fate was considered to be a rudimentary part of daily life. Every aspect of life depended and was based upon fate (Nagle 100). It is common belief to assume that mankind does indeed have free will and each individual can decide the outcome of his or her life. Fate and free will both decide the fate of Oedipus the King.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the themes of fate and free will in sophocles' oedipus the king, but only one brought about his downfall and death. in ancient greece, fate was a rudimentary part of daily life.
- Explains that the greeks believed in the idea that personality of the individual greatly affected his or her life.
- Analyzes how oedipus pushes tiresias, creon, jocasta, the oracle, messenger, and the shepherd for information regarding his beginnings.
- Analyzes how oedipus demonstrates an important trait in his character, stubbornness, when he reacted to the man pushing him aside at the crossroads.
- Analyzes how oedipus defeated the sphinx by solving the riddle. he could have refused to take the missing king's throne, or declined to marry the former.
- Analyzes how jocasta and laius' actions were not made by their own judgement, but reactions to a situation that neither of them was prepared to deal with.
- Analyzes how jocasta and lauis never sent oedipus to die as an infant. he wouldn't have engaged in misled wandering after he left his adopted home.
- Analyzes how oedipus' desire for knowledge can be looked at by the standpoint of fate. he can't escape the fate the gods have given him.
- Analyzes how the gods played apart in oedipus' prophecy to kill his own father, which was unavoidable because of his stubbornness. his personality was the cause of the events.
- Analyzes how the prophecy given to lauis and jocasta is another example of unavoidable fate. the gods dictated what was going to happen, leading to the vanquishing of oedipus.
- Analyzes how the greatest show of fate in the text is when oedipus gauges his eyes out with the golden clips. the gods controlled his personality and therefore controlled the outcome of his life.
- Explains that free will and fate can be related to every aspect of oedipus the king. the gods who control fate manipulate the thinking and concepts in human's freewill.
- Analyzes how sophocles' oedipus the king shows that mankind has the ability, even with prophecies, to make choices free from influence of divine forces.
1493 wordsRead More - Fate Versus Free Willanalytical essayFate, as described in the Oxford English Dictionary, is “The principle, power, or agency by which, according to certain philosophical and popular systems of belief, all events, or some events in particular, are unalterably predetermined from eternity.” To the western world, fate is perceived as “a sentence or doom of the gods” (Oxford). They often sought prophecies of the gods, especially from Apollo, the god of knowledge. The Greeks would seek prophecies usually when they had doubts about something, or if they were afraid or in despair. When the gods made a prophecy, the Greeks put all their faith in it and believed that it would happen. When their prophecies did come true, was it really fate that controlled them? If so, was there any room for free will?
In this essay, the author
- Explains that fate is the principle, power, or agency by which, according to certain philosophical and popular systems of belief, all events are unalterably predetermined from eternity. the greeks sought prophecies of the gods, especially from apollo.
- Analyzes how the question of fate versus free will plays a dominant role during analysis in sophocles' oedipus rex.
- Analyzes how oedipus' life and everyone he loves eventually suffers from a horrible fate predicted by the gods. is the outcome of his life the result of fate or his own actions?
- Analyzes how the play proves that the greeks believed that their lives were controlled by fate. the three oracles serve as the backbone of the story.
- Analyzes how laius, iocaste, and oedipus tried to avoid their fates through their own actions.
- Analyzes how laius and iocaste give up their child, and oedipus leaves corinth on his own free will. the characters' actions are guided by the fates of the gods.
- Analyzes how iocaste feels that the word of the gods should be disregarded. she believes that laius died by the hands of a stranger rather than "at his son, as he had feared."
- Opines that iocaste and oedipus will see that the prophecies have already come true and the gods are no longer interfering.
- Analyzes the role of the gods in revealing the truth of oracle's prophecies to oedipus. he tries to avoid crimes and offending his family by leaving corinth.
- Analyzes harold donohue's question about the extent to which western culture is dependent on this notion of fate.
- Argues that oedipus could have lived with himself in the condition he was in, but the gods do not prophesize his downfall nor banish his father.
- Opines that the audience may never know whether or not oedipus's actions are of his own free will or if the gods control them.
- Cites ahl, frederick, donohue, harold, and guthrie, w.
- Cites hamilton, edith, knox, bernard m. w. oedipus at thebes, new haven: yale university press, 1957.
1744 wordsRead More - The Odyssey: Human Will In Homer's Odysseyanalytical essayThe Odyssey: Human Will In “The Odyssey,” Odysseus lives in a world where there is no room for the human will. Human choices can make a tremendous difference in his world. The god, Helios, was one who made it difficult for Odysseus to get home with his crew. Another included the witch-goddess, Circe, who delays Odysseus and his men from their homecoming.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how odysseus lives in a world where there is no room for the human will. the god helios and the witch-goddess circe make certain choices that affect their travels home.
- Analyzes how odysseus and his men encounter the cattle of the sun god, helios. zeus worked up a storm that forced them to stay because they could not continue their travels on the water.
- Analyzes how odysseus and his men end up at the home of the witch-goddess, circe, and hermes approach him in the form of a young man.
- Explains that odysseus had to allow for a few men to be possibly killed so that others could make it home. this decision was to go towards scylla.
- Concludes that odysseus' world doesn't have human will and their decisions do make adifference for certain things.
456 wordsRead More - Oedipus the Freeanalytical essayThe concept of fate versus free will is very much like a map. One has a destination, but many possible routes to get there. The destination is one’s fate, but the paths, or free will, is what controls when and how one will get there. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles argues that Oedipus’ choices, not his prophesied destiny, ultimately causes his downfall. Oedipus’ decision to be prideful, stubborn, and rash all contributes to his impending doom. In Thebes, the law of free will prevails over men.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that fate versus free will is like a map. one's fate, but the paths, or freewill, is what controls when and how one will get there.
- Analyzes how oedipus' excessive pride pushes him to reveal the truth of the murder of king laius.
- Analyzes how oedipus' stubborn choice to pursue the mystery of king laius’ death despite the warnings of others fostered his doom.
- Analyzes how oedipus could have handled his situation many different ways, but chose to injure himself as punishment for his crimes. he pushes for banishment, which only deepens his suffering.
- Analyzes how the question of free will is explored in sophocles' tragedy, oedipus the king.
690 wordsRead More - Oedipus and Maze of Destinyanalytical essayAnother thought that exemplifies the significance that free will holds, is seen in elements of Sophocles' classic, which revealed that Oedipus had more knowledge over the details of his dilemma than he let himself become conscious of. The last idea will reveal how the onset of fear will push people down a treacherous path of risk and pain, which is also seen in the play through multiple characters. Free will is an attribute that all people possess. It could work as a tool to get individuals through the scary twists their lives may entail. It could also work against them in many ways, which depends on the level of human weakness and ignorance. But, the most important assertion that can be made after considering the argument of, "fate vs. free will," is that...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles' "oedipus rex" presents the tragic protagonist with a harsh sense of guilt.
- Analyzes the significance of free will in sophocles' classic. it could help individuals through scary twists, but it could also work against them in many ways.
- Analyzes how sophocles' play highlights that oedipus, like any man in reality, is known by a higher power.
- Analyzes how oedipus became conscious of who he was before it was officially discovered. tiresias's points were so obvious, that it wasn't him that committed the deeds. freud attributed the lack of self defense and eagerness to punish himself.
- Analyzes how apollo's prophecy about the fate of oedipus was an educated guess based upon the personalities and flaws of the characters he envisioned.
- Analyzes how oedipus and his parents had control over their fate. if lias and jocasta continued to raise their son with love and honesty, apollo's prediction could have been marked wrong.
- Opines that the ideas involved in free will of mankind posed in sophocles' "oedipus rex" provoke readers to remind themselves that every action is followed by a consequence.
- Analyzes how oedipus should have lived the same way he told his young daughters to live. he realizes that his daughters may be doomed because of the reputation his fatherhood will bring.
- Explains sophocles, frederic will, and bernard knox. "critical experts." oedipus the king.
1543 wordsRead More - How Did Greek Culture Influence The Odysseyanalytical essayFor this paragraph I will talk about religion. The greeks were polytheistic. Polytheistic means that you worship many gods. Some of the gods that they worshiped were Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, ect. They were worshipped on Mount Olympus. Poseidon and Athena play a big role in The Odyssey. One of Homer's ideas was dues ex machina, which means that a god swoops down and solves your problems and makes peace. I know one led to the other because the events in real life led to the creation of the event in The Odyssey.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how greek culture influenced the odyssey. religion, poseidon, athena, and dues ex machina led to the creation of the event.
- Explains the patriarchal society where the male of the household cared for all the minors and his wife. odysseus ran the house in ithaca once he left for the war
- Analyzes how homer portrays odysseus as a hero in the odyssey that runs into temptations, problems, and trouble.
- Opines that religion, a household run by males, and the idea of true heroes led to the creation of the events in the odyssey.
301 wordsRead More - The Odysseyanalytical essaySocrates, a Greek philosopher stated, "Look death in the face with joyful hope, and consider this a lasting truth: the righteous man has nothing to fear, neither in life, nor in death, and the Gods will not forsake him” (Socrates). This explains the basis for Greek beliefs that can be carried over to values and qualities of them. As in this, Homer, the author of The Odyssey, portrays many Greek values that make up a righteous man or as, Homer’s character Odysseus, an epic hero. The Odyssey is the story of King Odysseus' return from the Trojan War to his kingdom of Ithaca. Stories, like The Odyssey, are told with the intent of delivering a message that was important to their culture. Through characters and situations, The Odyssey promotes and emphasizes many important ancient Greek values such as hospitality, pride, and fate.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how socrates explains the basis for greek beliefs that can be carried over to values and qualities of them. homer's the odyssey portrays many greek values that make up a righteous man.
- Analyzes how hospitality reflects and expresses many different value systems in ancient greek culture, such as when odysseus confronts polyphemus in the cave of the cyclops.
- Analyzes how pride and confidence is an arrogant and negative notation in greek culture. odysseus' prideful response to laodamus proves himself as an excellent athlete.
- Analyzes how odysseus was given misfortune by the gods in mt. olympus. the greeks believed in fate as being beyond the power of gods.
- Analyzes how hospitality, pride, and fate are examples of greek values that help maintain a social rule of the culture and provide the basis for personal growth and morals.
1113 wordsRead More - Fate in "Oedipus the King"analytical essayIf prophecy were to be real, one could expect what is bound to happen in the future. This is true; at least in “Oedipus the King” in which the protagonist, Oedipus calls forth his doom unwillingly. Fate is defined as something that unavoidably befalls a person. The author of “Oedipus the King,” Sophocles, writes a tragic fate that Oedipus was born to experience. Fate is what is meant to happen and cannot be avoided or unchanged. Furthermore, events that lead to other events could be the result for one to meet their fate. In “Oedipus the King,” Sophocles expresses the nature of fate to be determined upon choices made.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles, in "oedipus the king," defines fate as something that unavoidably befalls a person.
- Analyzes how oedipus made choices that led to events that defined his fate, such as a drunken man saying that the ones who cared for him at corinth were not his biological parents.
- Analyzes how oedipus accepted the reward as ruler and husband of the widowed queen of thebes after solving the sphinx riddle that many tried but failed and died.
- Analyzes how oedipus portrayed great importance in finding the one who murdered king laios, and was blind enough to not realize that he himself was the killer.
- Explains that the bible states that every individual was born with the ability to make moral choices and that he is responsible for those choices.
- Analyzes how "oedipus the king" is a great play that sets an example of what fate is.
1063 wordsRead More